Briar Rose Childrens Center Overpriced daycare no Educational value Columbus Ohio

Two of my children went to Briar Rose until it was time to enroll them in kindergarten in the public school system. During the time my children were attending Briar Rose, I noticed several disturbing things. First was the cost. Their prices for a full day (8am to 4:00 pm and you are charged if pick up late) for two children was close to 16,000.00 a year. Not to mention some of their non-socially acceptable practices.

Briar Rose is VERY highly pagan, even though they say they are open to all religions, the lean heavily toward Pagan, Wicca, Witchcraft and other questionable religions and practices. They perform rituals that can be a safety hazard, one of which involves children ages of 3 to 7 with open flame. The school requires new parents to schedule a pre-defined time to come into the facility to observe. I have found out, from having my children there, that this is a manipulation tactic to prepare the children and the staff to put on their show. How many facilities do you know, that ask that you Don't initiate conversations with the children, while you are visiting.

The building itself is an old converted grocery store, and the main office in the rear is a fire hazard. Piles of paper, cloth and other flammable materials are strewn through out the building. The facilities method of cooking is a wall plug in stove top like burner. The facility has exposed wiring in certain locations that can be accessed by children. I had occasionally seen very large mice scurry across the main floor and into the pillow pile (where children sleep). My children had several occurrences of head lice, that was so bad that prescription medication was required.

The facility also practices the Feingold diet, that is not accepted by the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, and the American Dietetic Association as healthy for young children, or children under the age of 16.

Educationally, the facility does not have any modern teaching materials that are necessary for early childhood development to function in modern society. Briar Rose lacked in the ability, willingness, and resources to educate my children so much so, they are struggling in school due to such a poor foundation. The facility does not teach any mathematics, reading development or writing development. When my children were enrolled in public school, they didn't knw their alphabet, how to count to twenty, they couldn't even spell their first name. My children have had meltdowns at school that required them to be sent home, because they got so frustrated that they didn't know how to do something that SHOULD HAVE been taught to them early on.

The staff at the facility lacks state accreditation of any sort as an educator or early childhood education professional. I would warn any one, if you value your child's education and potential in life, to pass up Briar Rose at all costs.

Please Note: Both rip-off reports were initiated by the same parent. This response is to the one he signed Yojimbo (not his real name). “Yojimbo’s” comments are in italics.

Cost: Yojimbo says: Their prices for a full day (8am to 4:00 pm and you are charged if pick up late) for two children was close to 16,000.00 a year. We are open from 8:00 – 4:30 pm. (When this parent’s children attended here we were open from 7:30 – 6:00.) Our fee for full time care is a sliding scale from $180-$210 per week. For a 47 week year, the highest rate will be $9,776.00 per year. We accept Title XX.

Briar Rose is VERY highly pagan, even though they say they are open to all religions, the [sic] lean heavily toward Pagan, Wicca, and other witchcraft and questionable religions. I do not know which specific practices this parent is questioning, or to which ‘questionable religions’ he refers. We mark the passing of the seasons with stories and celebrations: a Harvest Festival with a straw-bale maze, Winter Festival with candlelight and quiet singing, May Festival with a Maypole, songs and games. We celebrate the children’s birthdays in a very reverent way, adapting each celebration to the individual biography of the child. Waldorf Education was started by Rudolf Steiner in Stuttgart, Germany in 1919. You may read about the roots and philosophy at WhyWaldorfWorks.org.

They perform rituals that can be a safety hazard, one of which involves children ages of 3 to 7 with open flame. Candles are put on a child’s birthday cake and the child blows them out (after making a birthday wish, of course). Candles are used in the Winter Festival also. During that festival, adults outnumber children about 2 to 1. The children’s parents are present. The fire department has approved this festival.

The school requires new parents to schedule a pre-defined time to come into the facility to observe. How many facilities do you know, that ask that you Don't initiate conversations with the children. Many facilities limit the number of visitors and ask that the visitors follow certain guidelines. This protects the children from unexpected interruptions. Once enrolled, parents may visit anytime without giving notice. This is standard practice in Child Care and Preschool.

The building itself is an old converted grocery store. The building was constructed in 1945. It was gutted and remodeled in order to suit our purposes in 1998. It is maintained and in excellent condition.

The facilities method of cooking is a wall plug in stove top like burner. Yes, it is a commercial-grade buffet range. We also have a convection oven which we use to bake. We cook lunch daily with the children and we bake bread every Tuesday morning. We have a food service license from the Ohio Department of Health, which inspects the facility regularly. All our cooking and sanitation methods are approved by the Ohio Department of Health or Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Daycare Licensing.

The facility has exposed wiring in certain locations that can be accessed by children. This is untrue.

I had occasionally seen very large mice scurry across the main floor. Mouse traps are set in the fall when mice tend to begin searching for a winter home. They soon discover that this is not a suitable home.

My children had several occurrences of head lice, that was [sic] so bad that prescription medication was required. This parent’s children were the first to show the lice. The family treated them and we took precautions in the classroom, as standard child care practice demands. The lice did not spread to the other children.

The facility also practices the Feingold diet that is not accepted by the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, and the American Dietetic Association as healthy for young children, or children under the age of 16. We serve organic, whole food that does not have food coloring, preservatives or other harmful additives. We honor all special diets that families choose for their children: vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, etc. We serve alternative food for children who have allergies. This parent’s ex-wife was using the Feingold diet and asked us to co-operate. As is our usual practice, we served alternatives to foods the parent was trying to avoid. Our meals are well-rounded and nutritious. They are approved by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Daycare Licensing.

The facility does not teach any mathematics, reading development or writing development. This is a play-based, child-centered program that gives children several hours of free play every day. In that free play, they have access to books, writing materials, written words, numbers, manipulatives, and other supportive materials. In addition, teachers ask the children to help with real-world tasks such as measuring, counting, making signs, interpreting symbols and sorting. Research shows that child-directed imaginative play is the most appropriate activity for children to engage in. Children are prepared for kindergarten by being directly taught letters and numbers as they show interest, or when they turn 5. (Whichever happens first.)

The staff a [sic] the facility lacks state accreditation as any sort of educator or early childhood education professional. Briar Rose Children's Center is licensed by the State of Ohio. At the time this parent’s children attended, we were accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Rebecah Freeling, the lead teacher, has a teaching certificate from The Waldorf Teacher Development Association.

I would warn any one, if you value your child's education and potential in life, to pass up Briar Rose at all costs. Come visit!  If you are curious about Briar Rose, please call to set up a visit. Our phone number is 614-431-6000. You can also learn more at our website, BriarRoseCC.com.

I had two children at Briar Rose myself. They only left the school because we had to move to another city for work reasons. I'll comment on the points made by "Yojimbo" in the order he made them. First, the cost of Briar Rose was not at all out of the ordinary for a daycare or pre-school. They also offered some help with tuition for people who couldn't afford the full amount. There were no "non-socially acceptable practices" at the school -- they were not "pagan" but were simply a Waldorf school that celebrated the standard yearly festivals connected to the seasons (winter, spring, etc.). If you have a problem with fairy tales and the celebration of Spring, I guess this kind of school is not for you... As for the festivals being a "safety hazard" that is just ridiculous. Yes, some of the festivities involved allowing children, in a highly supervised environment with many adults present, to hold a candle (one at a time). If you consider this hazardous, again, this school is not for you. I personally think it's fine for my 3 year old to hold and light one candle with another lighted candle while about 15 adults watch... Are birthday parties too pagan for you too? Candles are usually involved in this setting as well... The school does require the parents to schedule a specific day/time to observe the children. This is meant to ensure there is no disruption in the children's day/routine. I had no problem with that either. I came at the scheduled time (10 am to 12 am on a specific week day) and sat around observing what the children did. I thought the way they interacted and played was great and decided to send my children to the school based on this period of observation. I don't know any school that allows you to drop in on their school day unannounced and to stay for any length of time (more than that required to remove your own child, for example), so I don't see anything out of the ordinary here. I did not see any exposed wires or mice running around the facility. I did see 2 pet rabbits, which are allowed outside their cages for some of the time. Maybe Yojimbo was confused...  My children never had lice in this facility, although I know other children did -- prevention was used to keep other children from getting lice when one of them had it. Occasional outbreaks of lice occur in all public schools. The facility does not practice the Feingold diet. They avoid having artificial sweeteners, colorings and preservatives in the food. Again, I appreciate their effort in doing this and am happy to have my kids eat organic "food" in Michael Pollan's use of the word. If Yojimbo prefers to feed his kids Cheetos and diet soda, that is his privilege (to each his own), but he can hardly fault the school for offering the children something healthier. Regarding his comments that the facility does not teach the children mathematics, reading, etc., -- this is a Waldorf school, they do not believe in the standard methods of teaching math and literacy skills through drills and repetition. Children are allowed time to develop their fine and gross motor skills, to engage in free play and develop their imagination, to develop artistically (painting, drawing, modeling with wax), to practice self-motivation and independence (putting their own clothes on, helping to cook, baking bread, washing dishes, gardening, etc.). If you are looking for early writing/reading drills, this is not the school for you. But the school is very upfront about the Waldorf basis of its curriculum. If you are not interested in this type of education for your children, don't send them to this school. Do your research -- if you don't and then discover that you don't agree with the principles of the school, I'm sorry but it's your own damn fault. And by the way, why didn't you pull your children out if you disliked the school so much? Parents have to take responsibility too you know, not just hand the kids to the school (without finding out what kind of school it is) and expect them to do everything for your child to "succeed" according to your own standards. I really liked what the school did for my kids -- and they are both very successful in their new school.

I wonder, Yojimbo, why you continued enrollment of your two children when you had this opinion of the school.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion but many of your comments are simply not true. 

Briar Rose is not outrageously priced - it is less expensive than the KinderCare my daughter used to attend and the preschool my son attended when we lived out of the area.

There are no questionable religious practices at this preschool.  I have never felt more comfortable talking about or not talking about religion.  Everyone is welcome and respected.

All the preschools I checked out require an appointment for new parents.  Waldorf Education at Briar Rose emphasizes listening to children's thoughts and ideas - so letting the child talk first when they are ready means asking new parents not to initiate conversations.  I think the children feel more comfortable and confidant this way.  Of course it doesn't mean conversation goes that way all the time!  And once you enroll your child you are welcome to visit any time for as long as you like with no notice.  I do so often and have wonderful conversations with the children.

Since my daughter has been enrolled, there have been no episodes of lice, but this can be a common occurrence at any preschool or elementary school.

Briar Rose does not serve the disgusting government subsidized food that many chain daycares serve.  It is mostly organic and certainly healthy.  Bread and butter is made from scratch each week with help from the children.  I have seen a table full of children eating broccoli and boiled eggs for snack.  Isn't that better than processed Goldfish crackers every day? Children pick carrots, peas, tomatoes, and even kale from the school garden and parents bring in vegetables from their gardens also.

The community appreciates that the preschool replaced the old convenience store and the corner is a much nicer looking spot.  The fire department inspects the building regularly and it is not a fire hazard.  Children sleep on individual cots that are cleaned and stacked daily.  The "large mice" must be the two classroom bunnies that the children play with and feed.  I help out by cleaning the floors regularly and I have never seen mouse droppings.

Briar Rose encourages creative play with multi purpose toys like irregularly shaped blocks of wood that can be anything in a child's imagination.  Natural materials and craft supplies are always available.  Plastic and character toys are not kept at school.  My children get enough video games and tv at home - it's nice to have "life unplugged" while they are at school!

Finally, the teachers are probably the most patient people I have met.  Never have I seen an angry face or heard an irritated word directed toward a child.  Redirecting with singing seems to be the method of choice for a difficult situation.  They are certified in Waldorf Education which requires 2-3 years of study.

Read more about Briar Rose and Waldorf Education at www.briarrosecc.com

Why is this person allowed to repeat the exact same posting he made more than a year ago? Several people replied to his claims already. He is posting inaccurate information. My two children were in Briar Rose for a year. It is simply not true that Briar Rose charged an unusual amount of money — what they charged was comparable to the amount charged by other daycare centers that offered the same kind of days/hours. The building was not a fire hazard, I visited it 5 times a week for about a year and did not witness any of the problems "Yojimbo" claims. The facility did not follow the Feingold diet either (they did feed the children organic food, with no food coloring or additives -- I liked that). Furthermore, you were free to pack your children lunch if you so wished (and not pay for lunch, as I did). If Yojimbo objected to the meals, why didn't he pack his kids a lunch? He also seems to have been unaware that this school was a Waldorf school, i.e., their focus is not on teaching reading/writing in the standard manner. This does not mean the children are not being prepared for reading in the future or that they do not learn any mathematics but they learn these things through play and free activities. Again, if Yojimbo did not agree with or share the Waldorf precepts on early childhood, he should have taken his children to another school. It is also simply untrue that the staff lack state accreditation. He is not really filing a rip-off report as he was not ripped off but is rather an angry individual trying to inflict harm on a school he did not like, not because the school did him wrong but because he did not inform himself as to the nature of the school and, apparently, was incapable of removing his children from the school when he did not like what he saw. Why, one wonders? By the way, Briar Rose is not "pagan" either but is welcoming of all denominations.

My daughter, who is now 12 yrs old, went to Briar Rose for 3.5 yrs & she flourished there. She had a very easy transition to public school & has always been a straight A student.

Please get yourself familiar with the Waldorf model of education before heeding the negative comments above. It is intentionally very different from the standard public school model .

The children went outside every day to experience nature. Briar Rose was a place where my daughter felt safe & loved & I always felt good leaving her there. She was fed excellent, nutritious  food & taught many valuable skills such as creative problem solving, excellent conflict resolution, imaginative play, knitting(at 6!), a love for music & more.

 I have known several children who have come from Briar Rose & they are all very special kids. I attribute this to the parents & their experience at the school. I would do it again!

I also had two children at Briar Rose Children's Center at the same time.  I am not the sort of fellow who was looking for the cheapest possible place to put my kids all day, so I find the price objection a bit absurd.  Briar Rose was right in line with any of the other places we looked at, and when you factor in quality - which you should -it put them all to shame.

I don't even know where to start.  I don't recall ever being charged for picking up a kid late, though they may have adopted that very common practice to address habitual tardiness among parents.  The idea that you should just get extra child care for free is quite silly and unrealistic.

The place is not Pagan.  That is enough of a lie that the poster ought to be brought into court for slander.  What it isn't is overtly Christian.  There were parents who were Wiccan, this is true, and many who were Christian and several who were not religious at all (myself included).  Here in America, I don't want to alarm you, but that is a good thing. 

One of my daughters was in a special needs scenario, adopted out of a very bad situation of intense neglect.  Briar Rose Children's Center was very literally KEY to her working through this experience.  When she came to us, she spoke very little and was very behind in social development.  Briar Rose, and Rebecah in particular, helped to bring her out of her shell, and learn to play and laugh with other children again.

Maybe you think it's more important to sing the alphabet and recite flash cards.  I strongly disagree.  Briar Rose incorporates math and reading into fun and playful scenarios, and neither of my children had any problem at all when they went on to Kindergarten.  One of them gets consistenty straight A's.  We would have kept our children in the school Kindergarten through twelfth grade, but there isn't one in town.  That's the only reason.

And as for the educational preparation - as I mentioned when I blogged about this (((Redacted))) - I did not want a preschool where they sang the alphabet and recited flash cards and watched Sesame Street.  If you want a preschool environment like that, just put on a blindfold and wander the streets.  You'll run into one very quickly.  That's not how we went about it, as parents.

I can tell you this, if you don't think the Waldorf model is the way to go - I only knew one other Waldorf student my entire life before finding Briar Rose Children's Center.  It was the Valedictorian of my high school class, who had attended Waldorf from K-5.  I'm having trouble understanding how this student managed to excell to such academic heights, if the Waldorf system is so fundamentally flawed.

Yojimbo was not ripped off.  This person had mediocre and closed-minded expectations, and this exceptional, spiritual, and wonderful school surpassed them so far that the person believed that he'd (or she'd) been ripped off.  The truth is, this person ripped himself (or herself) and his or her children off, by longing for the status quo.

If I had a preschool aged child right now, there would be absolutely no debate about it.  I've had two children enrolled there, and I would immediately enroll another.  If you don't think your child can hold a candle, then I feel sorry for both you and your child, because you are wrong.

As for fire code violations, that would be for the fire department to determine, no an anonymous poster on the Internet.  The fire department says they are fine. 

Don't like the Feingold diet?  Fantastic, check out modern Lunch Box Technology, and feed them whatever you want.  Also, the Feingold diet isn't quite what they practice, and you are free to round out their nutritional intake at home, by preparing whatever meals occur to you.

Yojimbo was at the wrong preschool, to be sure.  But that speaks poorly of Yojimbo, not the school.  I would be willing to publicly debate absolutely ANYONE on this topic.  Briar Rose Children's Center is such a fine and perfect place for children that I am very definitely outraged to hear such a nasty and uninformed report.

Hello to all! I just happened to stumble upon this report. I can not confirm or deny these claims since my children did not go to this school. However I do live is Columbus/Worthington area and pass by this school quite often. To me the outside looks quite quaint and the children and parents I see come out look happy!

After reading all the comments I must say "yojimbo" You are the parents of these two kids correct? I also am a parent of two children and I would NEVER put them in dangerous situations i.e exposed wires/ large mice etc. If it's a bad as you say, PULL YOUR KIDS OUT ASAP FIRST OCCURRENCE!!! enough said! after that you have no one to blame but yourself for bad parenting! YOU are still the parent of these children, read to them, play with them, don't push all the blame on a day care for your children's education "sounds like laziness of parenting to me".  Every sentence I read from "yojimbo" I just want to say "PULL YOUR KIDS OUT THEN!!!!!"

I feel almost sorry for Briar Rose because this is the first thing that comes up when you Google it. Again I cannot deny or confirm "yojimbo's" comments,maybe it's true? but as a parent myself in "children's terms" you sir "yojimbo" do not seem like the brightest crayon in the crayon box! Hold some responsibility for yourself as a parent!

In addition from the other parents reports, this sounds like a darling school. I would love to know my children were eating organic/safe foods while not in my care. Also I don't understand? what's  so wrong with fairy tales?  From the other reports this sounds like a wonderful place for children!

just my input...   
-jojo