My kids are at a Waldorf school currently. I would not be surprised by your experience from what I’ve learned. However I’ve also seen a truly incredible environment at my school and zero cult adherence to Steiner. My best explanation is that each Waldorf school is very much its own island - it seems to be a very federated system.
Thank you for your work in this arena and trying to add clarity. As a business owner and longtime rubyist, I'm very happy Ruby Core is taking stewardship here and that maybe we can put this tempest in a teapot behind us.
I was working in Monroeville, PA doing FORTRAN at Westinghouse. I didn't really consider that programming though. Got into Ruby, found that the web didnt regulate my every move. Quit my job to learn full time and haven't looked back.