My private school was more "alternative" than "private", the school was run by the teachers who were paid low wages. They decided their wages themselves, and put most money into running the school. (Many were broke!.. in the norwegian meaning of that word.) They focused on making the material which they taught alive, we painted and drew and sang.. very idyllic ;-) They made it artistic first of all, plus "spiritual delevopment". We didn't get grades, the teacher would write a paper about our positive abilities and negative abilities

Then there were all the drawbacks (it was almost like a strange sect.. made by a strange german, Rudolf Steiner. It was christian, only very strange and extreme. Very peaceful and full of harmony, but strange. It had all the drawbacks of a sect)

But Montesorri.. ahh..... after i found out how they are, ive liked the Montesorri schools very much