He probably means the students who come out of them. I feel the same about Waldorf schools myself. I have taught in a Waldorf school and have been frustrated by some of the methods (and don't get me started on Rudolph Steiner), but I had to admit that in the three years I taught there, the graduating grade 8 students all were remarkably kind, intelligent, curious and creative young teenagers.

IOW ultimately you have to look at the fruit that is born from these trees to judge their ultimate worth. If you just walk in on one of these schools in the early years, you might be shocked/appalled at the lack of structure and discipline.

yes, the outcome that the students integrated into society decently enough. Could interact, socialize, get jobs to exchange time for food and shelter. Baseline stuff that's good enough. I was skeptical about those things.

Combined with "_future_ child(ren)" ;-)