Merci Mab,
You've taken the right attitude. Take everything with at least a small grain of salt and verify when possible. Aside from that, it's really about your journey. Are there some things that it's best to do or not to do in some situations, magically, oui, but foundations are what they are. Once you've learned the basics, everything else just adds to it. Same goes for general spiritual practice, no matter the "denomination". They all have similarities, sacred space, consecration, blessing, banishing, etc. etc. etc. However how each goes about it can be a little or sometimes a lot different. Close your eyes and reach out from inside though, and you can feel the similarities that underlay them.
A bad and cheesy example would be something like this. Bad idea and I'd call whoever tried it an idiot for doing so, but trying to summon an actual elemental or other entity that can potentially effect you without laying the proper ground work and having the foundation training to do so. Kinda like trying to glue down the gunpowder in dynamite using cheap, scented candles. It might work, but there's a good chance you're gonna blow yourself up. A little study and you'd learn the proper options to utilize. Our paths are the same, how I do something may not be the same way Davish or Kitsune would do it, or CHL or Librarian, etc. however, there are similarities more often than not, even if not apparent. Those are the pieces folks need to learn. The rest is personal evolution.
That is why I tell everyone to study from multiple sources, that way you get the whole "verify" thing. Also, you get to see different peoples paths, differences, similarities, etc. And that helps one with developing their own, personal practices. Aside from that, it's all experiential. Your path develops based on your experiences, practices and preferences. So, if witch school is something you find is helpful for you right now, go with it. Stop when it's no longer what you need or not providing a benefit to you any longer.
Good luck on your journey
