bobgian@psuvax.UUCP (Bob Giansiracusa) (01/22/84)
To those who have kids, who care about kids, and especially those whose kids go to Children's House (a Montessori school in State Col, PA): We sent our son Herschel there for about two weeks. One thing that always bothered me is that I got the impression (from their literature) that they do not like parents around. Now I think I know why. Herschel (like many 2.5 year olds who has never been with a babysitter) cried when we left him there. We assumed this was normal and would pass. Problem is: he did NOT cry the first day! He was anxious to run in and play with the other kids. He cried on the SECOND day. Dorothy and I stayed at the school so we could comfort him if needed, and he (somewhat reluctantly) went in. Dorothy continued to stay at the school all the first week. The school DOES NOT LIKE PARENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS, and Dorothy waited (hidden from the kids) in the kitchen. After about a week, the teachers seemed to forget that Dorothy was there. At one point she heard Herschel's teacher shouting at him in a very nasty tone. Turns out that when they don't think you're watching, they cease the "nicey-nice" act they put on at first. We discovered that they FORBID children (at least in the youngest group) to play actively with each other, forcing them instead to sit in rows quietly. They discourage the kids from even TALKING!! Herschel became OBVIOUSLY very upset. He regressed in potty training and his language became very halting and stammer-like. At one point (at home) he was trying to communicate something about people not being nice to him. He told us that the teachers at his Gym school (Nittany Gymnastics) were always nice to him, but his teacher at Nursery school sometimes was NOT nice to him. When he was finally able to articulate this, he became VISIBLY relieved. Dorothy repeated it and asked if that was why he had been crying. He said, as plain as day, "Yes, THAT's what was bothering me!!" We immediately removed him from the school. Some people might think "Oh, they're just kids, what do they know about the world. Whatever is bothering them will pass." WE, however, happen to trust our son and always try to respect what he tells us. He has NEVER "taken advantage" of us. Maybe our experience was unique, but the next nursery school we check out HAD BETTER ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO VISIT AT ANY TIME AND SHARE IN THE CHILDREN'S EXPERIENCES. As the saying goes, if you don't do anything wrong, you'll have nothing to hide .... -- Bob -- Bob Giansiracusa (Dept of Computer Science, Penn State Univ, 814-865-9507) UUCP: bobgian@psuvax.UUCP -or- allegra!psuvax!bobgian Arpa: bobgian@PSUVAX1 -or- bobgian%psuvax1.bitnet@Berkeley Bitnet: bobgian@PSUVAX1.BITNET CSnet: bobgian@penn-state.csnet USnail: 333 Whitmore Lab, Penn State Univ, University Park, PA 16802
mark@umcp-cs.UUCP (01/22/84)
One hundred percent agreement--you can't be too involved in your child.
Luckily our children's Montessori school is very encouraging of visiting
parents.
Let me repeat again my advice for people considering Montessori:
There are two VERY DIFFERENT schools of Montessori. The International
Montessori Society, IMS, thinks everything Maria Montessori says is
true and everything she didn't say is wrong. It is the IMS folks
who tend to run a classroom from the book regardless of what is going
on with the children. The American Montessori Society, AMS, thinks
that teachers should think about their children and apply the principles
of Montessori and Piaget creatively in the classroom. Every single
time I have heard of a bad Montessori classroom (and I get these stories
a lot since I am a bit of a Montessori buff) they have turned out to be IMS.
I don't hear as much about the AMS schools, but the two I know are both good.
It is easy to find out the affiliation of a school--both AMS and IMS schools
are proud of their affiliations.--
Mark Weiser
UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!mark
CSNet: mark@umcp-cs ARPA: mark@marylandmlh@abnjh.UUCP (01/23/84)
My children went to a preschool which emphasized social development and interpersonal relationships taught in a very gentle setting. I have observed many kids who went to Montessori schools; their parents seem to really be into advanced academics (My little fred is only 4 and already does algebra). The main result I see is that the kids are animals and are socially retarded. My kids caught up academically by the end of first grade, and are much better adjusted for it. BTW, you are really right about being suspicious about any school that doesn't encourage parental visits! Good ones always do. Mike Holt njuxh!mlh