A Day in Preschool Hell

6 Comment(s)

1. sandy | Mar 23, 2006 | Reply

   This is why taking a ‘class in session’ tour is so very important. My son’s school is NOTHING like this at all. Parents really need to take an active role in identify what they want for their kids and then finding it.

   Logan’s school operates under a learn through play philosophy. They enter the room, are expected to hang their own coats (and now near year end they find their names on a cubby at which to do so.) Then it’s free play. There are various stations set-up in line with the day’s theme but what they tackle is up to the child. There is structured circle time - but again it’s all fun stuff. They have a time for sharing news. They sing. They talk about the day’s project and then it’s back to playing at the stations - taking time for the project as part of their self-directed rounds. One last group stop for story and snack and that’s it.

   The place Wonder Mom describes is clearly not an age appropriate program. I have to say, even the teacher on chair surprises me. Our teachers are always “criss-cross applesauce” on the floor with the kids.

   ugh. ugh. ugh. And of course, I know you’re not implying her experience was a norm. I just had to vent a bit. LOL!

2. Angela, Mother Crone | Mar 23, 2006 | Reply

   What baffles me is that SO many people will see something this inappropriate and ineffective, will freely bitch about it, but DO NOTHING! I am sure the other parents would have problems with this as well. Why are people so unable to look at situations clearly not working and make changes? Pull your child, citing all the reasons, and make some decisions. You can start interviewing new schools, or maybe you can decide preschool isn’t even necessary, and sign him up for a gymboree play group. Just another thing added to my theory of “lazy resignation” I see multiplying all around me!

3. Kris | Mar 23, 2006 | Reply

   I agree with Sandy, seeing the class in session is supremely important. There are two public school preschool classes in town, and I visited the other room before enrolling John (they tell you where he’s assigned about two days before classes start).

   Thanks Shannon, for the link. I was thinking of taking the story down because the whole thing was such a crappy experience. Blah.

   I have been in about 8 different preschools, with class in session. Most are warm happy places, but they do vary wildly and parents must observe to really know. The most beautiful preschool can have the bitchiest teachers.

   The evil school John BRIEFLY attended was a world unto itself. That’s what I told the principal: “If this class was anywhere within the realm of normal or appropriate, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.”

   Of course, I don’t believe anything will change. At least John’s out of there, but I still feel bad for the other kids.

4. Trixie | Mar 23, 2006 | Reply

   I have been moving (albeit very slowly) through your carnival below (and have been enjoying it very much so far), but I got side-tracked reading preschool hell late last night, and just have to comment. As somebody who spent 4 years in training as a school psychologist (and later worked as one in a setting where I observed classrooms as a non-participant pretty much every day), I’ve had the unique opportunity to observe several school settings (including at least 4-5 different preschools) as a “fly on the wall”.

   The observations of this preschool mother do not surprise me at all. While I’d say most of the schools I observed were more age-appropraietly balanced with free play than this one seems to be (though the free play itself was somewhat troubling as it was usually replete with seemingly arbitrary limitations, exclusionary behavior, children sharing misinformation, and frequent fights/name-calling, most of which was missed by the busy teachers entirely), the description of the expectations set for structured time (such as circle) and activities (such as crafts, art, etc.) are pretty consonant with the preschools I’ve observed. From my experience, the salient examples of the teacher asking a question of the group and then immediately hushing their responses, the teachers disallowing a child to dress himself according to his own system, and the absurd and pointless “snack helper” duty are par for the preschool course. It was rarely a matter of “mean” teachers (most were warm and committed to their jobs, though I did encounter a couple questionable ones)… more that the requirements of organizing and controlling a class of young children (usually not yet skilled enough to express their needs/concerns/preferences adequately, particularly to a busy teacher within a bustling environment) do not allow much room for creativity, flexibility, listening to an individual child, or giving kids truly meaningful duties and activities.

   During one of my practica in school psychology, I attended a meeting with a troubled Kindergartener (referred by his teacher to the principal and psychologist for being difficult) at an upper-class public school. In his own defense, this 5-year-old could only express that he didn’t like coming to school and doing the activities he was told to do. I’ll never forget how the principal responded to his concerns: “Well, you know what? Nobody likes coming to school, but it’s just something everyone has to do.” I kid you not.

5. Dyan | Mar 23, 2006 | Reply

   This reminds me of a local Montessori preschool I visited. I can still remember the eery silence and the shock that 15 actual little kids were in the room. My twins aren’t even quite when they are asleep.

   The thing that makes me sad is that most people would visit that school and realize something was off, but either can’t or won’t do anything about the situation. Instead, they let their kids stay and hope for the best.

6. Mary | Apr 19, 2006 | Reply

   So interesting site, thanks!

Post a Comment