"Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire" - W B Yeats

[anastasiav]

I'm starting to realize that I really, strongly (more strongly than I had realized) want E to go to a good pre-school starting in the Fall. Something with a Montessori or Waldorf theory behind it. Unfortunately, any such school in my area that offers such a program is also far out of our financial reach -- around $13K (including extended day fees, because we would need him to be there for an entire workday, not just the half-day formal preschool). And that's only for a school year ... we'd still need to find and pay for care for him in the summer. A couple of schools do offer financial assistance, but only once the child is school aged. No assistance is offered for pre-K.

So, yeah, another way I'm failing him, I guess.

Comments

[baronessmartha.livejournal.com]

you judge yourself far too harshly.

did you get my email? I sent it to waxtablet.

[goodscagirl.livejournal.com]

Honestly - public school pre-k (most start at 4) are very good these days. I am someone who went to Montesorri pre-school and gained a lot from it but I would not hesitate to send mine to public pre-k.

If you want that strong base wait until it is time for him to go to Kindergarten then apply for assistance.

Also I prefer Montesorri over Waldorf muchly muchly.

I understand that you want whats best for him but you being an active and involved parent, reading to him daily, and helping him be creative are with much more than a private education - You rock.

[pale-chartreuse.livejournal.com]

If you are open to a non-branded school, I would suggest looking for a facility that is NAEYC accredited. It is a third party accrediting organization. My MIL, who was a nursery school director for 30 years, has done some work for them.

National Association for the Education of Young Children

http://www.naeyc.org/

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

I am a product of a public school education up until my graduation from high school. School isn't the only place that children learn and, ultimately, he will get out of school what he puts into it regardless of where he goes.

[valkyrie1972.livejournal.com]

Did you ask Brigette about the one down the street from her house? D went there briefly before Kindergarten. It is at the old Swedenborg church on Stevens ave....

[mylisant.livejournal.com]

Is Freeport too far?

This place looks to be $7K for their school-year for three full days and two half days per week which is their recommended schedule for the preschoolers.

They have lots of other options as far as "days/mornings per week" maybe there's something there that you can afford? Some is better than none?

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

I agree, try the Y. Becca was in the Y program for many years and it was inexpensive; it's just our Madison Y, for infant care, that's so pricey.

Because I work so close, I may be able to get Beekman into a 3 day a week, half day program when he's three that will be $5k for the school year, but since that will take some off his daycare fees, we may be able to swing it. (By that time we will, please the Gods, have sold the house and gotten Sarah transitioned to a new job, unless her employer suddenly strikes it rich)