Something Different
June 1, 2011We gave 2 tours of the school last week. These parents are looking for something different for their children’s educational environment. One parent didn’t know much about Montessori, but heard from a current parent that this is a good place for her children. The other couple already knew a lot about Montessori and were surprised and pleased that we are here! They value the environment which has more freedom of movement and lessons suited to the child’s readiness rather than the average of the group. They made the point that any school can call themselves Montessori, but there are many things to look for when deciding if it is a quality Montessori school. They seemed pleased with our focus and what we’ve accomplished in our first full year of implementation.
I had just returned from a visit to the private Traverse City Children’s House which is an exemplary model of a Montessori school. They have been in existence for 30 years and have worked hard to create their vision of a quality school, following Montessori’s vision.
Will it take us 30 years to reach the same point? Perhaps. But even in three years I expect we will have come a very long way. This year we have accomplished a lot, and we see it in the children’s work and eagerness to learn. I am excited for all the gains we will make next year as well. I am excited for more parents to come seek us out as an alternative educational environment for their children, and discover how pleased they are that we are here!
