Work And In Need Of A Little Advice

Posted by on . 4 comments.

So work has been interesting and is getting to the point where I am wondering if I really want to send my child there. I picked this school because it was the only Montessori school within an hour drive of my home. I live in a pretty small town where Wal-Mart is the biggest store we have. This makes my school options really limited which is driving me insane. This Montessori school really should not be called Montessori but a Daycare. The owner is the head teacher in one of the classes and has burnout big time but she can not let go. In her class they only have about one and a half hours during the school DAY to work on actual Montessori activities. The third class is a half day class and well they can only do so much because of that. The second class is probably the most Montessori like out of all of them but the head teacher can only try to do her best under the controlling owner. If my son still goes there I would put him in the second class. Here in a year all the staff in that classroom will be changing because the two assistant teacher’s kids will be moving on to elementary. Then in two years the same will happen to the main teacher. This means that even the mediocre classroom will be changing completely and most likely for the worst. Because of all this I have been trying to decide if I still want wingnut to go? It has been hard lately going to work and leaving him with someone else, then cominghome and having to spend that time cleaning my house instead of with my son. Then when I am at work I am just teaching kids that are not mine when I could be teaching my son. Oh, and I miss him terribly. So do you think I should quit and teach him myself at home or do you think I should stick it out a few more months to see if wingnut likes it?

 

Filed under: Work

Comments

  1. Robin says:
    November 5, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    It sounds like a tough situation. But, since you’re working there for the express purpose of giving Wingnut an opportunity to experience Montessori school, and it’s not really an ideal Montessori environment, then I would say quit.

    Have you looked at co-op preschools at all? My boy and I attend one. It’s just 2 days a week, for 2 hours, but he gets exposure to a sort of classroom environment, lots of opportunity to play and try new things, and he has exposure to other kids. It’s not a true Montessori environment, but I think it is based on similar principles.

  2. Kristen says:
    November 6, 2009 at 12:24 am

    What’s your plan for after preschool? Do you have a montesori elementary? public school? homeschooling?

    We faced a similar dilemma with kidlet. I think I’ve mentioned that he is adopted and was so badly neglected that he had terrible delays. At 4 he was not fully potty trained. He wanted to be successful, but physically he just wasn’t getting the cues in time. So we were not able to attend a normal preschool. The only option we had was primarily a day care. They have a preschol program, but it’s spread out over the course of a full day, interspersed with a lot of free play time. He had to attend at least 6.5 hours to get the 2 or 3 hours of actual “academics”.

    So we had to decide — do we spend a whole ton of money to send him away all day to get what he could from the program, or to keep him at home and learn with me.

    We decided to have him go, and it was the right decision. If he had jumped into Kindergarten without having experienced a classroom like setting and the socialization, it would have been MUCH harder. There are two children in his class that didn’t attend any preschool and they are so socially awkward.

    However, I didn’t have to work to enable him to go, so I was able to clean and run errands while he was gone; so when he was home, I could devote myself to him. If I had been working, it would have been a much harder decision.

    If wingnut will be attending a school for kindergarten+ and not being homeschooled, I definitely think you should find SOME kind of preschool program. Either give it a try there, or see if you can find a preschool that works for you even if its not officially montessori. The co-op idea is a good one, if there is one available in your small town.

  3. Anne says:
    November 6, 2009 at 4:58 am

    Dear Zonnah,

    These decisions are so hard and it is obvious that you want the best for Wingnut. We did it all with Elizabeth – homeschool, public school, private school, so I can tell you a little about each. I can say this now with our daughter away in college, you will not regret a single moment that you can spend with Wingnut. Your love for him comes through your writing and you are the best person on earth to give him the good start in life that he needs.

    It was very tight for us financially during those years since I didn’t work, but the memories of being there every day are so worth it and when he is grown and gone, both of you will have those memories to hold to and cherish and that is something that money can’t buy.

    Hugs to you as you think about what to do.

  4. Anonymous says:
    November 6, 2009 at 8:40 am

    Yes, you really need to quit and be at home with your son and teach him all the wonderful things you know. You are very intelligent and creative, he can learn alot from you.

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