Kindergarten Round Up- Round 1

As I have mentioned, we have visited 2 schools for next year and have all but scratched both of them off our list. Not because they are horrible, evil places, but because they had a few issues that wouldn't work for us as well as I would like.

The first of these school was a private Catholic school, which is not really at all what I had envisioned for Emma, but considered it because we know so many great families who will attend this school next year and would love for all of them to be Emma's classmates. I do think this school will prepare the students well and that the kids and parents who attend will be happy with their choice to attend this school. Unfortunately for us, I just don't think it is a right match. I was turned off by the workbooks out on the tables and the poems on the walls which all had the exact same words and perfect spelling. I would have rather seen kid's attempts at spelling and their own attempts at writing a poem hanging on the wall. Maybe they do these things too, but hanging these examples up during the open house seemed to say what they really value is conformity over creativity, and product over process. Emma- being the free spirit that she is- would struggle with this I fear. And worse, I can imagine through her struggles she may give up some of her creative and out of the box ways of doing things that I love (OK, it drives me nuts sometimes too, but I do really love this about her!). She is not a rule follower, but than again neither is her Mama, so I guess none of us should be surprised.

The second school we visited I was sure- I was so very sure- I was going to love and was sure (yes, I said sure again!) it was the right match for Emma. That is until I visited. This is a special school in our district which is based on the open schools philosophy; a philosophy which I really gravitate towards. Children are given the reins and are empowered to make choices and really valued for who they are and what they have to offer. This is why I was so sure this was right for Emmie. And while these things may be true, as I walked around I had a very hard time looking past the filth and grime of the school. It wasn't just old, it was down right dirty and full of clutter. Additionally, I was so not impressed with the principal of this school. She seemed flighty, defensive and really unaware of the problem of filth in her school. I wasn't able to meet both of the kindergarten teachers, as only was was there (which in and of itself didn't impress me). The one I did meet seemed OK, but nothing special.

So, as for now, I am unimpressed; unimpressed and somewhat saddened that what I thought would be a great fit was not ideal. In the end, I know nothing will be perfect and that some of my hang ups will have to be forgone- but does it really mean she should go to dirty school with a flaky director or give up some of her creativity to conform to the masses? Goodness, I sure hope not.