Pre-School VS Montessori

[Milly]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

^ I agree. That is really based upon the kind of home we create. It's not fair to blame the schools for not teaching values and appropriate behavior. That is the parents' job. The schools can reinforce that as much or as little as they like.

YES!

I don't teach in a montessori school and nor am I that familiar with it's principles (I actually don't know any montessori schools or anyone who teaches in one), however I put just as much effort, blood, sweat and tears into my teaching when it comes to catering to every childs needs. Every child that enters my classroom is a individual who, as best to my abilities gets individual attention/teaching/learning methods that suits their needs. There are restrictions in terms of resources and adults in my classroom, but I try and set up my learning environment so that even if i'm not sat with a child all the time they should still be able to learn something. It's obviously not as good as the individual attention that children seem to get in a montessori school but I do try my very best and as per assessment results and the children I have taught I do not think I am failing them by not giving them 1:1 atttention all of the time.

[Muzna]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

^ What if we don't think about it as a comparison between him and your daughter.

The question is more about where HE thrives more -- public preschool or private montessori environment. Maybe it didn't make a difference. But maybe it did for him.

good point sahar.
I am not at all an advocate of comparing performance.

[Niksik]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

^^ I think public schools have a bad rep but my kid's teacher is like you Milly...so dedicated and spends so much personal time and energy communicating your child's progress and needs. In fact one time, my older one was having some issues with another kid. The teacher called me and we strategized on how to handle the situation without hurting egos of the kids involved. It worked great, but most importantly gave me confidence that my kid is in good experienced hands.

[Niksik]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

^ What if we don't think about it as a comparison between him and your daughter.

The question is more about where HE thrives more -- public preschool or private montessori environment. Maybe it didn't make a difference. But maybe it did for him.

I hate comparing children but I gave that example just to show that just because you put your child in a Montessori doesn't guarantee superior performance or a child that will have better citizenship. And Muzna, correct, a school alone can't make ALL the difference. You're right that maybe he wouldn't thrive well in a public school environment but see, the parents aren't happy with his progress but unfortunately, have no choice at this time as their district doesn't have good public schools.

ANyways, I totally didn't want to compare kids. God bless them all.

[Lusi]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

There are lot of good programs around; public and private based specific school of thought. It is up to the parents to learn about them and decide which one best meets their needs. Success of any program is doubled when parents are actively involved in the education of their child(ren).

ps. Milly, I am sure you are an amazing teacher and giving your children a rich learning environment.

[KKF]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

Benazir Bhutto! Held a degree from Harvard, gave lectures around the world, but quite dishonest citizen and leader. My apologies to all Bhutto fans, didn't really mean to politicize this thread.

But in general just look at Pakistan and India, people with degrees from prestigious schools, good jobs, great achievements, but they have no citizenship. They are looting the country, they make every attempt to use their sources in everything and anything possible.

you are talking about politicians...everyone knows that they are generally corrupt whether they have degrees or don't have degrees. they are a different breed. in today's competitive world you need a degree to move ahead and to get a good job. you may be philosophical about it but the fact remains that without degrees you can't have a good job and without a good job you are nothing...it's a bitter fact...accept it or NOT it's up to us!

[Mehnaz]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

^ What about people who hold MBAs from top universities but are unable to get a jobs (usually because of their ego, lack of social skills, etc.)?

[queer]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

yeah.. if only they had gone to one of the top 10 pvt montessori's instead... -_-

jk jk

[Niksik]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

^^ Correct [Mehnaz].

I think learning from ourselves growing up, we can provide a better environment for our kids so they have lesser struggles. There are certain skills I lack which I feel may have stopped me from accomplishing more than I did, and I'd like my kids to be exposed to those skill sets and more. It's not about a degree anymore but overall personality I suppose.

[khawateen]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

Gosh it really does get harder as they get older eh :/To think i used to get confused over his poop color and consistency.... THIS is so much more complex.... Tip of the iceberg too ...sighz. U just do what u gotta do as a aprent... And hope for the best.

[KKF]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

^ What about people who hold MBAs from top universities but are unable to get a jobs (usually because of their ego, lack of social skills, etc.)?

that's because of saturation in this field. as i said in my posts, it's a competitive world, a highly competitive one i must say, so you have to be one of the best in your field to get a job that you want. i look at myself, i did my education, i did well alHamdolillah but i haven't been able to get a faculty position...i'm working as a post doc...iA soon opportunity will arise and i'll succeed...without a degree i could NOT even dream of it. so if you have the right ingredients, u'll get it sooner or later...it's a matter of time.

[Mehnaz]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

We all know that has nothing to do with private/public school queer. I don't like KKF's comment that having a good job with a good salary means you are successful.

There is more to being a successful human being than your degree. That's the difference between eastern and western mentality, which is a whole other topic.

[Lusi]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

What about all those people with good jobs in wall street who have ruined the lives of many innocent people because of their greed and selfishness?

I am not being philosophical, I am being realistic. There is a reason why our society is surrounded by so many ill's. People are focused on getting a degree but leaving the essence of that education behind them.

[queer]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

yeah i know mehnaz, i'm just being a pain. a degree isn't a guarantee for success. yesterday i had to listen to a mom go on and on about how her 22 month old is a genius based on some dumb finger painting project at the day care. my kid had paint on her nose and a missing sock.

lusi, can you explain a bit on how people with good jobs in wall street ruined lives with their greed?

[Milly]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

^^ I think public schools have a bad rep but my kid's teacher is like you Milly...so dedicated and spends so much personal time and energy communicating your child's progress and needs. In fact one time, my older one was having some issues with another kid. The teacher called me and we strategized on how to handle the situation without hurting egos of the kids involved. It worked great, but most importantly gave me confidence that my kid is in good experienced hands.

Things like this for me as a teacher are standard practice.

I personally feel a lot of a childs educational experience is dependent on the type of teacher they have as well as their own learning capacity and parental involvement.

At my current school I work with a fair few colleagues who would not have done what your childs class teacher did (something I do too) as they do not feel parents need to know what their child gets up to at school. I make a point of telling each parent anything significant that has happened to their child during the school day, even if it's something small like having a headache. I do not want parents to think that I don't not notice or care for their children, as a very important part of my job is to care for the children in my class.

These kinds of things do not depend on the type of school or the curriculum but the class teacher.

Another thing about parental involvement (i've already typed more than 4 lines so I might as well just carry on :D ) I have some issues with the level of involvement parents think actually adds value to their child's learning experiences. It is more than just teaching your child at home. In my very first qualified teaching post I was working in a very very affluent area, my school was a public school but the area made it stand out as a 'outstanding' school, lending itself to more or less the same amount of pressure/level of expectations of a private school. However, these parents were amazing. The PTA was always raising funds for the school, we had so many parent volunteers who would come in to assist with reading, art projects, school trips, and so forth.

The school I work at now, area wise it's less affluent, in fact, very working class. The parents don't care, they don't even bother sending their children into school with the correct uniform! They don't want to help out with school fetes, make costumes for procductions...nowt. To an extend it probably is the area, however, most of these parents see school and teachers as glorified babysitters. The parents that do care about their childs education only care about their child, they do not value the school as part of the community that could benefit the wider community too. It is not as if they do not have the means to help out, all they need to give is a little bit of time, I know for a fact most of the parents do not work. The parents at my last school did work but still made the effort to spare some time...for the school, not just their children.

[Sara516]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

@Afshi

I was reading an article today in the Star about these kids with 100 percent averages...and they all went to public secondary schools. Some of them went to not-so-great (u can even say ghetto) schools and kicked butt! wow! I have friends that I met in university that came from really ghetto high schools, but are now are all doctors. =)

I think that even with a great school (whatever choice it may be), its the at-home environment that also makes a difference..dont u think?

Same here Afshi....I agree, I do think its the home-environment that makes all the difference. You can go to a fancy school but if your struggling and parents aren't helping....that money's going to waste....like milly said, some parents treat school as a glorified babysitting center.

I know people who went to super expensive private schools and really haven't done much with their lives; on the other hand, I know kids who went to regular public schools, even local city colleges, and are now doing well academically/professionally (as well as being generally decent people).

To add to Muzna's post, take a look at your different regions and the subjects your kids are being taught. I know in Ontario, they made some changes that are so extreme where my friends actually pull their kids out of school for a set number of days during which certain topics are being taught (to six year old children). They don't want their kids being exposed at such an early age by their own teachers.

The public school system may be fantastic in your area, in which case, you probably don't need to even consider the option of private school. That does not apply everywhere though.

Just out of curiosity, what were the topics being taught?

[Niksik]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

Sara, I heard of one district that was elaborating on same sex relationships...they read out books on that topic, so the book would talk about Eva who had a mommy and a mommy.... I believe the parents stepped in and eventually the topic was eliminated. Maybe topics like those?

[somegroovychick]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

^ Also sex ed, if I recall correctly from what I read- 6 is way too young to learn about the birds and the bees imho!

i know i'm stating the obvious here but i think its been a little bit overlooked thus far in this conversation-- the biggest thing in deciding between montessori or not is your kid. some kids thrive in more structured environments led by teachers where there's a routine and you know what is happening when in terms of classes and you get homework etc., and some kids prefer learning on their own in a less "disciplined" one where they set their own learning pace and decide what they're going to focus on, on a daily basis. you can't apply one philosophy to every kid. as much as i want my son to attend montessori, if i see that he's not doing well or not comfortable there, he'll go elsewhere.

as for success, i disagree with KKF here. i really don't think you can measure it solely with the degree you have and where you went to school. both my father and my husband are self-made men. neither of them hold fancy degrees, but both of them are mA very successful in their chosen careers and a huge part of that is they're motivated and dedicated enough to go the self-taught route, and that is where they thrive. book learning isn't the be-all end-all of getting an education. and classroom learning at the higher level didn't work for them - they weren't challenged enough in that environment and preferred real-life, practical learning at their own pace to get to where they are today. would it have been easier for them to get their mba's and cfa's etc. and work for a corporation? relatively speaking, probably. but would they have been satisfied going that route? probably not. plus, there are certain careers for which degrees don't count, like advertising or graphic design. i know lots of people who work at ad agencies and are very successful in their fields, both in creative and non-creative roles, and their university degrees did jack for them. in those fields, its all about personality, drive and aptitude. if you want to be a doctor, teacher, lawyer, for eg., then you need the book smarts to get ahead, but that doesn't apply to every career stream out there.

[khawateen]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

Ya but when u have 9 yr olds getting pregnant...6 is the new 14 ....sadly :/

[Milly]

Re: Pre-School VS Montessori

In the UK we have to teach relationships and what they mean to 5-6 year olds, but not Sex Ed. I would refuse to teach that to 5-6 year olds. They get the Sex talk in Year 6, when they are 10-11.