Preschool Insights and Experiences

[angelpat]

@cldy_1981, i think it's much better to choose a school near home.


Age Requirements

Toddler – 2 years old and 6 months
Nursery – 3 years old and 6 months
Kinder 1 – 4 years old and 6 months
Kinder 2 – 5 years old and 6 months

[marose17]

^^ I live in the area also and true, we are spoilt for choice.  I narrowed down my list to 4 schools (two Montessori schools, 1 espousing multiple intelligence theory and 1 traditional/big preschool) and visited them.  I chose a Montessori preschool for my kids.  After reading and researching about the different preschool philosophies and methodologies, I realized that I identify more  with Dr. Maria Montessori's theories about educating children.

You can check out the blog of Global Mama, particularly her Hunting for a Preschool series.  May posts there about Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia and homeschooling based on Charlotte Mason.

If you want to read up on progressive education naman, Teacher Tina Zamora's blog is a good source.

[joyce09]

@ sis marose
sis, i just want a little clarification lang about the Waldorf method of teacing... is waldorf a progressive education?coz i came across about the waldorf education but im not sure if the same with progressive school. thanks...

[cocomarie]

Do parents have a say on how teachers, especially in preschool, discipline their students?  Are there guidelines set by DepEd? 

[marose17]

^^ From what I understand, Waldorf is a kind of system of educating children based on the principles of Rudolf Steiner.

A progressive school is one that is first and foremost, non-traditional.  The philosophy of the school may vary, but essentially, the term "progressive school" is meant to distinguish it from a traditional school.  Basically, iba ang curriculum and teaching method in a progressive school.

^ I don't know how it is with other schools but in the school of my sons, we were oriented by the school as to how they usually deal with common discipline problems - crying children (usually sa first weeks), children who do not want to work (although this is rare in a Montessori setting), bullying, rough play, etc.  Needless to say, walang humiliation tactic or corporal punishment.  As a parent, I let the teachers devise their own strategy in disciplining their students kasi for all I know eh mas effective ang style nila.  Generally, hindi ako makikialam unless may makita akong mali sa ginagawa nila.  Ang alam ko eh outlawed na ang corporal punishment.

[cocomarie]

^thanks marose17.  my son is special needs and non-verbal but is integrated in a regular school.  recently, a co-parent told me that my son was finger-pecked (not just light tapping) on the forehead by his teacher and the teacher assistant every time his eyes were wandering in class.  i also witnessed a teacher slapping the hand of another special needs as a punishment for switching off the lights.  indignant, i brought this up with the school admin/owner and instead of getting sympathy she was defensive.  later on she quipped to a parent that she doesn't want parents to question her staff.  i don't want to let this pass.  i'm also tentative in pulling out my son from school as he enjoys being around his schoolmates.  his "neurotypical" schoolmates are very caring of their special-needs peers. 

[marose17]

^ Naku, I would be indignant too at the finger-pecking and slapping.  I would not do that to my sons, much less to a stranger's son.   You have a right to complain to the school, you know.  Hindi naman iyan ang usual forms of discipline that a reasonable parent might expect the school to take.  What I meant by generally letting the school institute its own system is of course limited for as long as the disciplinary approach is reasonable.  Poking and slapping are unreasonable forms of discipline, lalo na for special needs children.

Perhaps you can write a formal letter to the school and furnish a copy of the letter to the Deped (dunno lang which department is responsible) of such letter.  Such acts of the teacher and teacher assistant should not be tolerated.  Sa mga ganitong situations, mas maganda kung written lahat ng mga reklamo mo. 

You can cite Section 75 of the Manual of Regulations for Private Schools (*I am assuming that your child is studying in a private school):

"Section 75.  Imposition of Disciplinary Action.  School officials and academic personnel shall have the right to impose appropriate and reasonable disciplinary measures in case of minor offenses or infractions of good discipline committed in their presence.  However, no cruel or physically harmful punishment shall be imposed or applied against any pupil or student."

Then relate this to Article 233 of the Family Code:

"In no case shall the school administrators, teacher or individual engaged in child care and exercising special parental authority, inflict corporal punishment upon the child."

Bottom line, if the teachers and assistants have not been at least reprimanded by the school administrator, then you have a right to go to Deped to complain.

[cldy_1981]

@cldy_1981, i think it's much better to choose a school near home.

[/quote]

^^ I live in the area also and true, we are spoilt for choice.  I narrowed down my list to 4 schools (two Montessori schools, 1 espousing multiple intelligence theory and 1 traditional/big preschool) and visited them.

You can check out the blog of Global Mama, particularly her Hunting for a Preschool series.  May posts there about Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia and homeschooling based on Charlotte Mason.

If you want to read up on progressive education naman, Teacher Tina Zamora's blog is a good source.

Thanks angelpat!

Marose17: yeah sobrang daming pwedeng pagpilian sa area natin, I even see this pre-school being "advertised" inside our village. Will a specific type of school help a child get into Ateneo for big school kaya? I prefer kasi sana for my child to enter Ateneo or Xavier. Pero preferably Ateneo pag Kinder nya since ang lapit lang sa house and I like the feeling of the community.

[marose17]

^ Most of the schools located in the area are really geared towards preparing little boys for Ateneo and little girls for Miriam.  I am not a fan though of schools that boast of 100% Ateneo passing rate or the like.  For me kasi, a preschool should first and foremost instill a child's love for learning and not merely prepare the child to get into certain top schools.  Pasado nga ang bata sa Ateneo pero hindi naman siya mahilig mag-discover or mag-isip or worse, hindi adequately prepared, not just academically ha, I am more concerned of the emotional aspect of entering big school. 

Hay naku, we moved to our village because I wanted to send my sons to Ateneo too.  But now, 50-50 pa ako.  I am still deciding if Ateneo is the best fit for them.  Hesitant ako sa big class size ng Ateneo (average of 39-42 students in a class), plus I am more open to non-traditional teaching methods upon seeing how a Montessori/non-traditional school environment had a positive effect on my sons - I could honestly say that my sons love to learn.

Medyo I tormented myself with preschool choices din a few years ago but  over all, I enjoyed the process of hunting for a preschool.  We are so lucky for having many choices.  I know others who envy us kasi nga ang daming good preschools around and this means that tuition pricing is competitive too, unlike in other areas where tuition fee (for schools of comparable quality) is overpriced.

[ceejhei]

thanks sis marose17, they will have their first PTA meeting on friday. nag request ako ng half day sa work para maka attend personally, si hubby ko din will file a leave. thanks so much!

[cldy_1981]

Marose17: ^^ Could not agree with you more on your statement sa first paragraph - true that its really the love of learning that should be cultivated and encouraged more than just reaching a certain grade or whatnot especially in young children. Kasi if they're inspired to learn I think the grades and achievements will follow suit.

Even ba the kinder/prep of Ateneo they hold classes that are that big? Parang ang dami dami nga... For mga kids na grade 3 & up at least for me ok lang na medyo madami yung classmates para at least masanay yung kid ko ng ganon na set up pero for younger ones parang ang hirap kasi of course di naman sila matututukan ng husto if the ratio is 1:39/40+ teacher to students.

[marose17]

^ Next year pa lang mag-o-offer ng Kinder ang Ateneo.  The usual entry to Ateneo Grade School is through Prep and yes, ganoon na kalaki ang class sa Prep.  Next year, wala ng Prep due to K+12.  Grade 1 na ang mga boys aged 5 years 8 months to 6 years 8 months by June (cut-off date is October 2 2006 to October 1, 2007).

[cldy_1981]

^Oh wow! Thanks for the info... some thoughts to consider talaga... May I ask, what schools youre considering for your twins for their big school?

[ceejhei]

sis marose17 thanks for your post. i just got home from work. at eto, nag sumbong ang yaya ng anak ko pati na din ang daughter ko, after showing me her stars, she said, "mommy away ako ni teacher, palo ako sa hands" then the yaya said, "ate pag labas niya sa school sinabi niya saakin kagad na pinalo siya ni teacher.., baka yung teacher na yun yung kinaiinisan ng ibang mga yaya din dun kasi masungit daw"

thanks for the articles you've shared. Now, i am thinking of writing a letter or should i wait for the PTA meeting on friday. naiinis ako!

[khriseeee]

what's a good pre-school in the greenhills area? Maybe a progressive school?

[marose17]

@cldy_81, Ateneo, Centro Montessori along Xavierville Avenue and Northfield are the schools we are considering for grade school.

@ceejhei, I think you should write a letter ASAP so that you can discuss your letter during the PTA meeting on Friday.  If masungit ang teacher at walang patience sa mga maliliit na bata, she has no business teaching preschoolers! 

@khriseee, my cousin who lives in Greenhills sends her daughter to Explorations in Mandaluyong.

[DV]

Cocomarie and ceejhei, kung walang proper response ang principal, it might be useful to furnish a copy of your letters to the board. May politics din kasing involved dyan among teachers and administrators. For something as serious as physical punishment, dapat malaman ng board yan.

[cocomarie]

Thank you marose17 for the references to the Manual School of Regulations and the Family Code.  Yes, I intend to bring our case to the DepEd and also DSWD.  Mahaba yung story on how I found out of the abuse.  Sayang I wasn't able to take pictures of his arms and legs...there were a lot of dark spots which I thought he got from his therapy drills.  Now I suspect these might have been pinch marks inflicted by his teachers.   

[ceejhei]

nakakalungkot naman that we send our kids to good schools and considering that its not even a public school at hindi din naman biro ang tuition fee nila. they should not do that to our kids. Bakit di nalang i-call ang attention ng parents at hindi parusahan ang bata in their own way!

i asked my daughter the reason why napalo ni teacher ang hands niya. She cannot state the reason. Inuulit lang niya ako sagutin ng "palo ako ni teacher marie sa hands" my daughter is only 3 and a half and we all know that kids don't lie. kahit turuan pang mag sinungaling hindi nila magagawa to tell a lie.

[marose17]

It's alarming ha na common pa rin pala yang palo at pangungurot.  @cocomarie and @ceejhei, those acts should not be tolerated.  Nakakainis iyang mga ganyang teachers.  Bakit nag-teacher pa sila kung wala silang pasensiya sa mga bata?