About 80 adults and their 30 kids attended the Montessori dedication at Washington Elementary Friday morning. We all witnessed an auditorium stage with the Kingston School Board and key operators of the program sitting in a row, basking in their accolades, as the Mayor gave praise to the persistent organizers.
School board President David Fletcher spoke of the individual uniqueness of each student and how the Montessori program provides the flexible learning model for each student. Each student learns at their own pace.
The teachers at Washington had to chose between teaching methods as this program was introduced this summer. Many teachers who desired to stick with the traditional teaching method had transferred to other elementary schools while some transferred from others to Washington to participate in the program.
Eligibility was also an issue. Students who’s parents thought the program was unsuited for their child were offered bussing to other elementary schools, while those families outside the Washington district are prohibited from bussing in. [That confuses me]
Believe it or not, They wrestled Sen. Larkin out of retirement to receive his KUDOs for the State Grant that helped propel this program to fruition. His action in the Senate was at the urging of his daughter, asking her father “ how much clout in the Senate have you got left, Dad?” The crowd chuckled.
Quoted in the Freeman: Washington Principal Valerie Hannum said “Even though the rest of the school still employs a traditional educational approach, you'll notice a touch of Montessori in most of the classrooms."
AnnMarie DiBella was the only other Alderman to join me at the dedication.
School board President David Fletcher spoke of the individual uniqueness of each student and how the Montessori program provides the flexible learning model for each student. Each student learns at their own pace.The teachers at Washington had to chose between teaching methods as this program was introduced this summer. Many teachers who desired to stick with the traditional teaching method had transferred to other elementary schools while some transferred from others to Washington to participate in the program.
Eligibility was also an issue. Students who’s parents thought the program was unsuited for their child were offered bussing to other elementary schools, while those families outside the Washington district are prohibited from bussing in. [That confuses me] Believe it or not, They wrestled Sen. Larkin out of retirement to receive his KUDOs for the State Grant that helped propel this program to fruition. His action in the Senate was at the urging of his daughter, asking her father “ how much clout in the Senate have you got left, Dad?” The crowd chuckled.
Quoted in the Freeman: Washington Principal Valerie Hannum said “Even though the rest of the school still employs a traditional educational approach, you'll notice a touch of Montessori in most of the classrooms."
AnnMarie DiBella was the only other Alderman to join me at the dedication.
6 comments:
Was the principals dog there? I still wonder why this is always brushed under the table. It is absurd that in Edison kids were denied peanut butter, but a dog is allowed to roam free around the school.
This is an alternative approach to teaching kids whos parents reject the cookie cutter teaching curriculum. It is possible to achieve a better student with a variety of teaching methods. Lets see how this works.
Sottile, Noble,and the rest of the Kingston politician's were there supporting the Montessori program, that is the kiss of death. It is going to be the worst program around with that "gang" involved.God help them children....
Great that our district is now competing with tax dollars with private schools. Maybe they will start a contracting business next?
A person got stabbed in that school and nothing happens to the kid that did it, some school.
How many teachers ended up leaving? My child recognizes the music, gym, a speech teacher and lunch monitors. The district told us there was not a mass exiting of teachers. I would like to see, but we no longer have the open door policy.I am ready to pull my child. As for the dog, I heard it bit a couple of workers. I thought this dog talks so why didn't it use its words like they were taught? I miss the former GW teachers where ever you may be.
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