For the month of September, I will be doing a bit of a mini-series focusing on school issues, this being the first installment.
For a long time, parents of pre-kindergarten aged children have sent their children to preschool. Because of a lack of public preschools, parents usually have to send their children to private schools, specifically, run by the church. In addition to regular aspects of preschool, students learn bible stories. Now, it turns out, there is an option for parents who practice nature-based religions.
In Ashland, Oregon, a Pagan preschool teacher is opening her own preschool, where students will be educated in Pagan and nature-based rituals and traditions. It is operating out of Ashland, Oregon. Here is an article, and I also recommend reading the comments too. http://www.witchvox.com/wren/wn_detail.html?id=19891.
Not everyone is happy about this, but not everyone you would expect to be upset is. Not all Pagan parents feel that this is a positive opportunity, and think that this will make children feel as though they are forced to conform to the practice. Instead, if a child wants to practice paganism, they will decide to on their own, and in their own time.
Something like this is a good thing. It encourages the younger generation to open their minds, and to understand Paganism and Wicca as more than magic. Reading some of the comments on the article when it was published originally, in the Ashland Daily Tidings, (http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/0731/stories/0731_coven.php )I realized how many people were misinformed about the practices. Also, I think that it is important that children understand their parents’ religious beliefs, even if they do not want to follow them.
When I was three, the closest preschool to my house was a Christian one, although not Catholic, which is what my family is. My brother went there before me, and my parents were good friends with his teacher. We also knew some of the students. I believe that I got a good preschool education, and do not resent my parents’ religion because of it. I am still to this day a practicing Christian.
Of course, the beauty of a school like this is that it is private, and no one is forced to send their child there if they do not wish to. However, when I went to the website for the group that will be hosting the preschool, (http://rowantreecoven.com/ ) I found the numerous grammar mistakes, particularly the ones in the biography of the preschool teacher. I am assuming that she wrote it herself, but if she didn’t, I guess that isn’t much of a concern.
I have never been to a preschool in a sense that I actually learnt anything. All I had to do was make it through the day without tormenting any of my classmates, as far as I remember. Plus, it was where my mom worked, so it wasn't like it was anything special. I do know that it wasn't run by any religion. At the time, my mom was atheist, so she would not go into anything like that until I was much older.
I think the idea of offering different options is a good one. Maybe some day the two faiths will combine to make a super-preschool where the kids learn more about human cultures and less about a particular religion of their parents' choice. That would be a cool idea too.
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You can't ignore me, for I'll not lie down quietly.
http://insanitek.net
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Was it more of just a day care?
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
I must say, I am impressed. i love to see people cross over to seek to understand ways of thinking unfamiliar to their own.
I am happy to hear about Pagan preschools! I love Ashland Oregon too. I was there a few years ago for a Shakespear Festival. What a perfect area for such a thing.
If I could send my daughter to any school it would be the Waldoorf School. My husband's cousin's wife works at the campus somewhere between Santa Rosa and San Francisco. There is a campus in Costa Mesa near where I live. A lot of the doctors I work with send their kids there.
The campuses are on ranches or farms. They teach the importance of the land. Kids are responsible for growing and gathering their own food. Classes are all held outdoors except when weather doesn't permit.
Academically, more kids transfer to 4 year universities and graduate on track abiding by the academic plan they first set with their counselor. The magic to this is that the entire academic program is individualized. They focus each child on what they care about, and allow them to study that to their hearts' content. They don't interfere.
My friend showed me the 2nd grade end of the year celebration program where children were acknowledged for their outstanding year-long projects. There were presentations for Middle Eastern dance, Rocket science, and the chemistry of compost gardening.
The only thing is this school costs about $1200/month! To me, this defeats the purpose of the vision. Oh well. I can teach my own baby all of those things. There is still a chance I can get to point of affording this by the time she is ready for kindergarten, but then I thing, "there is no way I can afford to have another child!"
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude