Letters: October 2007

The Grades Are In
We were happy to see an article helping parents navigate the preschool options in Greater Boston [“Junior Achievers,” September], but feel that including more top-notch schools with lower tuition rates would have been a better focus. There are many schools, including ours, that work hard to keep tuition affordable and offer scholarships. It’s also important to note there is federal money available through local community partnerships if a school has received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

While your article highlighted some fine programs in the area, we hope it did not leave readers with the impression that if they don’t spend a lot of money on preschool education, their children will be at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives. There are many excellent options within reach of the average pocketbook.

Barbara Sullivan, Paula Dolan, and Katie Donovan
Directors, Auburndale Community Nursery School

Your article on the top Boston nursery schools was very informative, but I did not see any reference to NAEYC, the most widely recognized accreditation system for early-childhood programs and childcare centers. NAEYC accreditation—which gives parents the assurance that a school offers a high-quality program that provides a safe and nurturing environment while promoting the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of young children—is an extremely helpful guide for parents when selecting a preschool for their kids.

Ginny Smith Alterio
Director, Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills

Michele Orecklin’s article “The Truth Hurts” [September] is a sure sign of the times. Though parents today strive for the “best,” they don’t always understand what the “best” is for different ages, especially very young kids. Preschool is clearly important, but the type of school matters far less than the experience it offers, as the experts in Orecklin’s article noted. And it’s interesting to see how the various preschool experiences play out in elementary school—because the truth is, you can’t tell who went to a “pricey” preschool and who went to a “budget” preschool.

Preschool is for two-to-five-year-olds and, as the name suggests, the teaching is aimed at developing “pre” school skills. What do preschoolers need? Space to explore. Space to have fun. Space to be kids. This can be done in many types of environments, but, regardless of the price tag, the outcome will be the same.

Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe, M.D.
CEO and chief editor, Pediatrics Now

We were startled to see Michele Orecklin’s characterization of John Winthrop’s application process as onerous and involved. We have a one-page application form (no essay), and parents of prospective students are required to take a tour of the school. That’s it! The entire process can probably be completed in under an hour.

Marcia Lewis
Director, John Winthrop School for Young Children

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