I’m well familiar with the operation and philosophy of co-op’s. In my proposal, Shirley’s job would become that of monthly coordinator for the parent (let’s think of a word for it)…Parent Scrapbooking Sessions (?). It’s not unlike the parent who takes the role of class committee chairperson and hosts monthly meetings of the class parents. Does that make sense?
I also want to know why this preschool is having graduation ceremonies? I think that’s totally inappropriate.
regards,
widdley
Oh shoot, I totally over looked your remaining remarks! The point of my proposal was to shift responsibility for outcome from Shirley to parents. I think one could take a great deal of satisfaction in hosting monthly meetings such as this…providing snacks, materials, etc. I’ve done something similar. I think this takes the parents making it harder or easier out of the equation. You set the time, place, provide snacks, materials (pages, scissors, adhesives, etc), music playing, open the door and let the chips fall where they may. In this case, the chips belong to the parents, not the host. The host does her monthly job of hosting the meetings and bringing along collected artwork (If she has some) and photos she’s taken. She places those in a file and keeps it at the meeting site.
regards,
widdley
Man, I wish I had a “Scrapbook Mom” during my kids’ pre-school days. I have pictures in a box some where, but nothing as nice as what you’ve done.
I’d have a conversation with the President or teacher. Remind them that you are not a mind reader and if the scrap books are to be given out on graduation day, someone should have communicated that to you. A simple phrase added to the job descriptions “…will create scrapbooks to be given out on graduation day in May.” would have sufficed and would have avoided hurt feelings.
I really think that at the end of the day your gripe is that you don’t feel appreciated or respected for your time and efforts. Reimbursement for supplies is hardly enough thanks for the hours and hours of your time. I do hope that the parents make you feel appreciated when you do finally pass out the scrapbooks.
I know how you feel because for five years I created quarterly newsletters and a phone directory for my neighborhood association. All 465 homes. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent creating the newsletters (complete with lovely graphics), taking it to the printers, buying stamps, and mailing it out 4 times a year. Not to mention the weeks I spent compiling the phone directory, complete with ads from neighborhood business. For my efforts I received $250 a year, which worked out to roughly $2 an hour.
On occasion, I received an e-mail thanking me for my time, but more often than not I’d get a call from a neighbor complaining that their information was incorrect. The last straw came when three months after having the phone directory printed, I called to inquire as to why my street rep hadn’t delivered mine yet. I thought that maybe they thought that since I created them, I didn’t need one. I found out that the Street Rep Coordinator had them still sitting in her living room. Yup, I had spent 100 hours on this thing, and she couldn’t be bothered to make 15 phone calls to get them delivered. I waited another month and then I picked up the directories from her house, delivered them myself, and then handed in my letter of resignation.
After 5 years, I was burned out. Even though it was a creative outlet for me, I felt neither appreciated nor respected. Amazingly, in the year and a half since I resigned my volunteer position, there have been NO directories and only two poorly designed newsletters. Suddenly everyone is remarking to me what a good job I did. Hm. Too little, too late.
Why “totally” inappropriate? Practically everyone has them these days whenever possible, and even 15 years ago when my sister was in a home preschool it was common practice to have a little ‘graduation’ party at the end. My group did one last week; we had a potluck BBQ at one of the homes, each kid recited a short rhyme, and we had a slideshow of photos from the year. They had silly little graduation hats made of craft foam and embroidery thread.
I can see thinking it’s a little goofy to have a graduation, but why totally inappropriate? That seems to me to apply more to, say, the idea of giving the kids beer at the party.
Yeah, but the kids aren’t going to know that. All Johnny is going to know is that his friends got scrapbooks but he didn’t. And when he complains to his mom/dad (assuming they’re like what Hama said, which I think is a pretty safe assumption), all the parent will say is, “Well, Shirley was in charge of the scrapbooks!” and won’t mention it’s their fault and now their kiddo thinks that poor Shirley hates her or something.
Apparently, in my world, “Johnny” is a girl’s name. So be it!
I think they’re inappropriate because not everyone is “graduating” and going on to kindergarten. Some children will remain in preschool one additional year, either due to kindergarten cut off dates or because they need one more year of growth. So, what you have is either one confused child or one that stays home. Does that make sense? I think end of year celebrations are more inclusive and less confusing for those children who aren’t moving on.
regards,
widdley
Here’s another idea I’ve seen. I had a Mom who was into making computerized CD’s. She started a business where she did yearbook CD’s for preschools. She collected a variety of classroom photos and put them on CD’s…background music and all! They were wonderfully made and if I recall correctly she could personalize them with the child’s name at the beginning, showed the outside of the school, dated by year…but all the CD’s were identical. Very nice keepsake!
regards,
widdley
No, it really doesn’t.
Are you kidding? Why is that “inappropriate?” I had one when I was in preschool (we got to wear the little caps and walk out to “Pomp and Circumstance”, and we did little plays and skits. I played the wife in “The Shoemaker and the Elves”).
If they kids weren’t moving on, I don’t think they were in the graduation. And why would they feel left out-graduation was for those who were LEAVING. They’d get their own, but not right then.
Jesus.
Jesus? Guinastasia, children are grouped together in a class that evolves into a class community as the year progresses. Unless the grouping is a mixed age grouping it’s unethical to hold a graduation ceremony for a “class” where all participants are not graduating, that is to say that some children are LEFT OUT. Excluding children is not developmentally appropriate nor is it conducive to supporting good self-esteem.
I’m amazed that on other threads you argue a point so well and on this, the entire concept is trivialized by you. Go figure.
regards,
widdley
No kid is left out of pre-school “graduation” ceremonies, even if they’re coming back the next year. They all come, receive their little diplomas and then pig out on cookies and juice.
If you want to argue that it’s silly to call it “graduation,” you’ll get no argument from me. But to tie in a little year end party to a child’s self esteem is ridiculous.
I am in awe of your photo-journalistic skills… :eek:
I am also jealous–I wish I had done that (for my three, not for a whole class!).
I also don’t see the point in scrapbooking (I and I dislike nouns being made into verbs, but that is another thread). Maybe a photo album of some kind–but how often does one look at albums?
anyhoo-we don’t “do” preschool grads in this neck of the woods, but we sure as hell do kindergarten ones–and I cried like a baby all three times. It is the end of an era in childhood and should be recognized as such.
As for preschool-we do an end of the year party for the classes and I think each kid that is headed for Kgarten gets a poem or similiar–and an empty book to write in or draw, whatever.
My preschool story (not a cooperative, but linked to our church) goes like this: I volunteered to make new curtains for the 4 y/o room that my oldest child was in. The old ones were literally tattered, they had hung for so long. I consulted with the teacher as to them and colors etc. She approved the fabric. I was reimbursed the cost of the fabric (found on sale). I sewed simple valances for all 6 windows. They were proportional to the length of the window, seams were straight ( invisible, actually), and I washed and ironed them and hung them myself, after dusting the damn tops of the windows. Rave reviews, all around.
Kid #2 goes thru the next year, and I am proud each time I drop him off and see my curtains.
The very next year–remember, I still see this room, because it does double duty for Sunday school–they took them down and replaced them. Same teacher.
Same theme in the room.
I can’t figure it out. So, I figure she’s a bitch and leave it at that.
Oh, at the same time, I also sewed the new nursery curtains at the same church.
again, fabric pattern approved etc.-this time, I refused payment–this is church, afterall. They took those down tut suit–I asked about those (the window was over 100 inches wide)–“oh, So-and-so(employee of church, runs Youth dept, but has a baby in the nursery at the time) wanted these cute ones from Target”. Hello? I effing made those curtains. Theme for nursery is Noah’s Ark-curtains are a Noah’s Ark print, approved by Properties. Whatever.
And I will never volunteer to sew anything again for the church. I just shrug my shoulders and look puzzled when someone asks. :rolleyes:
I stand by what I’ve stated here. All early experiences tie in to a young child’s self esteem in some form or fashion. A completion certificate is fully ethical in this case, graduation ceremonies for a child who is not moving forward to kindergarten, is not.
regards,
widdley
Oh for crying out loud, we’re talking four year olds! I doubt they even CARE-they just want the big party and the fun stuff!
Eleanor,
Mom’s like you and Shirley deserve a gold medal for your contributions. Parents who do what you both have done lend a warm personal touch to the experience of each child and their parent. The teacher should be down on her knees thanking you! Did the church not even offer you the curtains back that you made? If it’s any consolation to you at all, there are people in this world who are so totally clueless as to the time investment on the part of volunteers. Why? Probably because they lack first hand experience.
Some people do, and some people let them.
regards,
widdley
Yes, we’re talking about four going on five. Four’s going on five who are well able to experience embarrassment, failure, and incompetancy. Do you think they care when talk turns to kindergarten, they find out they aren’t going and no one explains it to them in an appropriate way? I have nearly 20 years of experience in the field that tells me they do. And you have what, exactly?
regards,
widdley
You think the parents don’t bother to explain that they won’t go on to kindergarten because they aren’t old enough yet?
I’ve served several hundreds of parents and their children, Marley. In my experience, by the last day of school the majority of parents whose children aren’t going to kindergarten have not yet discussed it with their child.
You are missing a point that I made earlier. Some children are not moving on to kindergarten because of cut off dates. Some children are old enough but need more time before moving on. A young child at the end of their four year old year of preschool, knows full well how old they and their classmates are. By that time the concept of friendship becomes a central focus of their thinking. Put yourself in the position, if you can, of the child who knows they are the same age as another child but is not going to kindergarten with that friend.
I deal with these issues on a regular basis, Marley, and have done so for nearly 20 years. I am a teacher, parent educator and mentor to developing teachers. Whether you believe that or not is of no consequence to me whatsoever. I would ask you not to trivialize the emotions or psychology of the young child or assume that how you think a parent would handle a situation is is how they handle it. Keep in mind that most parents of preschoolers are first time parents and have never dealt with any of these issues before.
When I asked why Shirley’s co-op was holding graduations, it was because I was a bit surprised that programs are still conducting these. I stand by what I’ve stated that “graduation” ceremonies in early childhood, are not developmentally appropriate. End of year celebrations are defintely okay in my book…and it’s a book 20 years in the making!
regards,
widdley
Widdley, don’t you think it’s also important to teach them that we take turns and we’re happy for our friends when good things happen to them?
This is exactly the kind of crap that turns kids into spoiled “Me! ME!” Monsters. It’s not always about them. They cannot and should not always be the center of the universe. Sometimes, they actually have to work hard to achieve a goal.
“No, you don’t get to wear a silly hat this time. This time, it’s Tammy’s turn to graduate. Next year, you’ll be a graduate and you’ll wear the silly hat. Aren’t we so happy and proud that Tammy’s going to kindergarten? I wonder what she’ll learn there? Maybe she’ll tell you all about it.”
Where is the embarrassment, failure or incompetence there?
If you’re afraid the parents are too incompetent to speak with their own children, then the teacher should do it. There’s no reason to go into details about why Tammy’s graduating and Nathan isn’t. “Some of us are ready for kindergarten now. Others will be ready next year.” will do nicely. Any shame or embarrassment is solely in the mind of the parent and the teacher. The kid just wants cake.
That’s not true in every preschool. My kids attended pre-kindergarten in a school which ran from pre-k to grade 8. Every kid moved on to kindergarten. No one was held back due to an cut off date - the cut off for pre-k was 4 years old by 12/31 and the cut off for kindergarten was 5 by 12/31. There was some flexibilty for birthdays near the cut off- a few January birthdays got in and a few December birthdays were advised to wait a year for pre-k based upon the informal evaluation before admission. But those January kids went on to kindergarten along with the rest of their class. No one was held back due to not being ready- I guess the evaluation of pre-k readiness still held up a year later.