To school or not to school? That is the question. More specifically, to start schooling at 3 -- is it really necessary?
According to my fellow mommy friends -- Bubbie included -- it is. For working parents, it seems the only way. But for a work-at-home mom, like me, I don’t see the need. Still, I caved to peer pressure and narrowed my choices to three recommended Jewish preschools.
My son and I made our way to the first contender, a traditional preschool in the East Valley. The dilapidated building looked as if it was under construction, which I choose to not hold against the school – until my husband later said he’d attended preschool there and mentioned it had looked that way for nearly three decades.
After my son joined the other children for circle time, he was the first to recite his ABCs. The teacher turned to me and asked, “If you are going to teach him at home, what is left for us to teach him?”
We exited shortly thereafter.
The second candidate was the preschool on the hill. The teachers were pleasant and the school grounds were beautiful. The views were spectacular, which I’m sure was factored into the cost of tuition. How else do you justify a two-year preschool tuition that rivals the cost of a new Prius?
So we made our way to our third choice.
The director greeted us and said she did “not have time for this.”
This? My scheduled appointment? She spoke to us as she hurried down the hall. My son and I jogged closely behind to keep up. She announced that my son would be placed in a Hebrew-speaking class. If I chose to enroll him, I explained, my preference would be to place my son in a more diverse class, especially since English is his first and, frankly, his only language. She said that there were only two other classes: a religious class and a secular one, which was filled.
When I inquired about scholarships, she was quick to say, “Not every Jewish child gets to go to a Jewish school. Even my grandkids don’t attend Jewish schools.”
This seemed to be my cue to leave.
I can’t say that the research was for nothing. It helped inform my decision to continue outings with my son. We will still visit libraries, bookstores, museums and parks together and meet up with friends for scheduled play dates. Also, the Skirball and Getty offer particularly nice views.
As a wise teacher once asked, “If you teach him at home, what’s left for us to do?”
To her I would respond, “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
Published in the August/September issue of Jewish Family (a publication of The Jewish Journal)
