Submitted by Daniel L. Berendt, Feb 12, 2008 15:00

This is getting to be a bit too much. Each and every child is gifted, and precious. Why test to get into "the best" pre-school. Does anyone know what "the best" pre-school entails? Initially pre-schools were formed to help children who were considered "at-risk". The Montessori method was initially used to take street urchins off the street and help them to become socially functionable and then become viable participants in society. The Reggio Emilia school was initially developed to achieve the same thing. It seems only the best and more affluent children get to go to these schools now. There are other schools also, that allow only the best and most affluent to attend. That is too bad. Please, I do not begrudge anyone who wants to ensure that their child gets into the best school, that is natural. I, as an aspiring Early Childhood Educator also wants what is best for each and every child. What is the "best" school? Maybe it just is that school down the street. Is the class accredited? That is, is it NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) Accredited? Accreditation will ensure that the school is developmentally appropriate for your child and that she will get everything she needs to develop physically, intellectually (cognitively), emotionally, and socially. I am sure that that is what you want for your child; that is what I would want for her, or any child. Is the school crowded or culturally diverse? Diversity and multiculturalism is a good thing. I had a chance to student teach an early childhood class in the suburbs or in the city...I chose the city, and it was the best thing I ever did, having been raised in a one-culture, not very diverse society of the 50's in the suburbs. I digress. The best is what is best for your child, and the "best" is not always necessarily the "best". Google NAEYC and investigate. This is for anyone who wants to ensure that their child gets the "best" pre-school education.

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