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Originally Posted by momtomany  I do not want to sound negative at all-and yet I am a bit bitter about a community of schools that are supposed to be reggio inspired where gossip and cruelty seem the norm. Vermont taylors, I am speaking of the Middlebury area. One postermentioned that education is not that important. I will respectfully disagree. Unless someone has done the emotional work of working out their demons and leaving them at the door then they can be very destructive in the school setting. Education is often a balance to that. Professionals learn ethics, boudaries and respect as core curriculum. I see teachers without so much as an associates who are great, and those who are mean, evil tempered, back stabbing people. No guarantees. This I have struggled with for a very long time,
Education and the committment to work on being able to be challenged and be willing to challenge others is so important.
So back to Reggio. The explanations were great. but as in any other setting, it falls apart with evil spirited people and inadequate directorship. Nature and beauty remain cornerstones for the philosophy.
It is a lovely concept in the care and well being of our children. There are core beliefs that need to be adhered to. Reggio is a beautiful philosophy on the approach of education of young children. It may resonate to us here because it parallels our own parenting styles. Rearch the teachers well is all I can say. In Vermont I am happy to point others in the direction of information.
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Wow, it sounds like you had a very bad experience. I think I know of the school you are talking about.
Here is the thing about being a "teacher" (I use air quotes because I am not really fond of the term, I often learn just as much from the children as they do me.) your right people who work with children and families need to leave their garbage at the door. There is no room for being mean to children at any time. Do you need to guide them sometimes? Sure. But we certainly don't need to insult or harm them.
That being said teachers are humans too. We need to except that sometimes they will get frustrated, sad, or even angry. That's okay. What we need to make sure is that we check our selves and model healthy ways to get these emotions out.
I think there are a couple of things parents and other community members can do to support the teachers. Some of them simple some of them more complicated. Remember preschool teachers often make less then people working at McDonalds, they often do not have health insurance or any sort of retirement plans, they also work long hours at a job where you are on and giving all the time. So thank them. Ask them how they are. Take up donations for items the school needs. Send them on educational retreats to keep them fresh. Burn out is high in this neck of the woods. If you want to be even more active go to early childhood education day at your local state house. Show how important early childhood is.
The regulations are changing; soon it will be required for you to have a master in early childhood to be a head teacher. Good luck paying back those loans at $9 an hour.
Degrees are important they’re is much to be learned in school but I am not entirely convinced that if you don't have the consciousness to deal with your feelings without hurting others that they can teach you that. Honestly, I learned more from my teaching peers then from any class in this regard.
Again, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I have worked in the environment you describe (not reggio but traditional) and I have seen teachers be emotionally abusive towards children, weather they have a degree or not your right it is something to look out for.
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