Tara Taylor
After the curriculum changes at the Children’s School have been announced, the reasons behind them and their possible benefits are becoming more apparent. The administration says that a budget deficit and the untimely resignation of the school’s former director are the cause of the removal of the before and after school daycare programming.
Parents are comparing the situation to a hostile takeover of their beloved institution. Teachers are left hoping for the security of their jobs. But as the turmoil wages between parents and administration, there is one group involved that many have forgotten to consider.
Cabrini College education majors take part in field experience and student teaching at the Children’s School every year. Dr. Jonnie Guerra, vice president of Academic Affairs, is one of the administrators responsible for the recent changes in the Children’s School’s curriculum, and feels that the change will be positive for education majors.
“I expect that education majors will be actively involved in the Children’s School next year. It will continue to be a site for field experience and student teaching,” Guerra said.
According to Linda Glavin, a current teacher at the school, the changes will be incredibly positive for both the children and the college students involved. “The kids really benefit from the relationships they form with the college students. A lot can be gained from the students’ interactions with each other.” Glavin said.
One such student participating in field experience at the Children’s School is sophomore education major, Shannon Capriotti.
According to Capriotti, the college students perform what is called “student observations” one semester every Wednesday for 10 weeks. Due to the recent changes in curriculum, Capriotti has noticed positive improvements in the school academically. “The classes are calmer now, and there are more specific things to get accomplished,” Capriotti said.
She considers the only drawback in the program to be the short amount of time that she is allowed with the students. “It’s hard for us because we go on Wednesdays and on Wednesdays they don’t have any small group or academic time. We really only see them during playtime, so I think next year they’re going improve that for us,” Capriotti said.
Whether or not the changes are considered to be positive,the wheels of motion have begun, and the administration feels strongly about their new curriculum. While parents are left scrambling for daycare, college students hope for a more structured teaching environment.
