I don't usually read reviews about our school because I've been a parent there for so long now, 6 years ago our then 2 year old began her Montessori journey at Evergreen. She is now in the elementary class and we have certainly watched all of the day to day workings of the school very closely. A friend mentioned the negative review that didn't ring of truth with our experience so I decided to check it out.
I admit that living in a world of reports, tests and hyper supervision caused some need for adjustment (for us certainly not for her). The experience for our family has been extremely positive and we are very hands on and involved, in and out of the building at different times of the day unannounced and always welcomed. The freedom to move around and make wise choices based on interest has always been observed to be discreetly "supervised" by staff in ways that fosters independence by the children. It is far different than day cares we have visited or had experience with in the past with locked classrooms and alarms so that the children have no reason to make safe choices on their own. I have to say that I have never in all these years worried that my child was not supervised sufficiently or cared for in the same way I would care for her if I were there. She learned early the consequences for behavior and to be responsible for her accomplishments in the classroom and has grown into a creative, self reliant person who LOVES going to school every day. We live within walking distance of a superior public school but choose to stay at Evergreen making financial sacrifices because of the experience over a long time that the Montessori method that Evergreen is committed to follow diligently is best for our child.
Is every single day perfect, is every teacher perfect every single day, does the administration always do exactly what I would do if it were me, no, of course not, but I've never experienced a place where these things are true. The vast majority of the time this school gets it right and that is what matters to me. If I see things that need to be improved I (and all the other parents I know who are really involved) jump in and work with "OUR SCHOOL FAMILY" to make it better. I'm not paying babysitters or traditional teachers to watch over my child ingest material, I'm investing in my child's educational/emotional and spiritual future by contributing to a school of highly trained professionals that I value and support as they guide her exploration of her amazing ability to learn everything she wants to learn. The reviewer is right there are other choices but we've made ours over and over and over and it's Evergreen.
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