I enrolled my daughter into Montessori house with great hesitation last summer, knowing full well the mixed feelings on Montessori schools. Right away I noticed a coldness when Ginger, the director, talked to me and a condescending note in her voice. However, my daughter immediately bonded with Josh, Zack, and Heather, so I disregarded it. I noticed that Josh was often the only worker there when I dropped my daughter off in the morning, and my friend who picked her up for me (because I work until 6) said that sometimes there was only one worker at that time, too. This made me uncomfortable, but as the kids seemed under control I pushed aside my concerns about that as well. Then the school started taking extended breaks – about 5 days around the 4th of July, 2 weeks in early autumn, etc. Luckily I have an understanding boss who allowed my daughter to come to work with me some days.
When my ex stopped paying child support, I went to the daycare and explained to them that I was going to have to make payment arrangements. They said this wouldn’t be an issue. Around this time, I started paying with money orders because my bank account was in a delicate state. If I asked for a receipt, Josh and Zach and would tell me that they couldn’t write one – only Ginger could. However, I almost never saw Ginger. I had dropped my daughter off at 10am before and she wasn’t there. I had picked my daughter up at 2 before and she wasn’t there. My friend had gotten her at 5:30 before and she wasn’t there. Honestly, I only saw her maybe 4 times the whole time my daughter attended (from summer to January), and each time she spoke to me with the same condescending voice. This meant I often didn’t get any receipt at all, and now I can’t file it on my taxes.
My lease expired in November, and I decided to find a cheaper place to live, because my ex still wasn’t paying child support. Due to moving expenses, I told Montessori house that I was short on money but I would pay them back a lump sum in the New Year. At the time, I felt very happy with them knowing that they were working with me during a difficult financial time. It was this reassurance that prompted me to keep sending my daughter there.
Then, in January, Josh was given a money order of $1000, which he claimed again that he couldn’t write a money order, and again Ginger was nowhere to be found. I went to pick my daughter up the next day and to my surprise Ginger was there. She told me I had better pay her. I told her a money order had been given to them just the day before. She claimed the school never got it.
Frustrated with the school’s frequent closures and also that my daughter had learned absolutely nothing during her entire stay (I actually started tutoring her on writing her letters after school because they hadn’t taught her anything), I had already found another daycare. I told my friend that if he had any trouble when he picked my daughter up the next day, to get her stuff and leave.
The next day, Ginger loudly confronted my friend in front of other parents and children outside demanding that I pay her $3000. First of all, I have no idea where that number came from, and second it wasn’t even my friend’s responsibility and certainly not her place to yell at him about it in front of other people. My friend asked what my daughter had at the school, and they claimed all she had was a naptime pillow, neglecting to mention her jacket, spare pull-ups, wipes, or a case full of spare clothes.
I am beyond frustrated with that school and would never recommend anyone to go there.
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