Class pics

Ylang Ylang Class, 2012-13

Sloka, 2010-11

Though neither Greg or I really think of ourselves as educationally counter-culture, surprisingly we've found (or at least, I have found) myself singing praises of both the Waldorf school Wm attended in HYD and the AMI Montessori school in Manila.  While "Waldorf-inspired" and "Montessori-like" schools abound, in our case both schools have been "strict constructionist" adherents to the methodologies, which has required significant parent-learning, too, so that our home environment is not at odds with the rhythms of the school classroom.

I have come to appreciate the schools so much because both require a conscious decision by parents to select that method of instruction, so parents are invested.  Not that the same commitment wouldn't happen in other schools (many of the parents at Patch's school, a play-based American preschool, are highly engaged!), but that, especially when dealing with cross cultural issues, being surrounded by parents who have made the same decision as us means we share a common denominator.  In both these particular schools, too, the same group of children stayed in the same class for two years, creating strong bonds in an otherwise transitory lifestyle. 

Both Sloka and Maria Montessori continue from age 3 through grade 8 (and both are currently adding high schools).  His classmates, past and present, don't realize how lucky they are, having access to such wonderful institutions with committed teachers and parents, for their entire school life.  I'm kind of jealous of the parents, in fact.  It's funny to look at these pictures and think that, while both schools have a special place in my heart, Wm doesn't really remember Sloka and will only have vague memories of MMCSFI. 

I know we'll probably grow to be as attached to other schools as we move around -- whether in the U.S. or overseas.  I feel like batting 2 for 2 right now is pretty high, though -- especially since in both cases we've gone outside the traditional embassy-recommended options and selected which school "felt right."  Honestly, I really can say that's how we chose both: walking around the classrooms, we both sensed that it would be a good match.  A little new-agey of an approach, perhaps, but in both these cities, our gut instinct has proven spot on.  Wm and we are better for it.