VOL. XXVIII, NO. 1
OCTOBER 1, 1986
Preschoolers serve as West's
other freshmen
other freshmen
This year's freshmen are not the only "new kids on the block." Thirty‑two children between the ages of three and five also started in a new school as the Maine West Child Care Occupations‑Preschool opened on September 12.
The program, which started in 1970. is made up of two sessions, one which meets during periods 2, 3 and 4 and the other during periods 6. 7 and 8.
The aims of the program are to teach Maine students, who serve as teachers in the program, to organize and plan activities for young children. Another goal of the pre‑school is to produce a learning environment for young children.
As Miss Karen Morton, head director of the program, points out. "Working in the preschool helps students gain experience and many of the students are planning careers in nursing and education.' The program allows students to gain experience for possible careers related to childcare. Dana Michau '88, a student in the child care preschool program, commented, "I plan on majoring in Child Psychology. I joined the Maine West program to get experience." Another student, Barb Buck '88, said that she gets, "a lot of experience in the class and it's not just babysitting, but rather teaching."
Most students who help in the preschool have already completed either the Child Development Class or the Personality, Behavior and Relationships Class. The students actually plan and prepare the lessons.
The program, which started in 1970. is made up of two sessions, one which meets during periods 2, 3 and 4 and the other during periods 6. 7 and 8.
The aims of the program are to teach Maine students, who serve as teachers in the program, to organize and plan activities for young children. Another goal of the pre‑school is to produce a learning environment for young children.
As Miss Karen Morton, head director of the program, points out. "Working in the preschool helps students gain experience and many of the students are planning careers in nursing and education.' The program allows students to gain experience for possible careers related to childcare. Dana Michau '88, a student in the child care preschool program, commented, "I plan on majoring in Child Psychology. I joined the Maine West program to get experience." Another student, Barb Buck '88, said that she gets, "a lot of experience in the class and it's not just babysitting, but rather teaching."
Most students who help in the preschool have already completed either the Child Development Class or the Personality, Behavior and Relationships Class. The students actually plan and prepare the lessons.
Linda Kratochvil '87, another student, said "We're given a lot of responsibility. We teach the kids and we plan their lessons." The students decide what will be learned each day in class, and they concentrate on supplying an instructional program, not just games.
Mrs. Vita Senise, a mother of a child in the preschool, stated that, "The Maine West program is better than other preschools because it is built to a four year old's learning level. The girls teach the kids."
Miss Morton also commented that the program offers a great deal of individual or small group attention to each child. One mother, Mrs. Linda Lyng, commented, "One of the advantages of the West program is that each of the children receives more attention from the teachers than the kids would get at most other preschools." Mrs. Denise Everly, another mother, believes that the degree of attention given to the children is much larger at Maine West than at many other preschools. Mrs. Kleiner, mother of four‑year‑old Lindsay, said "There's a much closer relation and smaller ratio between teachers and children here."
Mrs. Kleiner further stated that she enrolled her child in the preschool because, "I participated in my high school preschool program when I was a teenager. I know how good the programs are. The girls work closely with the children. The kids get much more attention in this program than they would usually get anywhere else."
Mrs. Vita Senise, a mother of a child in the preschool, stated that, "The Maine West program is better than other preschools because it is built to a four year old's learning level. The girls teach the kids."
Miss Morton also commented that the program offers a great deal of individual or small group attention to each child. One mother, Mrs. Linda Lyng, commented, "One of the advantages of the West program is that each of the children receives more attention from the teachers than the kids would get at most other preschools." Mrs. Denise Everly, another mother, believes that the degree of attention given to the children is much larger at Maine West than at many other preschools. Mrs. Kleiner, mother of four‑year‑old Lindsay, said "There's a much closer relation and smaller ratio between teachers and children here."
Mrs. Kleiner further stated that she enrolled her child in the preschool because, "I participated in my high school preschool program when I was a teenager. I know how good the programs are. The girls work closely with the children. The kids get much more attention in this program than they would usually get anywhere else."
