The Benefits Of Early Education
Wednesday - July 05, 2006
Dad and Zack on his big day
Our most recent occasion found a sea of graduating caps bobbing up and down in nervous anticipation. The graduates were sitting in alphabetical order awaiting their turn on stage to accept their diplomas. Anxious murmurs among the graduates were punctuated with squeals of delight. There were even a few who told their teachers they had to make shi-shi.
Clearly, this was no ordinary graduation and, I can assure you, this was no ordinary graduating class. My wife Bernadette and I were tremendously proud to attend the Early Education Center’s graduation ceremony - because counted among the graduates was our son Zachary, who is on his way to kindergarten.
I know there are some of you who question the validity of graduating a class of toddlers. Graduations, some people say, should be reserved for high school and college students. These kids are being given a false sense of accomplishment and the adults are promoting the idea of promotion on the flimsiest of criteria. There is even a critical comment made about grade school graduation in the hit movie The Incredibles.
Unless you have children participating in such a worthwhile celebration of transition, it will be difficult to convince you of the profound benefits of such a wonderful exercise. Suffice to say, Zack’s graduation elicited a wave of emotions that ranged from giddiness to tears. Clearly, the graduation from a preschool is not defined by scholastic excellence, but rather the ceremony is an acknowledgement of accomplished preparation.
I am a tremendous proponent of preschool. Zack and his sister Zoe both began attending The Early Education Center at 18 months of age. Berna and I searched for a preschool that would allow our children to be exposed to social development, structured supervision, basic education and a nurturing environment. We count ourselves fortunate to have been accepted to EEC. I know our children’s lives are better for their experience.
Zack and Zoe will reap the benefits of their early education. Whatever they accomplish in life, they will always know their beginnings. Those beginnings will include The Early Education Center. Our heartfelt thanks go to all the talented and dedicated teachers and staff who have indelibly impacted our children’s lives. Miss Ezra, Miss Kathleen, Miss Keisha, Miss Glee, Miss Tiffany, Uncle John and others will always be remembered with respect and affection.
Happy 20th anniversary to The Early Education Center.
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS Comments (0) |
Most Recent Comment(s):
