The Garden School Tattler

A reader thoughtfully writes:

I had considered enrolling my child in the Garden School, but I am now having second thoughts. You continually put down children who, though aren't the "cookie cutter" perfection that you're looking for, are very bright and teachable. I don't believe that my child will have behavior issues when enrolled in school. I don't, however, want them ridiculed if they don't fit your plan.

Another parent writes:

Anonymous...I disagree with your thought that kids must fit into the "cookie cutter" model to go to GS. The exact opposite is true. My daughter did not fit into "the box". We took to 3 of the "top" places in Evansville and Newburgh. Each place said that she did not fit into there place. We then tried the Garden School because a close friend was taking their child there as well. We are SO thankful for this. Our daughter has now discovered her potential and she continuously strives to learn more and more each day.

After just a few weeks at GS, we discovered why she did not "fit in" at the other places. She wants to learn and do more, not just be there. The other places were correct that she did not "fit into" their programs, because they did not want to do anything extra that might cause them more work or to challenge a child to meet their potential your child is eager to learn and have a blast while doing it, and you do not take them to the garden school, you will punish the child without reason.

Also, not everyday is always the dream day for your kid (is your’s). But I would say that 18 of the average 20 days will be wonderful at the GS. But this will decrease if your child is not ready to succeed everyday. And as a parent, your child will get more of the GS if you personally put effort into the school. If you notice in the name and most of what I have been typing, “school” is used. Nowhere is daycare used. If you’re looking for a daycare, do the others kids at the GS a favor and not bring your child. But if you are looking for a learning environment for your child to build and succeed from, your child should be at the Garden School.

If you would like to talk in more detail, contact Judy and ask her for P.S.’s father’s phone number.

What a lovely tribute. Truthfully, we don't believe there are cookie kids. Every child is like a full meal. Sometimes it's pate, Cesar Salad, and Rack of Lamb Indonesia with peanut butter sauce and a conclusion of peaches flambe. Sometimes it's franks and beans with a dessert of Hostess cupcake. For the most part the menu changes every few weeks. Today we're bologna, tomorrow cordon bleu.

The child who didn't fit into 3 other places is a remarkably bright child with a personality comparable to the Devil wears Prada. Edith and I saw that movie and we came away liking the character of Merel Streep very much. She was demanding, aggressive and creative.

The whole point of early childhood is to discover the child as he discovers his world. But sometimes a child who "doesn't fit in" doesn't fit in because there are desperate problems.

Here are some of the behaviors we've worked with over the years: one child tried to burn the school down. One child pulled a knife on is mother and tried to stab her on the way to school. One child spread poop all over the school. One child urinated all over the school. We've had children who have stolen money, food, other children's personal effects. We've had children who swore profusely during prayer time. About ten years ago we had a sexual predator child. We had a child who, we were told by two psychologists, would never normalize and would have to be institutionalized. She entered second grade normally, but the work to get her there was incredible PBTG.

At one time there was no help for kids like these, so we took them in. And some of these children became our favorite kids. One desperately needy child stood in the kitchen and like DH Lawrence told me in such beautiful description what it was like to be on anti psychotic drugs.

The student body at the Garden School have always been bright children, eager and ready to learn, each one a delight, a separate special individual lovable to his toenails! Why should a desperate problem in the classroom take their teachers away hours out of the day when there are better and more successful places to give the special needs child the special needs he deserves?

This year at the GS, we have some budding engineers, some interested musicians, some lyricists, some poets, some fine artists, some entertainers, some dancers and some social butterflies. That's where we want to put our efforts - not into the same basic bottom line discipline ad infinitum ad nauseum.

Today we took 30 children to the pool. It was a calm peaceful day with an ordered lunch, and a nice stay at the park. Here's the difference: A really difficult child spends his day running into the deep end and then fighting and kicking the life guards who have to pull him out. He tries to bolt out of the pool and into the street. He pushes the little children under the water, and will disappear only to return having stolen other people's toys. Is this what we want at the GS?

The Garden School does not ridicule children. We remind children what it means to operate in a manner that leads to leadership. Leadership is not cut from a cutter. It's learned and taught in a loving SAFE and caring place. We hope we're that.