A unique way of learning
It was so heartwarming to read Tom Waring’s piece on the free, unique mobile preschool that just held its first graduation ceremony (“Proud graduates of a mobile preschool,” Aug. 28). In all my years of teaching, I do not recall even hearing about a real school inside a yellow bus. Truly astonishing.
Of course this was not part of any school district budget. As Waring reported, the funding for the program came from the William Penn Foundation and Vanguard’s Strong Start for Kids program. This was obviously an experiment, since only six children attended for just six months. Even the graduation ceremony was funded by a private nonprofit organization called Xiente.
Waring’s description of the ceremony at the Padre Pio Center in Saint Joachim Church was inspiring. The six young children looked so happy in the photographs published in the Review. They will never forget marching to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance, receiving their diplomas and a medal, and performing for the audience.
My only regrets are that the program was limited to only half a dozen children and that it lasted only six months. But at least it is a start. Plus there are other programs funded by Xiente for parents to attend and improve their skills. All good.
The real value of this program, and others like it, is that it supports preschool education, which is essential to preparing children for both learning and socializing. More such programs need to be started and made affordable. They don’t all have to be on a bus of course.
Gloria C. Endres
