Nursery school co-op turns 50 years old

Parent and students return to school for anniversary fete

By Michele Leung

What comes around goes around. That's a recurring theme at the San Jose Parents' Participating Nursery School, which saw 300 of its alumni parents and students return for the school's golden anniversary on May 21.

The nursery school, located at 2180 Radio Ave. for 20 years and home to 96 families, was the first parent cooperative nursery school in San Jose. It was founded in 1950. In this co-op setting, parents are required to play an active part in their toddlers' education, from helping in the classrooms to doing general repair work to fundraising.

In addition, parents are asked to participate in a monthly parent education meeting. "The parents are very much involved in running the school. The school belongs to the parents," said Lori Polevoi, who has a son enrolled at the school.

What comes around goes around. The experience at the nursery school has inspired several alumni parents to teach--at the school, no less. Betty Klem of Willow Glen almost became a high school French teacher. But after seeing her three children graduate from the nursery school, she decided to focus on the needs of toddlers. "I came back because the experience was so great," she says.

Many of the families have at least one parent who works only part time, and Klem admits that not all families can afford this luxury. Financial obligations can preclude constant parent participation.

However, Klem's participation was invaluable in her eyes, because she learned to be a better parent. The interaction she had with her fellow parents, both from the parent education class and the exchange of stories and tips, gave her opportunities to learn.

For example, she said she felt reassured knowing that a phase her 4-year-old went through was common among children that age. "Being a parent is one job we don't get training for," she said

One aspect of the school that Klem particularly appreciates, even after two decades of affiliation, is the setup of the school. Instead of a traditional academic curriculum, the school provides a developmental approach to preschool education. "We provide themes around what we teach. We give guidance, but the curriculum is malleable," said Klem.

Klem explains that parent aides are in charge of different stations in the classroom, but the children are free to roam where they want. "They can play in the sand pond or with lady bugs until they're done," she said.

This developmental approach is common of co-op nursery schools, adds Polevoi.

What comes around goes around. Evelyn Williams is an 80-year-old alumni parent who got involved with the anniversary celebrations by accident. "I'm helping out because I just heard of it," said the Willow Glen resident of 43 years. "I'm doing some research and getting in touch with the old-timers."

Williams was already a knowledgeable mom in 1957. The family had just moved here from Georgia, and Williams saw her three children through elementary and high school. But what to do with her 3-year-old? Williams said the parental participation requirement attracted her. "I had never seen anything like this on the East Coast," she says.

Williams lost no time in getting her son enrolled. The minimum conditions for enrollment in the early days are that the children had to be 3 and potty-trained. "The day Dougie turned three, he had a physical and he was already housebroken," Williams said.

Williams, who worked as a reading instructor elsewhere, saw immediate effects in students whose parents were aware of what went on at their children's schools. "I could tell which child had been read to. I can tell by their advantages that they attended a school like this," she said.

Fathers were less visible during the day, but active during the weekends. Williams' husband, Ben, was a weekend warrior and often did repair work for the school. "My husband was greatly enriched. He wouldn't miss [the anniversary] for the world," she said.

Fast forward 50 years, and current parents will say that the presence of fathers in the classroom is not such an anomaly today.

Willow Glen resident Matthew Doar is one such papa who enjoys the hands-on approach. "I like the idea that we get out what we put in," he said.

Doar works full time as a software developer, but when he is on "duty relief," he spends a morning each week with his daughter Lizzie at school. "When I first went, I was an observer. I had to observe a child whose parent wasn't there and take notes," he said.

The purpose of such a report lets other parents know how their child interacts with peers. Next year, Doar will sit on the school's board and will be in charge of organizing parents for repair sessions.

What comes around goes around. Dougie, the "housebroken" son of Evelyn Williams, is now Doug Williams, a retired Marine officer. Mom says he was so impressed with the school that he asked U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell for a flag that has flown at the U.S. Capitol to be presented at the school's celebration. In addition, he has started a similar co-op nursery in Seattle, where he lives. "I had no idea in 1957 what a great experience this would be," says Williams.

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