Exemplary Practices 2008

Cooperative Preschools

Lori Kanters of the Belvoir Co-operative Nursery School in Delaware, Ontario, believes that cooperative pre-schools attract a special kind of family. "Parents who choose co-op are seeking a positive first learning experience for their young children," she says.

A lot of commitment and juggling is evident on the part of the parents as they work part-time, are stay-at-home, on maternity/paternity leave or try to balance demanding careers while devoting time to the co-op experience.

A parent participation, or cooperative, nursery school is a nonprofit, non-sectarian, democratic organization where each family shares in the planning and operation of the school. Parents participate in the program on a rotating basis, serving as assistants to a professional nursery school teacher and staff. The efforts of parents and their direct involvement during the school day make parent participation nursery schools a unique educational endeavour. (Meadowest Preschool)

In 1915, faculty wives at the University of Chicago started the first parent participation nursery school. They wanted to provide a social experience for their children and parent education for themselves. The first parent participation nursery school in California was organized in 1929 in Berkeley and is still in operation today.

All of the unpaid work is valued and recognized. Kanters sends out thank-you notes and acknowledges them in the monthly newsletter. Her former preschool created a Volunteer of the Year award where the nominees were put forward by parents and professional educators in recognition of their efforts.

Kanters appreciates the time she spends with parent volunteers and develops a deeper understanding of their children. "Mutual respect between the parents and teachers is of the utmost importance," she says. "Teachers are the pre-school experts, while parents are the resident experts."