I just read a bunch of very interesting and convincing studies that show that IQ and gifted child tests taken before 7 years of age are very poor indicators of a child’s actual academic potential. Apparently, there is very uneven development still going on before that age (shocking, I know) and it doesn’t seem to average out until about age 7, so it is very difficult to tell truly compare children academically or test to see if they are gifted before that age (horribly disappointing, I know). I am, therefore, of the opinion that these entrance exams are of very little value, except insofar as they make the parents of children who get into the elite schools feel superior about their children. Worse, I think they inaccurately track kids so that truly gifted kids miss out on opportunities and put too much pressure on kids who might actually need extra help. Lucia might be doing fine, but Kindergarten is the wrong time to test that.

“or at least marries well?” I really hope you were making a snarky attempt to channel the delusional mom or something, because no way should the concept be that an acceptable fallback to educational success is a rich husband. What it it were a boy child – you would say the same?

Point taken.

If you are paying $19,000 for preschool, you’re an idiot. That is all.

I went to school (public for that matter) and several of my fellow classmates were accepted to Ivy League colleges. If I had made better choices as a teenager, I know I would have been too. Why do I hear so many stories of Big City mom’s massively over-spending and over-reacting on simple things for their children?!

This article reminded me so much of the documentary Nursery University that came out a few years ago. It’s a really funny, entertaining, and shocking film about how crazy many NY parents get about sending their kids to good schools, starting with nursery school. Getting into good nursery schools is basically treated with the same importance as getting into an Ivy League college (and parents are putting down the same kind of money). Really eye opening, and definitely a must see for all parents.

@K Annie — You make a good point about caring about our children’s education. But given that in 30 years the administrators have never received a similar complaint (according to them), I’m guessing the curriculum is more than satisfactory. I don’t fault a parent for valuing her child’s education, but I wonder how much of the problem is the education the child received vs. the child’s ability to perform well on a high pressure standardized test. I’m guessing if this school was really just about juice and cookies, they’d have a hard time demanding — and receiving — the tuition fees year after year.

@K Annie — We see it differently, I guess. My daughter starts preschool in June and someone asked me the other day about the curriculum. I couldn’t answer. What I know is that when we’ve visited there the teachers exude warmth and intelligence, friends with kids there rave about the experience and the director is probably one of the nicest and brightest people I’ve ever met. I’m not sending my daughter to train for Harvard; I’m sending her there to ease her into her educational life. I want her to keep acting her age while slowly learning how to learn. And to me, that’s all about finger paints, nap time and juice and cookies — just doing it alongside others peacefully and with lots of fun. If she doesn’t end up getting that, I’ll be mad, too, but I won’t sue. I’d just change preschools and blame myself for not knowing enough about the aforementioned curriculum.

Oh, and I don’t assume it’s a good school because it’s expensive, but I do assume that if people have been paying any amount of tuition and aren’t getting what they want out of the experience, there would have been more than one lawsuit in 30 years.

@KAnnie — See, and I think it takes highly educated, skilled and patient people to intelligently wrangle a group of 2-year-olds into peaceful playtime, and for that I have all the respect and admiration in the world. If I didn’t, I certainly wouldn’t let them have a crack at my kid. But you seem intent on being contrary and, frankly, a bit angry. Regardless, I’m satisfied with how I’ve made my point.

@KAnnie — I have no doubt my daughter will go to Harvard — she’s as bright as they come and I will expect the best from her in preschool — but “the best” is subjective. How is that anti-elite (and what does that even mean?) or anti-leaning? It’s crucial for her to learn how to get along with other kids at this stage in her life and the people who are there to guide her are critical in that process. To me and for my daughter, I think preschool is and should be carefully and intelligently constructed playtime, and learning should go hand-in-hand with that. By no means do I want my kid to be doing anything rigorous when I send her off with her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Let her learn to love being in school and ease into her educational life. And I’m all for teachers — my mom taught fifth grade for 37 years and is the titanium standard for education, as far as I’m concerned. I’m against what appears to be someone blaming anyone for a preschooler who didn’t score well on a standardized test, and for thinking it’s okay for a preschool center for toddlers to do nothing but teach to a test. To each her own beliefs, of course, but to me that would be a sign that early education is in serious trouble.

@KAnnie — I feel like I’m having a conversation in the Twilight Zone. Re-read the post; it has nothing to do with me. Re-read my comments about my kid; it has everything to do with my kid (whom I said WILL go to Harvard, not won’t). If you’re seeing everything in absolutes and black and white, it’s quite difficult to have a meaningful and productive discussion. Who said rich people were bullies and ambition is idiotic or that preschool shouldn’t have curriculum or standards? Perhaps you’re confusing my post and comments with something else you’re reading simultaneously? This discussion skyrocketed past silly several hours ago.

Look. I misread your post about Harvard (because I was annoyed). Sorry for that. What I haven’t misread, though, is your tone. All that “quelle horror” and “bien sur.” is a clear attack on the rich and involved and ambitious and it mocks those that WOULD care if they felt their child was receiving less than the education they deserve. And additionally, the way you paint early education as cookies and juice is insulting to the field, the professionals who work in that field and anyone trying to secure (or defend) the right to top notch education for their preschool child-and all children. And calling the director of your daughter school “bright” is condescending and insulting. You seem to think you have the right to roll your eyes at priviledge, but you aren’t seeing your own. Believing that nothing is at stake when you use this kind of cute thoughtless tone towards education and that early education isn’t worth serious consideration (that would include being aware of the curriculum at your daughters preschool) is a priviledge you seem very eager to defend. I’m not sure why…