I also pulled my child out of Skinner Montessori. The icing on the cake was that my child was shown movies and Scooby Doo television in the classroom EVERY DAY for three weeks straight. I was stunned. At 5 years old she watched High School Musical, Scooby Doo, and then a long list of Disney movies I monitor my child's TV and Computer time very closely and was never told that she would be watching movies. I was paying a LOT of money for that time! My complaints were met with anger. And I was told by Nikki that she "investigated" and nothing wrong. I am a licensed Family therapist and I promise you there is NEVER a reason to show movies to curious, and learning Montessori children.
Nikki runs and very different kind of "Montessori" that is not traditional AMI Montessori. The uniforms are the beginning. I didn't mind the uniforms, but children are allowed very little outdoor time and the school is very rigid (all in opposition to Montessori philosophy). Another mom just pulled her child out of Nikki's classroom after the TV was pulled out the first week. Amazing. Not educational movies -- we're talking Disney.
The staff is trained to ignore the parents as much as possible. Sometimes they even lock the office door. There is very little communication with parents who are treated as pests rather than active participants in their child's growth. Oh - except when it comes to money. The "Mandatory Donation" is an example.
Good luck and be careful in the choices for you child!
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