Save the primary Montessori program at Langdon Education campus
The toddlers (3,4 and 5 year olds) in Langdon Education campus' primary Montessori classes have been thriving since 1997. Our three year olds are learning to count, sound letters and work on their motor skills such as writing their names. By four, these kids are doing simple addition and subtraction, reading easy readers and writing simple sentences. It's particularly amazing when you find out this is happening at a school where the student body is 95% black and 71% receive free or reduced price lunch. Instead of strengthening this program, parents received letters indicating the primary program will be discontinued this year.
This hurts our children. When we enrolled our children, it was because we saw the benefit of having the same highly trained teacher for three years. All of Langdon's Montessori teachers have AMI Montessori diplomas where they mastered cognitive and social development. Our teachers believe in the potential of all children. They have demonstrated their willingness to take the extra step to reach a child.
When we enrolled our children, we saw the benefits of a mixed age classroom. The younger children strive to get to the level of their older classmates. Maria Montessori believed there is a teacher in every child so the older children are encouraged to teach the younger children. The most beautiful sight is to see how the children function like a family. They have such a sense of pride in caring for each other.
When we enrolled our children, we saw the benefit of having teachers trained to accommodate a variety of learning styles. Unlike a traditional classrooms, where a child has to conform to the adult's teaching style, Montessori teachers create individualized lessons for each child rather than group lessons.
Did you know most Montessori schools in the District are private? We can't afford the $22,063 it costs to attend. This program is the most important District government service and resource for our families and communities. Please help us save our Montessori!
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Anonymous commented
All for it if they clean house . Isn't this school under investigation for misuse of government funds ? The former principal had her daughter , granddaughter and great grandson at the school on a daily basis while the former two were receiving money from the school's HSA funds.
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Adrienne Wood commented
My daughter was in the Montessori Program at Langdon Elementary, and studied under Kim Underwood. She was a most accomplished and accredited teacher and my daughter would not be the great student she is today without the program and Kim. Mind you, the whole time of her matriculation, the principal tried her best to undermined both the program and Ms. Underwood. Glad to hear that the principal is now under investigation, as of Monday!
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Anonymous commented
I don't know who categorized this as preparing infants and toddlers, but this is about schools and school governance. Kids in this program are 3 or older, school age.
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Anonymous commented
I totally support this. We should discuss this in the context of how Mayoral control has taken any accountability out of our system, the Chancellor is the Queen of DCPS and the Ombudsman and the education review which were in the law have never been supported by this Mayor or the previous Mayor.
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Anonymous commented
Please come to One City summit this Saturday and voice your voice!
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I have no children other than the 150+ men and 10+ women whose well-being I monitor out on the streets. Many are "underprivileged". Yes! early education IS important... and schools like Montessori are the best. These kids NEED a head start.