Planning for Education in Utero

Other Good Things

We asked Taté Walker, or she offered, (it probably depends on who you ask) to write a blog post about enrolling her daughter at Baan Dek. We’re absolutely thrilled that she decided to share her thoughts. And, we’re equally humbled by her kind comments. Hope you enjoy.

“It was a sunny summer day in 2008 when I first met Mr. and Mrs. George. I was freelancing for the Argus Leader, writing an article about private preschool/kindergarten options in the Sioux Empire and focusing on this little-known gem with a weird name: Baan Dek Montessori.

At the time, I was about six months pregnant with my daughter, Mimi, so the Georges met me when I had a gravitational pull. I think it almost fate-like that we met when we did; had I not been expecting my first child, I may not have been as interested in the pink tower or the Hobbit-sized toilets as I was. But I listened with a mom’s ears as the benefits of Montessori education were listed – and demonstrated – and found myself picturing my future daughter roaming the life skills areas with eager hands and an open, undeterred mind.

From then it was easy to like the Georges and their philosophies on everything from education to art. I appreciated their unique views on architecture and cultural appreciation. Having been raised in Lakota traditions – and my husband having been raised in the Ojibwe culture – I firmly believe children learn best from a wide range of options; I am not a fan of the memorization/regurgitation method many public education systems utilize. Traditionally, Native Americans taught their youth via kinetic means – showing, touching, and doing, in addition to visualization of concepts. I feel many traditional cultures relied on these means, and public education, while good in its own ways, tends to lose children who learn best in these ways.

From here you can surmise Mimi was born to attend Baan Dek. Thanks to the Georges’ aptitude with social media, our family has been able to keep in touch through the years with the goings on of the Montessori from a Facebook distance. Eventually, my husband and I could wait no more and we officially approached Baan Dek about enrollment procedures. We were told Mimi could start at 30 months old, and we could prepare her by encouraging an independent attitude. Luckily for us (at times), Mimi has a well-established independent streak.

Mimi will begin her Baan Dek experience Feb. 28. Her father and I couldn’t be more excited for her. She was able to meet Mr. and Mrs. George a few weekends back and it was like a reunion of old friends. My husband and I had our anxieties about this adventure, but that meeting confirmed what we had known since before Mimi was born: Baan Dek would live up to its name as our child’s home away from home, nurturing her and guiding her to fully develop her sense of self. That June and Bobby George are amazing people is a bonus, and the end of February can’t get here soon enough.”