%:11.1 E1 .
Friends
The man they call
Herbie is one of a
handful of male
preschool teachers.
O
JENNIFER FINER
STAFF WRITER
ne of the carpool mothers wanted
to know which one of the children
was Herbert Pont's grandchild.
Why else would a middle-aged
man walk the halls of a nursery
school?
The problem with the woman's
theory: Mr. Pont's first grandchild
isn't due until January.
Mr. Pont, lmown to the children
at Congregation Shaarey Zedek's
Beth Hayeled Nursery School as
Herbie, is a substitute teacher at
the preschool. He's been subbing
there since September, and he
can't think of a better way to
spend his retirement.
After 37 years of teaching psy-
chology and sociology at Berkley
High School, Mr. Pont began re-
ing besides myself — maybe the
ceiving a pension in June. Three They've accepted him as one of the rabbi and the janitor," he said.
gals.
It's
working
out
wonderful-
months later, he landed his part-
Mr. Pont thought parents
ly."
time job.
might be hesitant about seeing a
Making
the
switch
from
high
Retiring at age 58, Mr. Pont did
school to preschool was not male nursery school teacher. But
not know what he should do
difficult, Mr. Pont said. all the parent comments have
Carp
ool
next. With a schoolteacher's
been positive.
pension and benefits, his con- duty for "Teaching is teaching, at any
"Some moms have remarked
Herb
Pont.
level.
The
idea
is
to
meet
the
cerns weren't so much finan-
that
the kids should have a male
needs of the students. In
cial, but what to do with his
role model," he said. `The parents
high
school,
it's
more
of
a
situa-
free time. After all, he had been
appreciate that I am a father who
working at the same high school tion of offering guidance and coun- has had experience raising my
seling.
Here,
it's
obviously
a
lot
since he finished college.
own children."
His wife, Janet Pont, the direc- different. These kids have a lot
Keith Myers, the executive di-
more
free
time,
they
don't
know
tor of Beth Hayeled, hired him.
rector
of the Michigan Association
"I was a little concerned how it how to talk back to you yet and for the Education of Young Chil-
[as
a
substitute]
there
are
no
would look because he is the di-
dren, estimates the organization,
rector's husband," Mrs. Pont said. grades or lesson plans.
with 4,300 members, is 98 percent
"To
them
I'm
just
another
`Tm blessed with a wonderful re-
female.
lationship with my staff, and I teacher in the room, although they PRESCHOOL TEACHER page 8
don't
see
many
men
in
the
build-
didn't want anything to mar that.