•

rolled their children in Fieldstone
say they have been pleasantly
surprised. "Because [Workmen's
Circle] was such a good school
last year and we didn't know Jon-
ny and Miriam, we really drilled
them with questions," said Gary
Lockler, whose 4-year-old son,
David, now attends Fieldstone.
"But the more we got to know
them, the more comfortable we
were with them."
Mr. Lockler's wife, Susan,
echoed his enthusiasm. "It's like
a family environment," she said.
"It's not uncommon to find Jon-
ny holding David in his lap in the
rocking chair and reading to him.
You can tell the teachers really

love what they're doing." Ac-
cording to Mr. Lockler, David is
eager to go to school in the morn-
ing, and Ms. Lockler pointed but
that "when I go to pick him up,
he's often not ready to leave."
Missy Edery, mother of 4-year-
old Maya, said, "It's still just as
wonderful. The two teachers are
phenomenal. They're young and
energetic, and the quality hasn't
gone down."
"This is a unique program that
you will not find in other pre-
schools," said Sue Bruss, mother
of 4-year-old Abigail Soble. Ms.
Bruss said she was especially im-
pressed by the teachers' respect
for the children and by their cre-

ative approach. "In most pre-
schools that I looked at, the
teacher directs the activities and
all the kids are expected to follow
along," she said. "At Fieldstone,
the teachers and students work
together, and the teachers really
value creative input from the kids.
The kids don't bring home projects
that look like everyone else's."
Ms. Lockler agreed. "A lot of
the preschools have cookie cutter
projects, which I call 'parent
pleasers.' The teachers basically
do the crafts and all the kids have
to do is put them together," she
said. "Fieldstone doesn't believe
in that, and the kids have to do
everything."
While parents are pleased with
the transition from Workmen's
Circle to Fieldstone, many are
critical of the Workmen's Circle's
handling of last year's situation.
They cited the low pay and short
notice that the school would close.
Arlene Frank, vice chairper-
son of Michigan Workmen's Cir-
cle, said, "I'm not going to rehash
last year. We're focused on the
present and moving to the future.
We're pleased to have Fieldstone
with us, and we'll be renting to
them next year."
Mr. Levy said he and his sis-
ter enjoy a good working rela-
tionship with the Workmen's
Circle. "They gave me a really
good deal [on the rent] because

PH OTOS BY DAN L IPPITT

WHAT'S IN A NAME? page 17

they wanted to make sure there
would be a good-running school
and that the price wouldn't dri-
ve me out," he said. Although
many candidates were unwilling
to run the nursery school at the
salary Workmen's Circle offered
last year, money seems to be of
secondary concern to the Levys.
Although she is serving as di-
rector, Ms. Levy says she is earn-
ing less than $25,000 this year,
and Mr. Levy said that so far the
school has not made a profit. The
Levys hope eventually to buy
their own space and expand the
program so that it can accom-
modate 40 children. ❑

Above:
Jonny Levy reads a story.

Left:
Miriam Levy talks to Benjamin
Smith-Helman.

The Field4t4g,,School has
openin
And will
hold ari'fi k
Aid& prospec-
tive families on Thursday, April
10, from 6-7:30 p.m. The school
is located at 26341 Coolidge,
just south of 11 Mile Road in
Oak Park. For more informa-
tion, call 584-3316.

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