By Lesroy W. Williams
Observer Reporter
(Basseterre, St. Kitts) – The month of June has been set aside in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to recognize the proper care of children in the early childhood stages from pre-school to kindergarten.
Mrs. Yvette Slack’s vision of helping children in the early childhood stage resulted in the opening of Slack’s Pre-school on September 6, 1982.
Mrs. Slack and her husband Ian have seven children. Their first five children did not go to a pre-school but their last two went. Mrs. Slack said that her pre-school started in her garage with 12 children. Since then she has been able to expand the school space and now has 50 children enrolled.
The theme for the 25th Anniversary of Slack’s Pre-School, which runs from 6th September, 2007 to 11th July, 2008, is Nurturing Children Spiritually, Intellectually and Physically. The motto of the pre-school is “I will be the best that I can be.”
Mrs. Slack received her training from OCAD’s summer course for pre-school. She completed the training program in three summers. She also did a correspondence course in teaching deaf pre-school children which helped her in teaching her own deaf child.
“I find it very rewarding a work to be doing and I see it just as a community service,” Mrs. Slack said in speaking of her work.
She has a staff of five; three are teachers and two are ancillary workers. Mrs. Slack is a team player and believes in team spirit.
Mrs. Slack believes that the pre-school stage is very crucial in the development of the child and thus a holistic approach is taken in the method of teaching.
She uses the acronym S.P.I.C.E.S. to explain the different areas of focus in educating the children:
S=Spiritual, P=Physical, I=Intellectual, C=Creative, E=Emotional, S=Social.
The children work in areas.
There is the home area, the block area, the quiet area, the art area and water play. These five areas are used in their overall development.
“At this age the children can receive so much and we should put the right things into them at this age and don’t let the wrong get in and if we stimulate them correctly at this age they say it will determine how well they will do in their O’levels and all their tertiary education,” she said.
Over the years, the staff at Slack’s Pre-School has seen a change in the behavioral pattern of the children and it has been a cause of concern.
“We have found that the children as they come in each year, their hearts are harder from the others from years before. They are not willing to feel for other children. They will knock down another child without saying I’m sorry,” Mrs. Slack said.
“Parents seem to focus only on the intellectual development of their children but we are equally concerned about the social and emotional aspects of the child,” she emphasized.
Mrs. Slack thinks that parents ought to invest more time with their children. They need to spend more time in looking about their progress. She knows very well that teaching children require a lot of patience and understanding but most importantly God must come first she said.
The program at Slack’s Pre-school is a two year program. The children enter at three years old and finish at five years.
Mrs. Slack feels very proud of the many children who have passed through her pre-school who are now doing very well in life.
“I thank all the parents that have cooperated over the years with us, who have chosen our school to send their child to and we feel it honoured to be considered worthy to look after their children. To tell you the truth, we have tried our best and we have left God to do the rest,” Mrs. Slack said.
Contact this reporter at lesroywilliams@thestkittsnevisobserver.com
