Comments on: Leveling the Playing Field http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/leveling_the_playing_field/ the alumni magazine of Vanderbilt University Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:22:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Sylvia Glustrom Schwartz, BS’45 (Atlanta) http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/leveling_the_playing_field/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Sylvia Glustrom Schwartz, BS’45 (Atlanta) Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:38:57 +0000 http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/leveling-the-playing-field/#comment-74 This is of great interest to me. I was fortunate to work my way through George Peabody College during the World War II years, and had a fellowship in the Peabody Demonstration School Preschool under the direction of Irma Finker. I received this position through Dr. Maycie Southall, who was my major professor. Peabody was years ahead of the times in work being done in its nursery school and in the Early Childhood Department. I took several courses from Dr. Leavell, who was beginning to work with students with special needs. I’m now an 84-year-old retired educator who has taught hundreds of children and countless teachers and teenage counselors that working with special children is equally rewarding and pleasing as working with any child. The parents and children never forget the opportunity they had because the teacher and school cared enough to make a difference. I have had special children in preschool classrooms for many years, and now I see these young adults working in society, able to live good lives through a local independent-living program. The last 35 years of my teaching career were with the Atlanta Jewish Community Center where I was a teacher, camp director, and director of early childhood services. My interest in working with the developmentally disabled students is still a major part of my volunteer life. When I entered college in 1941, only three schools in the United States offered a degree in preschool education, including Peabody. The other two were Bank Street in New York and the University of California. We helped by beginning a beautiful thing. This is of great interest to me. I was fortunate to work my way through George Peabody College during the World War II years, and had a fellowship in the Peabody Demonstration School Preschool under the direction of Irma Finker. I received this position through Dr. Maycie Southall, who was my major professor. Peabody was years ahead of the times in work being done in its nursery school and in the Early Childhood Department. I took several courses from Dr. Leavell, who was beginning to work with students with special needs.

I’m now an 84-year-old retired educator who has taught hundreds of children and countless teachers and teenage counselors that working with special children is equally rewarding and pleasing as working with any child. The parents and children never forget the opportunity they had because the teacher and school cared enough to make a difference. I have had special children in preschool classrooms for many years, and now I see these young adults working in society, able to live good lives through a local independent-living program. The last 35 years of my teaching career were with the Atlanta Jewish Community Center where I was a teacher, camp director, and director of early childhood services. My interest in working with the developmentally disabled students is still a major part of my volunteer life.

When I entered college in 1941, only three schools in the United States offered a degree in preschool education, including Peabody. The other two were Bank Street in New York and the University of California. We helped by beginning a beautiful thing.

]]> By: Maureen McGann http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/leveling_the_playing_field/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Maureen McGann Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:37:28 +0000 http://www.vanderbilt.edu/magazines/vanderbilt-magazine/2008/03/leveling-the-playing-field/#comment-16 As one of Kelly Finan's former elementary teachers back in Cumberland, I find this article amazing! I am so impressed with the goal that she accomplished, her outlook on the life she has been given, and her appreciation for all that Vanderbilt and Susan Gray School have done for her! This article brought tears to my eyes. Thanks to all who have supported her and been a part of making her playground dream come true! God bless you, Kelly! As one of Kelly Finan’s former elementary teachers back in Cumberland, I find this article amazing! I am so impressed with the goal that she accomplished, her outlook on the life she has been given, and her appreciation for all that Vanderbilt and Susan Gray School have done for her! This article brought tears to my eyes. Thanks to all who have supported her and been a part of making her playground dream come true! God bless you, Kelly!

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