Friday, April 15, 2011
WANDERLUST: Preschool and Parenting
Day Two of WANDERLUST
At the Manito Methodist Church today on 33rd and Grand, colorful pinwheels were spinning on the lawn, along with a sign that read, “Our kids, Our business."
I followed a woman with two children inside the church. Upstairs, another sign read, “Manito Parent Cooperative Preschool: Learn and Grow with Your Child." Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what that meant, so I asked a few more questions. That’s when I met Brenda Blazekovic.
Brenda facilitates the co-op program at Manito, which, it turns out, has no religious affiliation with the church whatsoever. She is an employee of the Community Colleges of Spokane, a system that subsidizes and supports a network of nine cooperatives throughout the city. Co-ops are a place where families learn and play together. All members are required to register for three to four credits with the college in order to attend. In a funny sort of way, it’s preschool for kids — and preschool for parents, who are expected to participate and function fully as a team in class each week.
I’m not a parent, but I imagine it’s not easy. Yet here’s a community of parents, who everyday are helping their children learn, by learning something new themselves.
ABOUT WANDERLUST: The photo series is a 60-day visual story-telling project that explores the seemingly ordinary places, people and things we experience everyday. It's about being curious and asking questions. It's about wanting to know more about the world around you and seeing it from fresh perspectives. If you have ideas on where I should wander, drop me a line: [email protected].
Tags: wanderlust , photo , Arts , Image
