(for those for whom the Parkside Q is their hometrain)
News and Nonsense from the Brooklyn neighborhood of Lefferts and environs, or more specifically a neighborhood once known as Melrose Park. Sometimes called Lefferts Gardens. Or Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. Or PLG. Or North Flatbush. Or Caledonia (west of Ocean). Or West Pigtown. Across From Park Slope. Under Crown Heights. Near Drummer's Grove. The Side of the Park With the McDonalds. Jackie Robinson Town. Home of Lefferts Manor. West Wingate. Near Kings County Hospital. Or if you're coming from the airport in taxi, maybe just Flatbush is best.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Science Saturdays, All Through the Summer
Miss Carmen is at it again, and every Saturday. For your kids aged 3-6, you show up at the Lefferts Montessori on Rogers and spend 2 hours with the delightful Miss C, science teacher extraordinaire. During these summer months, a 2 hour thang to do with the kiddies is priceless. You can do single sessions at this point for $50, but they're filling up fast!
That's $25/hr. for your kid to be entertained, stimulated, socialized, AND learn something that maybe will even inspire him/her in a career choice. Seems like a good deal to me.
Though my kids haven't been able to attend any of Ms. Carmen's classes due to schedule conflicts, I've heard WONDERFUL things from families whose kids have attended her classes. $25/hour is a fair rate and comparable to similar classes for kids of that age.
Anonymous 3:11: I hope to implement an after school science program this coming school year that will be geared toward the older scientists. I will keep everyone posted!
You're right Elizabeth, and I am doing my best to change that. The fact is, I make $0.00 from this venture. Insurance, space rental fees, assistant cost, and materials costs all take up 100% of the revenue generated. If I could lower my price today, I would. I'm working on it, though.
The only places you find cheap kids classes due to all the reasons Ms. Carmen lists are small towns way outside NYC. We pay $40 for a 45 min private swim class this Summer and that was the cheapest I found. Our gym class is $50 each hour long class. This is standard here and I think the fact the classes fill up is proof of that.
Also, because you can do one class here or there instead of being forced to pony up hundreds in advance for the whole series, like 99% of kids programs do, that alone makes this program more affordable and doable for families.
There are actually many places in NYC to get cheaper classes, but as in all things, one must dig and do their research. I think $25/hour is ridiculous. Not that I am blaming anyone who must charge that much, but it's a sad state of affairs when people say that's reasonable. It's reasonable if you make a certain amount of money, but most people don't. I am part of the group of working poor, and I don't even make $25/hour.
Here's a woman trying to bring some science to kids who may or may not get science at their schools. She's giving of her time and her expertise on a Saturday when we can all assume she works Monday- Fri as a teacher. $25 an hour for your child to learn something. Some people cannot afford this. Some can. Whatever. Everyone cannot afford the same stuff. Such is life. I'm so sick and tired of everyone on this blog bitching about the stuff they can't afford. Again this is NYC. There's always going to be people who have more than you. And less than you. That's the beauty of NYC. Move to someplace cheap in the middle of the US if you can't deal with this. I applaud Ms Carmen for giving of her time and knowledge. Thank you.
I sh^t you not there's a company in Princeton charging $300+ an hour for SAT test prep.
"Enrichment" classes nearly always cost dough. A little research will show this is actually a good value.
I think had Carmen announced a price of $24.99 an hour though, no one would bat an eye.
And how 'bout that awesome caricature! Are there action figures as well?
Teacher action figures! That's what the education system needs! Superhero teachers, with the mystical magical powers to shape young minds, build character and seamlessly explain the absurdity of silent e's!
Anon at 8:50, you're the one that needs to chill out and move. You're tired of people bitching about what they can't afford?! If YOU don't like it, YOU should move to a remote area yourself. Honey, don't hate the player, hate the game. And the defensiveness is really kind of...off.
In a civilized county, that valued education, there would be free classes like this in public school after-school programs. The fact that this isn't our country is deplorable, but it's no reason to criticize people like Carman who offer such classes at what I'm sure are the minimum price needed for them to be self-sustaining.
Ms. Carmen, you are in my opinion a saint for setting this up at all. I just wish we could find funding so that that you could get paid adequately for your time AND ALL kids could have access to this kind of intellectual stimulation. (That wasn't intended as a criticism of her, just a statement about what the varying ideas of "affordability" are in this neighborhood. I mean, it simply isn't feasible for the families in my building, as much as they would love it, and people saying again and again that "it isn't really THAT expensive".. I just don't know what to say to that, except for some people it *really* is).
Funding has been a challenge since I am not yet a nonprofit. In the meantime, I have launched an online fundraising campaign to benefit a science-based after school program for this coming school year. If I am successful at raising these funds, it will be a HUGE game changer. My goal of $10,000 (yes, I know that's a lot, but hear me out) will cover material costs for an entire 10-month school year for up to 60 young scientists and will greatly improve access to the program.
I hope you'll consider donating or passing the link on to friends/colleagues (I need all the help I can get!)
16 comments:
$50 a session?? that's a joke, right?
That's $25/hr. for your kid to be entertained, stimulated, socialized, AND learn something that maybe will even inspire him/her in a career choice. Seems like a good deal to me.
This sounds fantastic! I hope she will add another class for kids 7-10 too!
Though my kids haven't been able to attend any of Ms. Carmen's classes due to schedule conflicts, I've heard WONDERFUL things from families whose kids have attended her classes. $25/hour is a fair rate and comparable to similar classes for kids of that age.
Anonymous 3:11:
I hope to implement an after school science program this coming school year that will be geared toward the older scientists. I will keep everyone posted!
Thanks for the shout-out Q!
I think it sounds amazing, but $25 a hour? Let's not pretend that kind of cost doesn't preclude the people who could probably use it the most.
You're right Elizabeth, and I am doing my best to change that. The fact is, I make $0.00 from this venture. Insurance, space rental fees, assistant cost, and materials costs all take up 100% of the revenue generated. If I could lower my price today, I would. I'm working on it, though.
The only places you find cheap kids classes due to all the reasons Ms. Carmen lists are small towns way outside NYC. We pay $40 for a 45 min private swim class this Summer and that was the cheapest I found. Our gym class is $50 each hour long class. This is standard here and I think the fact the classes fill up is proof of that.
Also, because you can do one class here or there instead of being forced to pony up hundreds in advance for the whole series, like 99% of kids programs do, that alone makes this program more affordable and doable for families.
There are actually many places in NYC to get cheaper classes, but as in all things, one must dig and do their research. I think $25/hour is ridiculous. Not that I am blaming anyone who must charge that much, but it's a sad state of affairs when people say that's reasonable. It's reasonable if you make a certain amount of money, but most people don't. I am part of the group of working poor, and I don't even make $25/hour.
Here's a woman trying to bring some science to kids who may or may not get science at their schools. She's giving of her time and her expertise on a Saturday when we can all assume she works Monday- Fri as a teacher. $25 an hour for your child to learn something. Some people cannot afford this. Some can. Whatever. Everyone cannot afford the same stuff. Such is life. I'm so sick and tired of everyone on this blog bitching about the stuff they can't afford. Again this is NYC. There's always going to be people who have more than you. And less than you. That's the beauty of NYC. Move to someplace cheap in the middle of the US if you can't deal with this. I applaud Ms Carmen for giving of her time and knowledge. Thank you.
I sh^t you not there's a company in Princeton charging $300+ an hour for SAT test prep.
"Enrichment" classes nearly always cost dough. A little research will show this is actually a good value.
I think had Carmen announced a price of $24.99 an hour though, no one would bat an eye.
And how 'bout that awesome caricature! Are there action figures as well?
Teacher action figures! That's what the education system needs! Superhero teachers, with the mystical magical powers to shape young minds, build character and seamlessly explain the absurdity of silent e's!
Anon at 8:50, you're the one that needs to chill out and move. You're tired of people bitching about what they can't afford?! If YOU don't like it, YOU should move to a remote area yourself. Honey, don't hate the player, hate the game. And the defensiveness is really kind of...off.
In a civilized county, that valued education, there would be free classes like this in public school after-school programs. The fact that this isn't our country is deplorable, but it's no reason to criticize people like Carman who offer such classes at what I'm sure are the minimum price needed for them to be self-sustaining.
Ms. Carmen, you are in my opinion a saint for setting this up at all. I just wish we could find funding so that that you could get paid adequately for your time AND ALL kids could have access to this kind of intellectual stimulation. (That wasn't intended as a criticism of her, just a statement about what the varying ideas of "affordability" are in this neighborhood. I mean, it simply isn't feasible for the families in my building, as much as they would love it, and people saying again and again that "it isn't really THAT expensive".. I just don't know what to say to that, except for some people it *really* is).
Funding has been a challenge since I am not yet a nonprofit. In the meantime, I have launched an online fundraising campaign to benefit a science-based after school program for this coming school year. If I am successful at raising these funds, it will be a HUGE game changer. My goal of $10,000 (yes, I know that's a lot, but hear me out) will cover material costs for an entire 10-month school year for up to 60 young scientists and will greatly improve access to the program.
I hope you'll consider donating or passing the link on to friends/colleagues (I need all the help I can get!)
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/2XKx6?psid=007758cddc9046c5836d437c84a1b254
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