Did your high school have an elective class where the students basically helped in a pre-k?

I wish Auggie was here, because she might have a better memory than me about the details of the class, we took it together.

In our high school we had Child Development class. The way I remember it, it was two periods long, and I took it for a semester. It was basically a pre-k or nursery school in the high school. The teachers who ran it were there all day. The other teachers in the school could put their children in the class and also other people in the community could utilize it, I don’t remember if there was a fee. We students who took the class helped to plan the activities for the young children, and did the activities with the children.

The other opportunity we had if we took the class was we could go to an area elementary school and assist a teacher there. I did that at the elementary near my house. At first I helped a fourth grade teacher and later a fifth grade teacher.

I think it was a good set up, especially for teachers who wanted to have their very young children there at the school. Plus, the high school students were free labor, and they had the opportunity to learn about taking care of and teaching young children. I don’t think I have ever heard anyone else talk about a similar program in their schools, but I have never asked.

What do you think about the class, and have you heard of that being done anywhere else?