We tried the Montessori school with our daughter, during her preschool years (she went for two years). We have her in the public school kindergarten system now. We are in California, which probably makes a difference.

The Montessori system was great in terms of education, can't be matched. And the school system has a strict tolerance policy towards diversity of all types that we loved.

Our problem turned out to be the parents. They aren't bound by any policy of tolerance and didn't seem to be able to instill in themselves, the values they try to instill in their own toddlers. They weren't outright confrontational, but avoiding and always too busy and distant.

The other same-sex parents in the system had kids much older, so we couldn't really bond in any meaningful way. And other kids would get together for playdates, and when I would try to arrange something for my daughter, suddenly they were all too busy. And she didn't get to go to birthday parties, etc. All prejudices OUTSIDE the school, but social development is just as important as the education.

So we put her in the public school system, and the kids and the parents seem much more 'real'. She's in kindergarten, has had playdates, friends over to our house and gets to go to birthday parties. This to me, is something so valuable, no money can buy.

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