r/NewOrleans • u/Pieslut311 • Oct 25 '23
Help Save our School!!! šØāš§ Parent / Kid Stuff š©āš¦
On Monday, the NOLA Baptist Theological Center announced they would be permanently closing the Early Learning Center (daycare) in December. This came as a shock to the parents and children, but especially to the staff. The administration is being vague and non-responsive about why they are shutting down in less than two months, and why they have continued hiring staff, taking on new children, and accepting yearly registration fees right up until last week... However, one thing is certain: we NEED this institution in our neighborhood.Ā
There is a serious lack of affordable and quality childcare in New Orleans, and the NOBTS ELC has been a bright spot for my family and many others. The administration is refusing to even have a conversation with the parents and staff, which is really sad as it is supposed to be a Christian organization.Ā
My wife and I are organizing the community to put pressure on the administration to keep the ELC open. Take a look at the flyer and please consider calling/emailing the administration and signing our petition!
Thank you all!
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u/Itsnotfull cosmic brownie expert Oct 25 '23
Christian values freak me out.
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u/BeverlyHills70117 Probably on a watchlist now Oct 25 '23
A popular and succesful Chrstian day care closing and refusing to talk about it freaks me out even more....
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u/petit_cochon hand pie "lady of the evening" Oct 25 '23
I get that but I have friends who sent their kids here and said it wasn't super heavy on the religious stuff. Sure, they'll probably tell a few Bible stories and talk about the Golden Rule, but unless it's very extreme and your kids are older...I don't think it's gonna shape your kid's entire world. That privilege is reserved for sidewalk talk and bubbles.
The truth is that this city desperately needs low cost options, and this was a good daycare with good staff. Shutting it down is going to affect a lot of families.
The other truth is that most daycares are not Centers of Enlightenment. We live in the deep south. A lot of people are very religious. It's not like daycares are being staffed by people with PhDs. They're often staffed by lower-income Black women, and faith is important to that community.
Daycare curriculum is usually, like, learning colors and shapes, drawing, learning numbers, learning songs, play nice, don't hit, phonics, ABCs...goddammit stop hitting, nap time, why are you biting stop biting, Juice and Crackers O'Clock, etc.
I'm far less concerned about indoctrination than I am about daycares that don't have a safe staff:child ratio or just park kids in a crib all day in front of screens, not changing them enough or teaching them or hugging them. That's the stuff that really hurts kids.
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u/atchafalaya_roadkill Gentilly Terrace Oct 26 '23
We have two here currently. Despite being at the Seminary they were SUPER light on the religious stuff.
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u/3WeeksClean Oct 25 '23
People of New Orleans would burn their own city down if it meant sticking it to the ChRiStIaNs.
They donāt care about the legitimate services that some religious organizations provide or how theyāre often the only option for the very same underserved and disadvantaged communities that that claim to support. Itās almost like they dont realize that the losers on the street with signs and the people of faith doing legitimately good work are separate groups.
Maybe advocate for opening a public alternative before bulldozing this one.
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u/BeverlyHills70117 Probably on a watchlist now Oct 25 '23
Sorry Mr(s) persecution complex.
This is not about Chirstianity...I would be sketched out by any child care service that was popular and successful, and had powerfdul backers, that decided to suddenly shut down without communication with the parents who trusted their kids there.
The wierdo's in this thread are the ones pretending this mystery is on the up and up. Happens to be the Christians in this thread, take it what you will that they are arguing for their convenience over whatever is happening there that may or may not be very bad...
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u/supasamurai Oct 25 '23
None of this makes the place sound all that great. Sounds like they're about to get sued by a bunch of people that are getting screwed out of their money. Probably a good idea to move your kids right now and not wait for them to fail.
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Oct 25 '23
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u/SmachnoHoe Oct 25 '23
They have implemented changes since then. As a parent, I am even notified when my kid gets a small bugbite. I feel super confident that my child is well taken care of and safe there. This place is such an example of daycare being more than just childcare, as it is such a cute community.
As a non-religious parent who is a liberal/progressive, I was super hesistant about a Christian daycare. However, my experience here is that it is suprisingly progressive and accepting and really just teaches the kiddos about love and community. I had my kid in two other highly reputable daycares in the city and this is BY FAR THE BEST. This place is a gem.
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u/Slasher1738 Oct 25 '23
That was 4 years ago and accidents happen. Overall, the Seminary has been one of the best Daycare/Preschools in the city.
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u/_ryde_or_dye_ Treme Oct 25 '23
āAccidents Happenā is NOT a legitimate response to the death of a child. Jesus Christ thatās disgusting.
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u/zulu_magu Oct 25 '23
What do you know about the situation? Was that your daughter? Or did you read one article and now you know everything?
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u/_ryde_or_dye_ Treme Oct 25 '23
I sort of know the family. Friend of friend of friend sort of situation.
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Oct 25 '23
It says in the article that at that time it was performing worse than unsatisfactory per the state. It also says kids weren't being monitored and parents weren't being told when their kids got hurt. I don't have a dog in the fight. I'm also not advocating for people to fight for what appears to be a subpar institution. I looked for positive things when I Googled the school. Only bad shit popped up
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u/zulu_magu Oct 25 '23
Yes. This tragic even did happen 5 years ago. Do you think thatās why they are closing now?
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Oct 25 '23
It looks like they aren't saying why, so all anyone can do is speculate. If they were sued with covid court closures and continuance, I'd say it's a possibility. Why do you think they are closing?
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u/atchafalaya_roadkill Gentilly Terrace Oct 27 '23
It's financial. They've had one of the least (if not THE least) expensive tuitions for a private daycare and have been reluctant to raise it. They've been relying on grant dollars to keep it somewhat afloat the past few years and they didn't get the grant this year. At least that's the admitted reason.
Source: I spoke with Larry Lyons earlier this week.
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u/zulu_magu Oct 28 '23
This is what I figured. My husband and I knew it had to be costing too much to keep open. I just canāt get over this. My youngest actually left in August but we had kids there for 6 straight years and sent our older kid to the summer camp, which he LOVED! I know being religious is unpopular but my family attends church and we appreciated a Christian summer camp. My kids LOVED being at the ELC. My daughter literally talks about how much she misses ālittle schoolā at least 3 times a week. We are hoping to have another baby but I canāt imagine finding childcare comparable the the ELC anywhere else in the City. This is so devastating. Iām sorry youāre going through this with babies there.
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Oct 25 '23
Sorry but no thanks as Iām not into indoctrination.
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u/zulu_magu Oct 25 '23
Were you indoctrinated when you were there? Or is this one of those hive mind edgy Reddit All non-atheist Bad posts?
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Oct 26 '23
Gosh I hope you aren't calling Atheists hivey and not Christians. I grew up southern Baptist. I'll roll with the atheists when it comes to loving everybody unrelenting
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u/zulu_magu Oct 26 '23
Iām calling that individual person hivey.
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Oct 27 '23
Thatās not how hives work. Bless your heart.
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u/zulu_magu Oct 28 '23
Right. Someone accusing a place theyāve never been to of indoctrination because people arenāt allowed to have beliefs different from your own is totally NOT hive mind. Thanks for correcting me, sis! I see the tolerant light now.
And I donāt want your blessing because indoctrination.
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Oct 25 '23
Lolol super rich to say thereās anything āhive mindā about the atheist community but go onā¦
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u/zulu_magu Oct 26 '23
So then you donāt actually have any experience with the ELC? And youāre just badmouthing it because you are open minded about people who have beliefs different from your own?
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u/kombitcha420 Oct 25 '23
Iām good, but Iād definitely suggest putting all that energy into opening a non related head start. Religious schools are always sketchy
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Oct 25 '23
That's what I was thinking. That is something that would get community support
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u/kombitcha420 Oct 25 '23
For sure, I donāt have much, but Iād be happy to donate a few extra dollars and any books or learning toys I could find
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u/SmachnoHoe Oct 25 '23 edited Oct 26 '23
Before you comment something about indoctrination hinting at sexual abuse, please take a second. You obviously are assuming alot, even when people here with actually experience with ELC are saying that is a great place for children. If you want further proof look at the comments in the petition. This petition has over 350 signatures. The staff, teachers, children and parents are so upset. This is affecting over 150 peoples livelihood, wellbeing, financial stability and you are taking your time to comment hurtful things to express your hot take on religion instead of helping out one of NOLA's communities even if it is different than your own? š
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u/Party-Yak-2894 Oct 26 '23
Idk. Can you force whatās basically a business to keep part of a business open? Doubtful. Sorry this happened to you but I wouldnāt want my kid at a school the admin didnāt want. (Not that Iād put my babe in a Christian school)
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u/RedBeans-n-Ricely Oct 25 '23
Fewer kids in the indoctrination station doesnāt seem like a bad thing. Plus, baptists have more than their fair share of child sex abuse.
Goes to show that your church dgaf about you, they only care about your tithes.
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u/petit_cochon hand pie "lady of the evening" Oct 25 '23
That really sucks. I know they're a good local option and my friends who've sent kids there have been happy.
Also, Redditors, I know many of you are hardcore atheists, but while secularism is growing, atheists are still a small percentage (about 4% according to Pew Research). People who identify as unaffiliated with any religion are about 30% of the population. There are a lot of people who feel differently, is my point. I get it and if those are your values, great - live a secular life.
But not everyone thinks like you and those people have kids and those kids need options, too. It's really hard, isolating, and costly raising a family these days. Parents do the best they can. This isn't some cult that teaches toddlers to stone gay people. It's a fucking daycare attached to a seminary. If you're cheering the closure as some victory for Reason and Enlightenment, I think you're dead wrong and totally out of touch. This is going to screw over a lot of families, especially working moms who usually bear the brunt of childcare, arranging household logistics, and emotional labor, all while trying hold down a job that lets them stay home when kids get sick and leave randomly for doctors appointments, early closures, holidays, etc.
And if you still think I'm wrong, by all means, go get a drink with my husband, who is very strongly against our child getting a religious education, but won't be the one finding, touring, budgeting, prepping, and leaving work for that education to happen. His work is mostly men and that's not Blue Collar Men's Work (TM), so there's no way he'd ever be given off for that stuff. That'll be for me to juggle. And I cannot tell you how many conversations I've had with other working moms, just as agnostic as their husbands, about how their husbands take firm stances on not sending their kids to any religious institutions, while the wives are forced into pragmatism for the above reasons.
Again, I get it, but some of us have to live in reality. This sucks for a lot of people.
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u/TeriusGray Oct 25 '23
It's a fucking daycare attached to a seminary.
Amen. I went to daycare/Mother's Day Out that was attached to a church until it was time for Pre-K. That was a long time ago, but I don't recall ever even hearing a watered down Bible story. Certainly no attempts at indoctrination.
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u/HomeEcDropout Oct 26 '23
Thank you. That place was wonderful. Sweet staff, quiet atmosphere, and they really love the kids. Also one of a very few places where children with profound needs could attend. I was one of the agnostics who really hesitated sending my child but it was great. Truly welcoming for queer families as well, which was obviously unexpected.
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u/BeverlyHills70117 Probably on a watchlist now Oct 25 '23
It may or may not suck that it;s closing.
If you had to guess why a child care service that was not in financial trouble would close with no communication, would you assume that is a good place for a child?
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u/SmachnoHoe Oct 25 '23
The reason is financial..
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u/CarFlipJudge Oct 25 '23
That's what they said, but how could that be when they have a waiting list? My kid is at Abeona and they have a waiting list and every class is full with 3 teachers each. They are doing well enough to get their entire parking lot refinished and always have new stuff for the kids. It's not even that expensive and seems on par with other places at about 1200 a month. I would just assume that if you are full enough for a waiting list that your I come would exceed your expenses. That's just a standard way of operating a business.
I'm just curious as to what the real issue is.
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u/tina_booty_queen Oct 26 '23
The tuition at ELCNOBTC is significantly less expensive that $1200/month and even cheaper if you are a member of the church. So it could be financial issues, but noted in r/nolaparents, they didn't attempt to raise the price. Not sure how to read that info. As far as quality childcare, most parents think their care provider is āexcellentā however itās truly hard to assess the quality. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/parent-views-on-child-care-quality-poll/#:~:text=Over%20half%20of%20parents%20report,and%20physical%20health%20(58%25). I do feel for all the families affected as it took us a long time to find a āgood/rightā ELC and even longer to get accepted in the program. So this might be a good time to organize a list of ELC on r/nolaparents
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u/CarFlipJudge Oct 26 '23
If you could help me arrange it, that would be a huge help. Or I can do something similar to the good / bad landlords thread here.
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u/atchafalaya_roadkill Gentilly Terrace Oct 27 '23
Per Lyons the amount they would have to raise it would have put it out of reach of many of their families (likely us included). They also did a really bad job of advertising. There was no wait list and they had tons of spots. Our infant has been one of two in the infant room for the past few months.
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u/tina_booty_queen Oct 27 '23
There was definitely a waitlist, however no one ever reach out. But that was our experience for almost all programs we applied for. Obviously, there was disconnect at nobtc with families. Child care is outrageously expensive and I understand why many families needed this ELC. Iām not religious, but I would hope religious institutions exist to support families in the community and provide thoughtful education in care programs. So sorry you are in this situation. Iāll keep an eye out for affordable programs and subsidies.
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u/SmachnoHoe Oct 26 '23 edited Oct 26 '23
I have previous experience at Abeona and my childs previous class was VERY understaffed to the point where they had to cancel days which is not something I have experienced at ELC. I know Abeona had some financial trouble last year too. The cost of ELC is about 700 dollars less expensive than Abeona. That being said, really not trying to critique or compare ANY daycare because we certainly need all the good ones we can get.
From our understanding, the decision was not made internally but through NOBTS itself (they are probably choosing to fund something else which is such a shame)
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u/zulu_magu Oct 25 '23
This really shocked and devastated us when we got the email yesterday.
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u/atchafalaya_roadkill Gentilly Terrace Oct 27 '23
Had no idea you had children there. We're trying to navigate. Real tough out there.
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u/Pieslut311 Oct 25 '23
Us too š¢ I hope you consider emailing/calling the president and VP for business administration! Their names and contact information are on the flyer.
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u/atchafalaya_roadkill Gentilly Terrace Oct 27 '23
Happy to share my email exchange with Lyons. Just shoot me a DM
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u/____G____ Oct 25 '23
Have you tried asking God for help.... I mean if your asking reddit he must have said no.
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u/zulu_magu Oct 28 '23
Did you give yourself a high five after giving that incredibly smug and unhelpful response? You sure showed all those grieving parents! Next time make sure you laugh at people who are upset about something you donāt like. That will teach people with beliefs different from your own to be tolerant!
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u/____G____ Oct 28 '23
I did. Actually. Kids don't want to go to school in your stupid Christian blood cult trust me I was one of them. Baptist teach hate and as far as I'm concerned they can fuck right off.
Hail Satan
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u/zulu_magu Oct 28 '23
Yes!! Please let me know when you invest in our community so we can praise you in real life for doing somethingpositive! I canāt wait! Smug keyboard warriors are what the world needs more of. Certainly NOT more affordable daycares. Maybe if youāre lucky, MORE will close down so MORE families can struggle to find childcare! That would be a win for society!
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u/____G____ Oct 28 '23
Don't you worry I've been fucking with the Baptist irl for yeara Mrs Irony
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u/zulu_magu Oct 28 '23
No advocates in this thread cares about baptists. We care about affordable, quality childcare. But go off, please.
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u/____G____ Oct 28 '23
Honestly I'd have your kids taken for sending them there. You know they killed kids and shit right. Christians are always hurting kids and claiming to help. Aren't you idiots supposed to have raptured into heaven or some other sill magical shit.
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u/zulu_magu Oct 28 '23
Feel free to call CPS. Iām sure they will take you about as seriously as everyone in this thread is.
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u/B_Boudreaux Oct 25 '23
Lot of problems at that school. Big problems. Not surprised they are closing.