8 - Sunday, July 10, 1988 - West Vancouver Villager Playschool teacher sells business after 25 years of service WEST VANCOUVER’S oldest is currently celebrating Playschool, The but private school, its 25th year, founder Sue Fraser fears for the future of the preschools in the district. Enticed out of private homes and into public school space when enrolment went down, Fraser believes West Vancouver's preschools are in danger of being ‘squeezed out by a recent upturn in the number of students. But laws “now prevent preschools from returning to private homes. "West Vancouver will have no preschools and a lot of young fam- ilies are nol going to want to come here,”” predicts Fraser. The Playschool, which first opened in her home in the 1960s, is now located in Pauline Johnson Elementary, where growing popu- larity of French Immersion pro- grams could force it out. On a happier note, The Playschool celebrated its reunion in June with students, parents and staff at -St. Francis-in-the-Wood Church. The playschool is changing hands at this time, being sold to teachers Margaret Hill and Marilyn Vazzoter. Looking back, Fraser describes The Playschool as slightly ‘‘ahcad of its time.’? Adopting a strong “play philosophy,’’ her school became noted for unstructured, rich experience. : Dressed in their required “Muddy Buddy’ playsuits, the children played in Fraser’s backyard, which featured free running chickens, a garden for digging and a broken down car for mechanical experimentation. | An immigrant herself, Fraser and. her staff made sure that parents who were new to the area felt welcome to stay around The Playschool as long as they wished. The school furnished a social ex- ‘perience for both children and adults. Fraser first became interested in preschool teaching back in her homeland, Kenya, and the day she arrived in Canada, she registered for training at U.B.C. Soon after, she and husband Hugh bought 4 house that had, among other features, a low row of 40 coat hooks in the basement. Eventually she received a tele- phone call from a woman explain- ing that Fraser’s house had been a kindergarten, and - wondering if Fraser would. consider reopening it. Fraser was interested to Jearn that West Bay Playschool, which had been operating in her home, actually went back to the 1940s when it was. founded by women doing war work. _ With fate seemingly on their side, a group of women set about getting the equipment together, while Fraser completed her trair- ing. Just before opening day, a kindergarten started up in the local elementary school, and West Bay Playschool decided to move down to the three and four year old age group. This was ‘‘unheard of”’ and only nine children were enrolled that “fall. But the numbers soon grew and soon more shifts were added and more teachers hired. At one time, there were as many as 80 children registered. ‘They were. happy, happy years,’’ remembers Fraser, while admitting that living with a preschool in their basement was a strain on her family at times. It was hard on her two youngest children, Joanna. and . Sheilagh, who attended the playschool. By MAUREEN CURTI .: Contributing Writer - “Ie was difficult to fulfil a dual role as mother and teacher,. and I couldn't favor them,’’ Fraser says. ‘““And the worst. was that I couldn’t phone their Mom to take them home,”’ she laughs. Some of the fun went out of the playschool when it moved into Ir- win Park Elementary in 1979, but she continued to work there until 1985. : In the meantime, she began work on a Masters Degree, receiv- ing a government grant to develop a program for multi-cultural preschools. This involved working with children of various ethnic backgrounds in other parts of Vancouver, as well as travelling to Toronto, Houston, San Antonio and New York. Since then, Fraser has taught adult programs in child growth and development for Douglas Col- lege. She also started the Under 5’s ‘Task Force in West Vancouver, to try and persuade. the local school board to ‘‘think ahead and reserve space for preschools in the district.”” “IT just wish we would care enough to provide beautiful en- vironments for children. Some of them are put into the most awful spaces,"* Fraser comments. Looking back, Fraser is quick to mention the many mothers who worked hard to get The Playschool going and keep it going. “It was always a cooperative ef- fort. | was never the boss,’’ recalls Fraser. But Fraser cannot live down her role as founder of The Playschool and many of the ideas that spread to other preschools. “She's really done a lot for kids in West Vancouver,” says Wendy. Haysom, whose two children have attended The Playschool. : ‘‘She’s given so much; we need to say thank you.’’ ” photo Cindy Bellamy PAST AND present parents, and pupils of Sue Fraser’s Playschool gathered recently to honor the teacher who is retiring after nearly 25 years of running the school. Fraser is seen above with former students Peter and Corene Westra. , HOW TO USE YOUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER... HERE ARE THE ANSWERS TO THE FIVE QUESTIONS READERS MOST OFTEN ASK. WHERE SHOULD I SEND MY PRESS RELEASES? As your neighborhood newspaper, we look forward to receiving input from our readers. From society news, to g meetings of your club or fraternity, re to events and occasions, we're happy to include any relevant neighborhood news. Send your releases to: Neighborhood News, West Vancouver Villager. , HOW DOES THE WEST VANCOUVER VILLAGER # HANDLE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR? @ We publish letters that are original, in good taste and free of libel. 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