Gorse Child Study Center Receives Accreditation

Amy Wise '97 fingerpaints with two boys in a kindergarten class.

What makes the Gorse Child Study Center--a preschool and psychology and education laboratory on campus--such a special place? Just ask Sandra Oldershaw. A South Hadley resident whose three children have attended Gorse, Oldershaw can think of many reasons why the center and its staff are exceptional, but one instance stands out. "When our house burned I was overwhelmed by [acting director] Barbara Sweeney's commitment to helping us." Among other things, Sweeney found all the photographs the center had taken of the eldest Oldershaw child and made an album for her.

Gorse has gained the respect of many people--on and off campus--through the years. However, because the center is located at the edge of campus (on Morgan Street), you may not be aware of its existence. One teacher says that from time to time someone will come through the doors looking for Buildings and Grounds (located just down the road). Once inside however, they're in for a surprise.

Visitors see children engaged in a wide variety of activities--drawing and painting; playing with blocks; climbing and swinging on the playground; singing and telling stories during circle time; and visiting different places on campus such as the greenhouse and the Equestrian Center.

This year 53 children, ages three to six, attend Gorse. According to Sweeney, 37 percent of them have parents who work or study at the College. The center reserves space on its waiting list for children of faculty, staff, and students.

Gorse is also an important laboratory resource for the Department of Psychology and Education. Every semester, students conduct observations, fieldwork such as pre-practicums and student teaching, research projects, honors theses, and independent studies at the center. Graduate and faculty research is also conducted on site.

This summer Gorse Child Study Center was accredited by the prestigious National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, which is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation's oldest and largest association of early childhood professionals.

To become accredited, Gorse had to meet a variety of strict criteria ranging from having a well-qualified and trained staff to meeting stringent health and safety standards. The academy's criteria were developed over a three-year period with input from thousands of educators and administrators from across the country. Beginning in the spring of 1994, Gorse staff worked for over a year to observe, analyze, and document the center's philosophies and practices.

Sweeney says of the recent accreditation, "We always knew that this was a good place for children. Going through this process confirmed it." To fund the cost of accreditation, Gorse shared a Community Partnerships Grant with a number of public and private preschools and daycare centers in South Hadley.