Reformative Education in Greenwich Village

By Dawn Lesley Stewart and Zola Oyer

New Location on West 10th Street

Something was missing in the New York City education scene when I founded Perry School in 2001.

Namely, attention dedicated towards early childhood development was sparse at best. There were some daycares, yes, but they were more focused on keeping the children entertained and contained rather than exploring the limitless possibility of joyful learning in all areas of early childhood. I saw a pressing need to raise the bar and give young children their right to be intellectually, physically and socially superb. In keeping with ground breaking spirit of Greenwich Village educators that paved the way for progressive education in America, I made it my mission to be at the forefront of innovative and more effective methods of teaching.

I was in the heart of the historic progressive Greenwich Village, my fellow organizations inspired by the likes of renowned philosopher and educational reformer John Dewey;

Caroline Pratt, who created City and Country School in 1914, set forth on her endeavor that encouraged a flexible child centered curriculum. Little Red Schoolhouse, which recently celebrated its 100th birthday with a new playground, was founded by Elisabeth Irwin with the intent to get children to engage in the world around them, and validated childhood as its own experience. Young children are extremely intelligent, but many spend their early childhood years as if they are not. This is where I saw my opportunity to change the educational landscape in New York. I opted for a soothing earth-toned color palette and developed programs such as Think Tank, Les Beaux Arts, Teach Kids to Give and a unique Physical Program in an effort to utilize these precious years to the fullest and instill the joy of learning for a lifetime.

Think Tank

With the fall fast approaching, families new and old are flocking into the village to prepare for the Back to School season. As Greenwich Village residents we are fortunate to be surrounded by such an active warm community that offers such diverse and eclectic learning opportunities. I have included a Back to School guide that includes a little something for everyone.

Founder/Director Perry School

https://www.perryschool.com

Perry Street 2002

Little Red Schoolhouse and Elisabeth Irwin High School

Founder: Elisabeth Irwin

Opened: 1921

Address: 272 Sixth Avenue, New York, Ny 10014

Website: https:///www.lrei.org/

Elisabeth Irwin believed that engaging in the world around you was one of the best educational experiences a child could have.

City and Country School

Founder: Caroline Pratt

Opened: 1914

Address: 146 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011

Website: https://www.cityandcountry.org/

Caroline Pratt placed emphasis on empathy, collaboration and communication in education.

Grace Church School

Founder: The Grace Church

Opened: 1894

Address: 86 Fourth Avenue, New York, NY 10003

Website: https://www.gcschool.org/

The institution is known for its rigorous academics as well as its founding on Episcopal principles.

P.S. 41 – Greenwich Village School

Opened: 1923

Address of School: 116 West 11th Street, New York, NY 10011

Website: https://www.ps41.org

P.S. 41 is committed to the promotion of diversity, and believes that every child deserves a quality learning experience.

P.S. 3 – The John Melser Charrette School

Opened: 1892

Address: 490 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

Website: https://ps3nyc.membershiptoolkit.com/home

P.S. 3 boasts a strong arts program, and works to integrate the arts into the curriculum.

Downing Street Playgroup

Address: 37 Downing Street, New York, NY 10014

Website: https://www.downingstreetplaygroup.org/

Play-based learning is a cornerstone of this West Village institution.

St. Luke’s School

Founder: St. Luke’s Church

Opened: 1984

Address: 487 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

Website: https://www.stlukesschool.org/

St. Luke’s School is committed to creating well-rounded individuals, and understands that education happens when the community comes together.

West Village Nursery School

Opened: 1967

Address: 76 Horatio Street, New York, NY 10014

Website: https://westvillagenurseryschool.org/

The school’s founders, a group of local mothers, wanted an emphasis placed on parent involvement.

Village Community School

Opened: 1970

Address: 272 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10014

Acts of service and community outreach are the backbone of this school.

Barrow Street Nursery School

Address: 27 Barrow Street, New York, NY 10014

Website: http://www.barrowstreetnurseryschool.com/

Barrow Street Nursery School considers imagination to be of very high value.

Morton School of Excellence

Address: 229 West 16th Street

The school provided students with a strong academic foundation, and encourages them to continue their academic pursuits even after they’ve graduated.

La Petite Ecole: Nurturing Global Citizens through Bilingual Education

Address: 159 West 82nd Street, New York, NY 10024

Website: https://sites/google.com/site/lapetiteecolenyc

This hidden gem offers classes in both English and French and emphasizes an international perspective.

Tisch School of the Arts – NYU

Founder: NYU

Opened: 1965

Address: 721 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Website: https:///tisch.nyu.edu/

The famous school offers a place for artists of all backgrounds to hone their craft and take their artistic abilities to new heights.

The New School

Founder: John Dewey

Opened: 1919

Address: 66 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011

Website: https://www.newschool.edu/

Phone number: 212 229 5600

The New School’s defining feature is its commitment to the value of learning that adapts to the changing needs of society, rather than conforming to traditional norms.

Academy of Saint Joseph’s: Empowering Young Women through Faith, Excellence, and Service

Founder: Sisters of St. Joseph

Opened: 1889

Address: 111 Washington Place, New York, NY 10014

Website: https://www.academypfsaintjoseph.org/

Phone number: 212 243 5420

Since its founding, the school has specialized in shaping its students into strong, empowered and compassionate women.

Manhattan School: Nurturing Excellence in a Supportive Community

Address: 7 East 96th Street, New York NY 10128

Website: http://imscd.org/

Phone number: 212 410 3140

Manhattan School encourages risk-taking and the embracing of challenges in order to become successful students.

Notre Dame School

Founder: Sisters of St. Ursula

Opened: 1912

Address: 327 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10014

Website: https://www.cheznous.org/

The famous Catholic school fosters the spirit of inquiry within its students, helping them become responsible members of society once they graduate.

Harvest Collegiate School

Founder: New York City Department of Education

Opened: 2012

Address: 34 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011

Website: https://www.harvestcollegiate.org/

Phone number: 212 242 3384

Social justice is at the core of this tucked-away school, as is a commitment to teaching its students to be compassionate and understanding of the ever-changing world around them.

Lifelong Skills & Opportunities Center

Address: 27 Barrow Street, New York, NY 10014

Phone number: 917 261 4598

The Lifelong Skills & Opportunities Center offers resume and job search support among many other amazing opportunities.

Westbeth Artists Housing

Address: 155 Bank Street, New York, NY 10014

Phone number: 212 255 5191

The senior center at Westbeth partners with cultural institutions and politicians for events, and hosts a slew of art programs and fun opportunities. Each week the center serves a hot lunch!

Senior Center on the Square

Address: 20 Washington Square N, New York, NY 10011

Phone number : (212) 777-3555

Senior Center on the Square puts importance on friendship, and included in the activities are bingo, health lectures, card games and more.

Academy of St. Joseph

Address: 111 Washington Pl, New York, NY 10014

Phone number: 212 243 5420

Academy of St. Joseph prioritizes a sense of community, featuring parent-inclusive Morning Assemblies twice a week.