Anonymous wrote:We had been considering Franklin down the road but obviously are now put off by this. Are there any alternatives in NW?

Many alternatives. Can you be more specific? Do you want Montessori or full-time? Same general location? Or just another good option? What age?

We had been considering Franklin down the road but obviously are now put off by this. Are there any alternatives in NW?

PP - perhaps you could spell this out for us. Oboler's online presence is fully transparent - he seems to run a consortia called Metro Montessori. There is another person with the same name working in private equity. Surely you are not a conspiracy theorist (of preschools!) suggesting they are the same person??

Anonymous wrote:Family business. His mother had it first.

Absentee ownership. He has much bigger interests these days. Google him.

Family business. His mother had it first.

Owner is Josh Franklin Oboler. The absence of safe outdoor play space must be resolved. The place is seriously overcrowded with so many little children, and not enough responsible teachers.

Anonymous wrote: I know from a teacher there that they are over-worked and very poorly compensated.

Also, not all Montessori have such horrific ratios, not to mention the fact that this particular daycare has no on-site outdoor play space to speak of. Maria Montessori never made any such recommendation as far I know. Dr. Montessori would never allow this nightmare place to call itself a Montessori school. I guarantee you.

This is a bit off topic but it isn't clear from Franklin's website whether they are Montessori-accredited by either of the two Montessori associations. Does anyone know? Also my understanding from friends with kids there was that they had a great nature program that emphasized hikes in the park and whatnot - if they aren't allowed to take the kids to the park anymore, what happens to this aspect of the curriculum?

I agree that the poster who keeps insisting on a mysterious "Mr. Franklin" just sounds unhinged. All of that obscures the real issue -- which is that this school has left children unattended in a public park on two separate occasions in the span of just a few years. I'm surprised this hasn't been reported in local news.

The posters on this thread are just strange with their obsession with "Mr. Franklin." I am assuming you have no child at the school since you dislike the owner so much. I wonder what your connection is - disgruntled former employee, high school ex-girlfriend? I don't expect you to answer, but move on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:pp - if you are uncomfortable with preschools and daycares that are a business, then choose a non-profit to send your child to instead.

Can you please shut-up already with your ridiculous defensiveness? What's happened is extremely serious. I'm frankly quite surprised they haven't yet lost their license to operate, considering that this is this second time they nearly lost a child. Don't places get shut down for lack of hot water?

But hey, Mr. Franklin is well-connected with all the right people to protect his DC area "educational" empire.

Not that PP. You are right that what happened is serious and needs to be addressed. Repeatedly pointing out that it is a business is a ridiculous and trivial complaint relative to the actual safety issue. And seriously, there is nobody named Mr. Franklin.

His middle name is Franklin. The lawyer owner of all these schools. And he's making a freggin' killing off your kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:pp - if you are uncomfortable with preschools and daycares that are a business, then choose a non-profit to send your child to instead.

Can you please shut-up already with your ridiculous defensiveness? What's happened is extremely serious. I'm frankly quite surprised they haven't yet lost their license to operate, considering that this is this second time they nearly lost a child. Don't places get shut down for lack of hot water?

But hey, Mr. Franklin is well-connected with all the right people to protect his DC area "educational" empire.

Plus 1

How do you decide how long to wait before you +1 your own posts?

You are mistaken. I did not write that post, although I did agree with it_ especially the liscence revoking part.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:pp - if you are uncomfortable with preschools and daycares that are a business, then choose a non-profit to send your child to instead.

Can you please shut-up already with your ridiculous defensiveness? What's happened is extremely serious. I'm frankly quite surprised they haven't yet lost their license to operate, considering that this is this second time they nearly lost a child. Don't places get shut down for lack of hot water?

But hey, Mr. Franklin is well-connected with all the right people to protect his DC area "educational" empire.

Plus 1

How do you decide how long to wait before you +1 your own posts?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:pp - if you are uncomfortable with preschools and daycares that are a business, then choose a non-profit to send your child to instead.

Can you please shut-up already with your ridiculous defensiveness? What's happened is extremely serious. I'm frankly quite surprised they haven't yet lost their license to operate, considering that this is this second time they nearly lost a child. Don't places get shut down for lack of hot water?

But hey, Mr. Franklin is well-connected with all the right people to protect his DC area "educational" empire.

Not that PP. You are right that what happened is serious and needs to be addressed. Repeatedly pointing out that it is a business is a ridiculous and trivial complaint relative to the actual safety issue. And seriously, there is nobody named Mr. Franklin.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:pp - if you are uncomfortable with preschools and daycares that are a business, then choose a non-profit to send your child to instead.

Can you please shut-up already with your ridiculous defensiveness? What's happened is extremely serious. I'm frankly quite surprised they haven't yet lost their license to operate, considering that this is this second time they nearly lost a child. Don't places get shut down for lack of hot water?

But hey, Mr. Franklin is well-connected with all the right people to protect his DC area "educational" empire.

Plus 1

Current parent here. Also interested in any reports from parent meeting.