The Children's House

Samantha McCormick, TCH Class of 2010, is currently a student at Herron High School, here in Indianapolis. She recently participated in "Certamen", a Latin Quiz Bowl, at Indiana State University campus in Terre Haute.

I recently found an old article that was in The Indianapolis Star dated Sunday, October 20, 1985. The article was titled “This Old House.” The article was a rather lengthy spread in their Sunday edition. It started by telling the story of my now 39-year-old son, Kali Diggs who in 1985 was in the thralls of puberty and hormonal changes. At that time, he was (13) years old. It was not a happy time but a very stressful time in regards to my child’s future academically. I was frantically searching for a school that I believed could answer both my child’s educational and social needs at that point in his life.

Ms. Mary Wade, Star Staff Writer, wrote, “Kali Diggs remembers when his mother took him to visit his new school, nearly lost in a tangle of trees, bushes, and wildflowers.” At that time, the Children’s House was located at an old estate at 2401 West 39th Street off Kessler. At first glance, after getting off the main thoroughfare to wind up the road to the estate, you would never first identify the house as a school. There were animals such as chickens and ducks running freely about the acres and children who freely seemed to walk on the grounds as they went about their “business.” It quickly became an on-time type of deliverance and respite for my child.

I should tell you that he had been attending Township schools and some private Catholic schools up to the time that I found Children’s House. I must have come in and sat down and talked with the then Director, Ms. Louise Brannon for possibly (2) hours or more, I remember leaving feeling encouraged and even excited about the possibilities for my son's education. I explained how my child was failing in his academic classes and jus as concerning to me, seemed to be suffering from not feeling accepted by his peers. Ms. Brannon told this mother about the Montessori education method that their school utilizes. To quote Kali in the article as Star Staff Writer, Ms Wade did, I will highlight what my then 13 year old son said “The school is more than my other school and I can make most of my own choices’, he said. Ms. Wade went on to add, “Kali can decide in most cases, when he wants to attend his classes and how he will get his work done.” It should be immediately made clear that this does not mean that there is no organized structure in the child’s daily routine at school. In fact, it is quite the opposite. To quote Ms. Brannon in the article who said, “It is a very tight structure in which a child is given freedom and also guidelines.

In addition to allowing my son to experience the liberty to express himself as the unique individual that he was (and continues to be), he was educated consistently to recognize the individual responsibility which he had to successfully perform his own “contact.” The individual contracts gave each child his own expected requirements to fulfill for what was his appropriate grade level. I can surely say that Children’s House gave him the emotional space to safely explore how he did “fit” in his world among his peers.

Kali successfully graduated from Children’s House and went on to the ninth grade to graduate from Pike High School. From there, he successfully graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelors Degree in Public Administration. Afterwards, he graduated from Chicago University with a Masters Degree in Education. At the present time, he is pursuing another Masters Degree in Psychotherapy. Kali recently told me that he wants to ultimately pursue his Doctorate in Psychotherapy.

As you might have guessed, I am not only proud of him as a mother for his educational pursuits but also for what I perceive as his pursuing what he senses as his purpose in life. I really believe that Children’s House was a pivotal point in my child’s sense of self-discovery. I must say that I thank God for their approach to children’s young minds not only for their academic style but also for their approach in wonderfully opening up the child’s self-worth. I consider it an untold loss if Children’s House does not continue to offer their unique alternative from the traditional school system. The loss would not only be to the current generation of children but to us all. Today’s youth need the same privileges from which my child and others in the past have benefited. Our world is in such need of what this generation brings as their unique giftings and purpose to a world.

Much Gratitude and Respect,

Mrs. Saundra A. Gupton, MA

Psychotherapy and Faith

And Kali's response:

Hi Mom,

I really like the letter. I am glad that my name will be a part of the helping Children's House to remain open. To this day I am grateful for how they do things. If I was going to still be in the field of education as a teacher...being a Montessori or Waldroffteacher would be a very attractive way to go. I am inspired in particular by the type of environment Children's House established and it is my hope that they will find a way to continue...

Love,
Kali