The Door

The PBS Kindergarten door.  The door to Ms Tully’s kindergarten classroom was very heavy, and with an old-style handle.  Laine was supremely happy with school, except for this door.  She simply could not open it.  She would not want to go early to school, mainly because she would have to wait outside the door until someone opened it for her.  Her teacher’s suggestion is that she just knock, and Ms Tully would open it.  Vijaya suggested that she would go with Laine every morning and open it for her, until Laine was strong enough.  Anna said no.  She said, wisely, that Laine was strong enough now, but just needs to learn to use her small body effectively.  She told Laine “you are small, but strong – you need to learn to do things for yourself”.  She made arrangements to come 15 min before students normally arrive in the morning for school with Ms Tully, and taught Laine just when and how to pull with all her weight to get the door open and quickly jam it open with her body.  It took Laine a few times, but she learned, and was very proud of her accomplishment.  She never had a problem after that.