Only in America

Only in America: The mom who sued a preschool for wrecking her 4-year-old's Ivy League chances

A New York City mother pulls her daughter out of a $19,000-a-year preschool that she says turned out to just be "one big playroom"

The story: A New York City woman is suing a preschool on Manhattan's Upper East Side, saying it failed to challenge her 4-year-old daughter, and suggesting it hurt her odds of getting into an Ivy League college. The mom, Nicole Imprescia, said the $19,000-a-year York Avenue Preschool promised an age-appropriate education to prepare her child for elite prep-school entrance exams. Instead, Imprescia says, her child was stuck in a classroom with younger kids being taught shapes and colors. "The school proved not to be a school at all, but just one big playroom," the lawsuit says, as quoted in the New York Daily News. Imprescia yanked her child after three weeks, and wants her money back, plus damages. A lawyer defending the school says it's "regrettable" that a parent would be so disappointed — but that the contract Imprescia signed doesn't allow a refund.
The reaction: Granted, if you pay $19,000 you want something for your money, says Julie Ryan Evans at The Stir, but "ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?" Imprescia makes the "Tiger Mom" look like a "pussycat." Well, to be fair, the school did agree to provide the best education a 4-year-old could get, says Stephanie Rabiner at FindLaw. So if Imprescia expected her kid to learn French instead of shapes, maybe she does deserve a refund — but nothing more. Oh, come on, says Carolyn Robertson at Baby Center. A preschool, even a $19,000-a-year one, should feel like a playroom. This is where wee ones learn to share, work together, and form their "first little friendships." If we're prepping kids for the Ivy League when "they're barely out of diapers," that's just sad.

Recommended

The Check-In: Celebrating Juneteenth in D.C.
The Washington Monument behind the "Stone of Hope" statue
Feature

The Check-In: Celebrating Juneteenth in D.C.

The Week contest: Lighthouse B&B
Pigeon Point Lighthouse.
Feature

The Week contest: Lighthouse B&B

Is protected land really protected?
Grand Canyon.
Briefing

Is protected land really protected?

Going into debt for a bachelorette
Bachelorette decor on a pink background.
Briefing

Going into debt for a bachelorette

Most Popular

Ban the Bible?
Holy Bible.
Briefing

Ban the Bible?

Apple fixes its 'ducking' autocorrect problem
Girl looking down at iPhone.
duck yeah

Apple fixes its 'ducking' autocorrect problem

DOJ reportedly tells Trump he's a target of criminal investigation
Donald Trump
Famous Firsts

DOJ reportedly tells Trump he's a target of criminal investigation