By Mary Munday, Head Teacher
Looking at Bing Nursery School today, it is hard to imagine that it sits on land that was once nothing more than a hayfield. Prior to the school’s opening in 1966, the architects had told Bing’s founding director, Dr. Edith Dowley, to dream big and she didn’t hesitate to share her vision for creating an environment integrated with nature. Conceiving of an indoor/outdoor education program, she knew that the outdoor area had to be designed in such a way that it would spark children’s curiosity and desire to learn. “We made the outdoors more important than the indoors so that they would be lured out there,” Dr. Dowley said. “All the outside things—flowers and trees and all the equipment—were to help children to be intrigued by what they found outside.”
Under her leadership, the architects designed three classrooms, each with its own half-acre play yard with rolling hills. Each classroom has large windows opening to the yard to beckon the children outside. Dr. Dowley planted a variety of trees, with different shapes and heights, branches and leaves, so the children would be inspired to ask questions about them. “The ecologists would love us,” said Dowley. “There’s one [tree] for everybody. The air is kept nice and clean.”
Nearly six decades later, Bing children are still asking questions about Dr. Dowley’s trees. They collect the fallen leaves and branches and use them in their art and design projects during imaginative play, sensory play, and more. There are a few trees that were not part of the original architectural design, including two in East Room: an olive tree planted by a resident squirrel and a 100-year-old oak that was worked into the design of the half-acre outdoor space.
One Friday morning last winter, teachers arrived after a heavy storm and noticed the roots of the two trees were becoming exposed. Tree experts visited the site and concluded that the trees could not be saved and would have to come down. The section of the yard near the two damaged trees was cordoned off, prompting the children to ask questions. They were curious as to why they could not cross into that part of the yard, and teachers informed them that the trees were moving, making it unsafe. Children gathered clipboards and pencils like scientists and began to draw their observations; they created signs with warnings like “tilted trees,” “wind,” and “do not enter.”
Teachers asked, “Why do you think the tree is falling?”
“It started last night. Maybe because of the wind.” —Poppy
“Maybe they are too old.” —Hudson
“I want to draw the tree falling down. I want to draw it tilted.” —Aaron
When the teachers explained that the arborists needed to cut down the trees so the yard would once again be a safe place to play and learn, the children reacted:
“I think our trees are saying OW!” —Ellie
“You can make stairs out of the tree so you can go to the top of the house and then stairs so you can go down.” —Adam
On Monday, when children returned to school, they were quick to notice that the two damaged trees were gone, leaving behind tall stumps and assorted branches and pieces of bough. The teachers wondered: How would the children feel about the change in scenery? How might they use the large branches and large pieces of wood?
As children and parents walked out to survey the change, one parent commented, “Look, we found the heart of the tree!” The arborists had thoughtfully carved a heart into one of the trees and placed smaller stumps around the tall tree stump. Adam walked around to find stairs on one of the stumps and he began to climb carefully. I asked if he remembered his suggestion for what to do once the tree was cut down. “You can make stairs to go to the top of the house and to go back down,” he recalled and then took a flying leap off the stump, landing on the spongy ground below. Other children joined in, climbing, leaping, smiling, and laughing together.
“This is so fun!” —Sisi
“I like the steps. The steps can hold all of our weight. Heavy people and light people because it is stronger than us.” —Max
“I just love this tree so much. It’s cool.” —James
“This stump is older than Bing.” —Adam
“My dad’s job is to cut trees.” —Ellie
In keeping with Dr. Dowley’s vision, Bing’s trees were never just trees but rather vehicles to unleash the children’s imaginations. That’s why even when a pair came down, the children instantly transformed the tree stumps and long branches into restaurants, doctor’s offices, police stations, rocket ships, cars, homes, and a multitude of settings for collaborative play.
We watched the ideas spark and expand each day as more children joined in to devise new scenarios. Props created by the children were brought in—from pretend menus and food made from natural materials to plates and utensils made from the bark and small sticks collected near the stumps. The children even constructed a “hotel” using large blocks and more stumps so that there was a place to stay near the restaurant.
The children in East PM show up every day ready to embrace each new moment, and it is fascinating to see the wonder, discovery, and love they feel in the company of Dr. Dowley’s trees. We look forward to much more adventure and learning in the East Room yard, thanks to the extraordinary vision of one woman who understood that nature is a classroom all its own.
Please visit Bing’s YouTube channel or http://bit.ly/Dowley for a video featuring Dr. Edith Dowley’s reflection on Bing Nursery School.