June 6, 2005

What in the world is Pre-1A?

My son is in kindergarten. That is, last year he was in four-year old nursery, next year he will be in first grade. So, as far as I can tell, he's in kindergarten. In TA, and various other institutions of Jewish education, the kindergarten year is called Pre-1A. Try as I might, I have been unable to discern the origin or purpose of this arcane nomenclature. And today I saw Gil wrote that Pre-1A was, "between kindergarten and first grade," which only increased the confusion, since, as far as I can tell, that's summer camp.

My original theory was that somewhere in the annals of Jewish history, there was a school that had a classroom labeled "1A" for the youngest students. One year, they decided to have a class of even younger students, you apparently met in an unlabeled classrom. They were dubbed "Pre-1A." And then everyone in the world followed suit.

If anyone can shed light on this, I will be forever in your debt.

Posted by Greg at June 6, 2005 9:52 AM in | TrackBack
Comments

I always thought that there must have been a Pre-1 (which makes sense- that is pre-first grade) and there must have been an A class and a B class, but for some reason it stuck as Pre-1A. It is a bit ridiculous. At BY it is called Kindergarten. Thank G-d.

Posted by: peninah at June 6, 2005 10:41 AM

and i thought it was just new york stupidity....our Ezra is finishing fake kindergarten now, and will be in real kindergarten / pre 1A next year.

I had more hope in the out of towners..oh well

Posted by: Dov at June 6, 2005 7:39 PM

Who are you calling out of towners?!?

Posted by: peninah at June 6, 2005 8:50 PM

I realized after i posted my comments that they might be misconstrued as being snobby "new york-we-are-the-center-of-the-world-even-though-the-yankees -are-awful" talk.

as a proud out of towner (i can stil be one even though i am in 'golus' right now, right?), i am lamenting the spread of this idiotic pre 1a craze to other locations.

(btw, no one should take my Yankees diss as being an orioles plug...still a red sox fan)

Posted by: Dov at June 6, 2005 10:20 PM

All that I know of Pre-1-A, is discussed in this watered-down song that we used to chant:

"Lashon Harah,
Lamed Hey,
You belong in
Pre 1-A."

Now, the true song goes like this:

"Lashon Harah,
Lamed Hey,
Go to hell
the easy way."

Schoolchildren have the oddest jingles/ rhymes.
Yes, well. Not a very clever comment. Sorry I don't know anything else about this.

Posted by: Chana at June 8, 2005 12:39 AM

Judging by some of the comments left over on Hirhurim, it does seem to be the case that this is some sort of messed up New York thing. I should have known.

Posted by: Greg at June 8, 2005 12:24 PM

Here's a link: http://www.haloscan.com/comments/hirhurim/111806391729241405/

Posted by: Greg at June 8, 2005 12:24 PM