Nursery school marks decades

Each week, the animated squeals of preschoolers fill the playground at Elisabeth Amen Nursery School, providing lessons to those within earshot about the importance of joy and play. Wheaton students regularly observe youngsters to learn and to gain firsthand experience in early child development for their education and psychology courses.

The original nursery school was founded in 1931 and was one of the first collegeaffiliated laboratory nursery schools in the country, thanks to Elisabeth Amen, a professor of psychology and education at Wheaton. When the school received a new building in 1966, it was named in her honor.

For more than 90 years, the nursery school has offered opportunities for Wheaton students to work with children and observe their behavior; served as a source for student and faculty research; and provided local families a nurturing place for their children to learn and grow.

That long history was celebrated on Oct. 1, 2022, during a festive community event at the school, which is located on East Main Street, just steps from Wheaton’s main campus.

“I think it’s essential to highlight 90-plus years of operation and awareness of the importance of providing higher education opportunities for students to observe children in a natural school environment,” said Michelle Curran-Mason, who began as the nursery school interim director in 2018 and became director in 2019. (Marge Werner served as director for 25 years before retiring in 2018.)

“Students majoring in psychology and education get to observe and interact with children without traveling off campus. At the same time, the nursery school has offered high-quality, safe care for children in the community, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Curran-Mason, who began at the nursery school as lead teacher in 2001.

Anoushka Agrawal ’20, who double majored in psychology and economics, and worked as a teacher’s assistant at the nursery school, said the experience was an integral part of her Wheaton journey.

“From day one, I was able to see the power of being an educator, interacting with young children and being part of shaping their worldview at such a young age. Working at the nursery school was one of my most exciting times of the