A message of love and hope from Nia House Director- Eve Uberman

Welcoming the families of our Nia House graduates during the first annual Goodbye Party in 3 years, I was generally overcome with emotion, until I caught the gaze of my very own sparkly-eyed child, singing with the peers he’s grown with here at Nia House for the last 5 years. The tears commenced. As a Nia House parent and school Director, I reflect with gratitude on the privilege of sending my very own child through Nia House (yes, Abraham started first grade this fall!).

Even through the most challenging of COVID times—from attending weekly City of Berkeley Schools COVID mitigation meetings to working around limited staffing at Nia House due to COVID exposure and illness—I have had the pleasure of laughing with 3- year-olds making jokes on the yard; celebrating the toileting progress of one-year-olds and the mastery of five-year-olds squaring and cubing numerals 1-10; and the joy of dancing during morning drop-offs with the teachers and children who have become my friends. After 20 years at the school, I’m still continually inspired by the way the Nia House teachers are here to support  children with respect, admiration, humor, confidence, and, above all, LOVE.  

Dr. Maria Montessori envisioned a kind of love that is the opposite of social competition, “a type of love which is the ideal of human morality, a love which inspires.”  She identified two levels of love, one which emerges from meeting a child’s basic needs, and another that the child directs by sharing their spirit with the teacher. It is this sharing of growing spirits which truly directs the work of Nia House teachers. Montessori insisted that the teachers must have faith that each child will reveal themselves through the meaningful work they choose in the course of each day at school. This perfect moment of trust and faith between the child and the teacher cultivates greater love. 

Listening to the children’s songs of hope during the Goodbye Party, and seeing Abraham performing with his friends, I was flooded with hope. It is a hope that is crucial to our school’s vision, of ethically and environmentally aware children who become future leaders in a world wherein each person carries the values necessary for peace, harmony and equality. The vision and mission of Nia House reminds me, as both parent and educator, of my faith in humanity as I envision these amazing small humans as compassionate, creative, and equitable world leaders. The community of children brings me faith!

The teachers who spend their careers here at Nia House share this hope and true love with every child who passes through the front gates of the school. Despite the impact of a global pandemic, the crises of climate change and violent global conflicts, the teachers bring strength, dedication and commitment to your children day in and day out. I am so inspired by these incredible colleagues—from teaching to parenting, Nia House has been here for my child and my family.  

In Abraham’s last year at Nia House, I have been a community member not too different from many of you reading this today, sharing my love right back at Nia House and all of the amazing teachers who offered their hearts to the practice of teaching my child. My hope for humanity is supported by the practices of peace and leadership that Nia House teachers provide for us all. Thank you to the teachers for the tender moments you share with our children each day.