Montclair Cooperative School Careers in Montclair, NJ

The Montclair Cooperative School began 50 years ago when Mary Meager, new to Montclair, wanted to start an interracial, nonsectarian, cooperative nursery school similar to one she belonged to in Michigan. At the same time, Lauretta Freeman was a member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. She and the other members met weekly to discuss issues of civil rights, fair housing, war and disarmament. One member, Colleen McCarthy, shared a letter she had received from Mary Meager who was recruiting potential members for a cooperative nursery school. The interested women of the group began to work with Mary to start the year-long preparation of the Montclair Cooperative Nursery School.