Coral Wilson”You’re big,” the children at Oak...

Coral Wilson

“You’re big,” the children at Oak View preschool exclaimed as they

gazed up at Rob Reiner as he entered their classroom Monday

afternoon.

“I’m very big,” Reiner responded with a hearty laugh.

While obviously impressed by Reiner’s towering physique, the 4-

and 5-year-olds still did not comprehend the extent of Reiner’s

largeness.

They were too young to remember the movies “When Harry Met Sally”

and “Stand By Me,” directed by the actor and filmmaker in their

presence.

And while Reiner, 58, chatted with the children about school, the

thought never crossed their minds that they were talking with the

same man who had played “Meathead” on the “All in the Family” TV

series.

The students were also unaware of the difference Reiner had made

in their lives. Heading up Proposition 10, the early childhood

development tobacco surtax that charged smokers an extra 50 cents a

pack with the money going to health and early childhood education

programs, Reiner’s efforts were significant in making the Oak View

preschool possible.

It was not Reiner’s success but his gentle smile that won the

children’s hearts. He made them laugh.

Oak View school was one of the first schools to receive funding in

2001 after Reiner pushed for the new legislation, said Michael Ruane,

executive director of the Children and Families Commission of Orange

County.

Since research has revealed that the early years are the most

critical in a child’s development, helping younger children has

become a personal mission for Reiner.

“If children are given a good quality nurturing and educational

experience, they are eminently better able to succeed later on in

life,” Reiner said. “Most important we have kids that live happy

lives. That is how we build the economy -- from the ground up.”

With the addition of a preschool and adult education program to

complement the elementary and after-school programs, Oak View has

become a state model of collaboration, Ruane said.

“Our vision is to jump start early intervention programs and when

the budget gets better, we hope to expand it statewide,” he said.

“The challenge facing California is how to make the best use of

educational facilities.”

The overcrowded, 99% Latino Oak View community has long been known

for its trouble, Ruane said, recalling the fatal police shooting of

18-year-old Antonio Saldivar, who was holding a toy gun. The

improvements made at Oak View in recent years have been dramatic, he

said.

“I am so proud as I tour this great facility to see everything we

imagined for Proposition 10 has been realized,” Reiner said.

At the Oak View center, parents attend English and computer

classes while their children go to school next door. The arrangement

makes it possible for many adults to improve the lives of their

families by attending class, said Barbara Stecker, vocational English

as a second language instructor.

“The women here get a wonderful sense of being in the 21st

century,” she said. “They are up-to-date, cutting edge and feeling

good about themselves.”

Reiner toured the classrooms and watched the children play on the

playground.

“Cute, very cute,” he said.

When Reiner joined Maria Gamez, 5, and Armando Melchor, 3, in the

sandpit, they only smiled shyly and turned away. Reiner eventually

persuaded them to serve him a cup of sand coffee.

“Hmmm. That’s good, you make good coffee,” he said, pretending to

drink.

While the children continued busily with school and play

activities, the adults on campus were acutely aware of Reiner’s

presence.

Preschool instructor Linda Kim jumped to her feet mid-song as soon

as Reiner entered her classroom. While the children continued

singing, hardly missing a beat, Kim reached for her Polaroid camera

and a pen. She asked Reiner to autograph the instant photo.

And Stecker heaved a sigh of relief after Reiner had left her

classroom.

“I was sweating bullets, that’s all,” she confessed to her

students.

* CORAL WILSON is a news assistant who covers education. She can

be reached at (714) 965-7177 or by e-mail at

[email protected].