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EDUCATION

An Argument for Preschool

The states are spending more and more money to educate children before they start kindergarten. But one expert warns that not all programs are created equal.

By Peg Tyre | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jan 3, 2008 | Updated: 4:17  p.m. ET Jan 3, 2008

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  • Posted By: sec41273 @ 07/20/2008 12:03:54 PM

    Comment: As a certified Early Childhood Teacher in KY, I see the benefits of preschool in the Elementary setting. My students are able to transition to Kindergarten with less stress and difficulty. I teach students from all economic background, with and without disabilities. All children are given the opportunity to explore and create at their pace without drill and practice. The State of KY has created a guideline of academic standards that flow into the primary core content yet are developmentally appropriate for young children based on current research. Parents should not feel that sending their children to a quality preschool program is usurping their role as their child's first teacher. As a classroom teacher, I work with my families to provide their children with the best possible foundation for learning. This article was well written and should not have prompted the negative view of quality preschools.

  • Posted By: Tired_Of_Your_BS @ 04/16/2008 11:52:01 AM

    Comment: I will work as many jobs as I have to just to keep my kids out of public school. I didn't have children to lose them to the influences of those raised by parents who don't care.

    • Posted By: sec41273 @ 07/20/2008 12:05:05

      Comment: Children do not learn because others around them are not. Your influence is the one that counts. If you value education and make it known to your child, he/she will too. It is not a problem of a public school education.

  • Posted By: violetmommy @ 04/11/2008 1:13:21 PM

    Comment: I am a credentialed teacher who has made the decision not to homeschool my children. Do I think I can teach them the proper academics? Of course. Do I think they may academically learn more at home than in a classroom? Perhaps. But they will not learn how to get along with others...work in a group...listen to others besides me...stand up for themselves...be a self starter...the list goes on.
    I am not saying those who home school are making a bad choice. I just think children learn differnet things other than academics in school. AM I goign to work with my children at home? Absolutely. Will they learn a good portion of their academics from me? Yes. But they will get something from going to school as well. Accontability...socializing with others...problem solving...teamwork...those are skills I cannot repolicate in my living room.

  • Posted By: edmuneca @ 03/16/2008 5:40:11 PM

    Comment: I worked in the public school system for more than 8 years as an assistant teacher. I also worked in Head Start for 3 years before that. ( I am a trained para-professional) I have decided to homeschool my daughter as a result of those experiences. Why? Because a classroom the size of my small living room packed with twenty children does not lend for the richest learning environment. Some children will thrive, others will be bored out of their minds and still others will simply fall further behind. Individual attention which is what every single child needs is impossible. Believe me, I tried. Public School gets worse. Thirty children in a classroom, if your are lucky a teacher that is creative who has not burned out or left in utter fustration because of lack of resources, lack of a living wage, ridiculous timelines, or threats from administrators because of NCLB or parents who have chosen not to actually raise their children and refuse to discipline them. The poor teacher also has to deal with difficult behaviors of children who are frustrated with the school system, already academically behind and act out because of it, taking time away from the ones who are academically advanced, teaching boys who learn differently in an environment that is friendlier to girls, (I am female by the way) all the while having no relief during the day since music, art, and gym have been removed to make more room for teaching to the test. I want my daughter to enjoy learning. As an assistant at times I was bored to tears and hated the way the school system forced us to teach. I cannot imagine going through twelve years of that as a student. As for the Distar program, when done with a caring loving adult one on one, it works. I started it with my daughter and she looks forward to her lessons. I have seen great progress already. Why should my daughter learn to sit at a table and not talk and just listen quietly never expressing her opinion or ideas and be passive about her learning? The real world is not that way! For you to grow you must interact, voice your opinion, express your ideas. Yes, your take turns. But where in the work environment do you work solely along side of others who are within a year of your age, and think just like you? In my daughter's homeschooling group we learn alongside children of different ages. She gets to learn from the people who care for her more than anything else in this world, her parents. She gets to learn sitting outside on the grass on sunny days, or maybe on the porch on a rainy day. She gets to sit on my lap when she learns if she likes and she enjoys learning this way. If she needs a break, she can take it, right away. I would not trade that for her for the world. Some children need pre-school because it would be the only way they would learn, but for us parents who can nothing beats homeschooling.

  • Posted By: happymomof3 @ 03/14/2008 12:07:50 AM

    Comment: stayathomemom would love to know where to purchase the curriculum you mentioned--Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I also teach my children at home. Loved your comments, you are an inspiration, and your children are blessed!

  • Posted By: mstammi @ 03/13/2008 6:24:06 PM

    Comment: I have raised my kids but was forced into the work field due to the HIGHEST cost of living on Long Island-My kids are all teens and one is on the Marines. Most women are forced into the work field because of the cost of living or they are single parents or other situations. Hence-Childcare. I would love to hold seminars for Paretns to know what to look for and what to ask because out of all the Parents I have met, one asked all the right questions. One out of hundreds because the parents are too busy to care or are afraid to ask questions.

    The fact is- Childcare is needed. And The Government NEEDS to pour more money into qualified Centers, shutting down illegal daycares, and qualify parents for assistance AND PAY top dollar to the qualified Staff to prevent high turn-overs.

    Please stop finger pointing-Life is not fair or perfect . We need to find and apply the right solutions.

  • Posted By: stayathomemom @ 03/13/2008 11:19:16 AM

    Comment: One of the items listed in the Communist Manifesto as important to the goal of communism was "free public education", including daycare. The Soviets were some of the most fervent practitioners of day care, and stated that "the raising of a child is not the private task of the parents, but the task of society". Lenin himself was a very strong believer in day care, and said that the Bolshevik press did not support it enough.
    By the way, I am the 15-year old who graduated from high school early and scored a 30 on the ACT. My mom posted a comment above. I just thought that I would back her up with information.

  • Posted By: stayathomemom @ 03/13/2008 10:22:19 AM

    Comment: No one does a better job than the mom can do. We need to encourage mothers to take care of their own children. Give them free curriculum.(Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons $20) I have taught 6 of my 9 children so far for a total of $20. I don't have a college education, but I can tell you this is going to be a waste of tax payers money. I save the government $40,000 a year right now. Plus my kids have a better education.
    You can not replace a mothers love with a paid worker. My children have had the chance to be creative which sparks a hunger for learning.
    At the age of 15 my oldest took the ACT and his score was 30 ( I didn't teach him to read until he was 6, he had no structured learning until 10).
    mstammi it will probably be hard to find good workers, you sound like the type of person that would do a great job with your own children at home.
    A good book to read would be "The Socialization Trap".by Rick Boyer. Kids need love and security not to be forced (which might happen) to go be with a paid teacher and a bunch of peers.
    My husband does not work with a bunch of people his age. Children need reality not what someone thinks is a good idea. Read "The Problem with Day Care" by Karl Ainsmeister.
    Peg Tyre here is a great website http://www.daycaresdontcare.org/index.htm. I think they have covered the issue. But will you listen, probably not.
    Moms like me who have chosen to teach our children at home don't have a voice until our children start getting older.
    It seems like the only articles on Preschool and women in general on MSN and Newsweek are by women who have chosen a career outside the home. But hopefully someday that will change.. .

    • Posted By: happymomof3 @ 03/14/2008 00:12:15

      Comment: Would love to know where to purchase the book you mentioned--Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. Loved your comments, and couldn't agree more. I also teach my children at home, and we love and enjoy it! You are an inspiration!

  • Posted By: mstammi @ 03/13/2008 7:51:15 AM

    Comment: I am a DayCare Director and have been in this field for 10 years. I can not stress enough the absolute importance and need of trained and qualified Teachers. I am finishing my B.S. and will move on to a Master's Program. I currently work in a Center that is ran by a "HeadMaster" who knows nothing about Childcare and hires peole who have NO training or experience which leaves me to deal with bad attitudes and constant cleaning up behind these un-trained people. I am throughly disgusted by the mind set of " we have budget issues" and not encouraging the staff to get qualified training. This happens to much and the children do suffer because of it. My goal is to own an Academic Daycare Center which focuses on preparing the children for School , specifically teaching Handwriting , Math and Comprehension skills incorporated through Literacy and Play. I am currently applying this theory in the Center I work in , particularly in one classroom. The other classroom Teachers apply the rote system and "Repeat after me" which I am against.

    The system I have incorporated is a combination of NAEYC Theories, and High Scope and Reggio and it is highly successful.

    So far, I have had four children skip one grade to a higher grade and by the time the Prekindergarteners "graduate" in June, All the students have the ability to read and complete simple addition and subtraction skills as well as have learned how to write in Script.

    I know of the success of such programs and how the children are successful in school.

    I have seen (and currently work for, and am saddened)many Centers hire un-trained, un-qualified staff because of limited money.

    I know when I open my business, I will not compromise. I will only hire certified, educated Teachers.

  • Posted By: glpricetag @ 03/05/2008 11:47:21 AM

    Comment: As a professor of early childhood education, I would agree in general with this article. However, the author mentions the importance of "structured play". In reality, it is unstructured play, ie. child-initiated and child-directed play, that has the most postive impact of young children's development in all domains--physical, academically, and socially and emotionally. Unfortunately, true high quality programs are few and far between.

  • Posted By: andy1980 @ 01/22/2008 12:35:24 PM

    Comment: Me and my 4 siblings all went to a pre-school. It did us all good, I believe, since we all graduated high school with good grades. I wasnt able to put my son in pre-school, however, due to the fact that he took a bit longer to potty train and no school would take him unless he was completely potty-trained. I've worked with him myself and continue to do so now; plus he gets exposure to a 'class' enviroment and other kids in church every sunday. I'm fully confident he'll be ready for kindergarten next fall.

  • Posted By: lma19and7 @ 01/15/2008 11:33:26 PM

    Comment: I have always believed that 'best teaching practices' for the individual student is what fosters optimal development, no matter what the particular model may be. Nevertheless, for preschool aged children, generally speaking, a hands on approach is usually more appropriate and beneficial than drills and practices. As an educator I am familiar with the various models such as Reggio, and High Scope mentioned in this article, and speaking from experiences within the classroom, children will thrive if all of their needs (social, cognitive, physical...) are being met.
    I agree that the quality of preschools is just as important as the quanity of them, but until we as a country truly value 'the child' (meaning ALL children) as an important part of society, the quality of most preschools will be minimal-- at best.

  • Posted By: dw24 @ 01/15/2008 8:58:15 AM

    Comment: No one is talking about the cost of Pre K. Some places charge prohibitively expensive prices. Others that are more affordable are not of the same quality. More often than not the children from lower income families have to settle for the Pre K that has the "three-syllable words posted but spelled wrong and puts the eight kids she's in charge of in front of the television" kind of pre k. There is no argument agianst early education for our children but the type of education they recieve should at least have a base standard and an affordable price.

  • Posted By: valerieg @ 01/14/2008 5:31:12 PM

    Comment: Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. All preschools are not the same and neither are all children. Some variety in preschool offerings needs to be kept at the front of the conversation. I believe any child will benifit from a good preschool teacher. And I mean teacher in it's braodest terms. Parents are teachers too.
    Did anyone do any research on the impact of a great mom or grandmother as teacher or a great family childcare provider?
    I agree preschool has it's benifits ; I made it my career for the past thirty years; but there are associated cost to the health and well being of our children and neighborhoods. I strongly promote the idea that variety in settings and curriculums has to be an option as long as a level of high quality programming is adhered to
    for all children
    I am concerned that all this preschool talk is about what the adults need i.e. chilcare, higher grades, job market readiness. Let's teach children because it is the right thing to do !

  • Posted By: loha @ 01/13/2008 12:32:32 AM

    Comment: Some preschools are good, and that is great. But not all of them are. And some of them are better in one thing than another. There are alternatives for preschool, like having a stay at home parent or having at great day care providers. Everyone, especially children, should be exposed to different things. No matter what, you need to take your children places like the park, a museum, aquarium, zoo, hiking, an amusement park, a play, whatever (as long as it's appropriate). Pre school is just another experiance that gets children ready for real school, but only if it's good. If it's not good don't bother, find something else. Also, not every child benefits by preschool. Every child and every situation is different. Preschool should not be required because of that.

  • Posted By: loha @ 01/13/2008 12:23:04 AM

    Comment: I believe a good preschool is great. It helped me a lot. But not all preschools are good. Some are, some aren't. Some are better with some things than other things. I believe that everyone, especially children need to have experiances with different things. You need to have trips to the aquarium, zoo, museum, park, and many other places. If it is a decent preschool, it will if nothing else get them somewhat used to the school experiance. There is nothing inherantly wrong with homeschooling. It's all in how you do it. It's the same thing with preschool. But people should not be forced to have their children in preschool. Maybe they will benefit more with another type of thing. Every child is different.

  • Posted By: bharvey @ 01/08/2008 10:32:07 PM

    Comment: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/8/185438/7845/186/433066

    RON PAUL'S RACIST NEWSLETTERS REVEALED. and he ADMITS IT!

  • Posted By: teachereducator @ 01/08/2008 3:43:27 PM

    Comment: i agree. We need to pay all teachers a salary commensurate with their responsibilities and experience. I teach in a major university while working on a doctorate in teacher education. I see dedicated bright students come through this program every day. I cannot help but wonder which ones of them will continue in teaching and which ones will burn out. It comes down to this: If we value our children, we value those who work with them. That can include teachers as well as stay at home parents. We need to take a long hard look at our values in this country.

  • Posted By: Jaden199 @ 01/08/2008 11:45:32 AM

    Comment: As an educator in a public school, I hope that we're not dissillusioned by the notion that paying Pre-K educators a comparable wage to that of public educators would allow them to live a comfortable life. Both my wife and I are middle school teachers and we're scraping to get by on our combined salaries. Teachers are leaving the profession left and right. I know that I personally made a better living answering customer service lines for the phone company than I do as a teacher. The entire system, Pre-K to graduation, needs an economic overhaul. As a parent of a 3 year old, I'm facing the Pre-K debate myself. The recommendation around here is that children actually take 2 years of Pre-K. The explanation is that they'll be better prepared for the high stakes world of NCLB. God help us.

  • Posted By: amlyons @ 01/08/2008 10:35:22 AM

    Comment: I believe that there is a way to combine the best of worlds. As a mother of a 4 year old who will be entering kindergarten this fall, I beleive that preschool does, like the author mention, help children adjust to the routine and social aspects that pre-school provides. As a student in the CA credential program who will begin student teaching in the spring, I also believe that early preschool should be less about skills and drills and more about hands on learning. I believe that this is what all early grade learning should look like. It's not enough for kids to know HOW to multiply, but they need to understand why and when to multiply. I have had the luxury of taking my daughter to a good preschool in the morning and then bringing her home in the afternoon to receive that loving one on one attention from a parent. In the absence of of that luxury, affordable, quality preschool should be available to all parents.

  • Posted By: popslashgirl @ 01/08/2008 10:29:43 AM

    Comment: jerelmcdonald, can you please provide sources for your claims? I'm not familiar with any reputable studies that have found such a strong negative correlation with any type of preschool.

    The importance of pre-school, like the importance of school, or after-school activities, of volunteering, of community activism, and of cultural involvement in general, is because we as humans are social animals. In order to live happy, healthy lives, we *need* to be properly socialized. What they are recommending in this article is situation where a child can learn to share, to play with others, to coordinate and cooperate, and to learn group dynamics, respect for classmates and teachers, and how to interact with people outside the immediate family who may look or act or speak differently. All of this provides a solid groundwork basis for more advanced education and future learning.

  • Posted By: jerelmcdonald @ 01/08/2008 10:02:42 AM

    Comment: I largely disagree with this article. It fails to mention that pre-school is actually associated with more negative outcomes when compared to a child at home with a loving parent. Of course in today's world where parents don't want to or can't stay home with their children, preschool is going to be better than being left at a baby-sitting service. But preschool is associated with higher levels of anti-social behavior and greater incidents of illnesses when compared to staying home with a parent.

    • Posted By: sec41273 @ 07/20/2008 12:11:56

      Comment: Research taught in major universities in teacher preparation programs do not agree with your statements. Please do not belittle professionals by comments that you cannot back up.

  • Posted By: jerelmcdonald @ 01/08/2008 10:02:41 AM

    Comment: I largely disagree with this article. It fails to mention that pre-school is actually associated with more negative outcomes when compared to a child at home with a loving parent. Of course in today's world where parents don't want to or can't stay home with their children, preschool is going to be better than being left at a baby-sitting service. But preschool is associated with higher levels of anti-social behavior and greater incidents of illnesses when compared to staying home with a parent.

  • Posted By: jerelmcdonald @ 01/08/2008 10:02:40 AM

    Comment: I largely disagree with this article. It fails to mention that pre-school is actually associated with more negative outcomes when compared to a child at home with a loving parent. Of course in today's world where parents don't want to or can't stay home with their children, preschool is going to be better than being left at a baby-sitting service. But preschool is associated with higher levels of anti-social behavior and greater incidents of illnesses when compared to staying home with a parent.

  • Posted By: jerelmcdonald @ 01/08/2008 10:02:06 AM

    Comment: I largely disagree with this article. It fails to mention that pre-school is actually associated with more negative outcomes when compared to a child at home with a loving parent. Of course in today's world where parents don't want to or can't stay home with their children, preschool is going to be better than being left at a baby-sitting service. But preschool is associated with higher levels of anti-social behavior and greater incidents of illnesses when compared to staying home with a parent.

  • Posted By: lopez1972 @ 01/08/2008 9:32:34 AM

    Comment: Disappointed to see that there is no mention of the importance of teacher qualifications and the home-school relationship. i do not say partnership because it shouldn't be an equal balance. Home bears the most responsibility for a child's education and for placing emphasis on the importance of education.
    Teachers in many preschool programs have minimal qualifications to teach young children and are often payed very little making it almost impossible for persons who are qualified to teach and make a decent living.

  • Posted By: lopez1972 @ 01/08/2008 9:29:03 AM

    Comment: I wholeheartedly agree with this article but am dissappointed to see that there is no mention of teacher qualifications. While there are plenty of preschool programs out t here, very few have the qualified staff to make the program a quality program. There is also no mention of the importance of home-school relationship. The "school" program should enhance the home experience not be the sole source of education.

  • Posted By: cld9 @ 01/08/2008 9:25:55 AM

    Comment: And a continuation of my previous post after I let my 4 yr old help me with the typing. We practiced letters.
    Children will learn from your example whether they are in preschool or not. Education simply begins in the home and should end in the home. Public schooling, if that is what you choose, should be a help but not a crutch. Public schools can only teach so much. Children really do learn from their parents. Preschool will not change that.

  • Posted By: cld9 @ 01/08/2008 9:18:10 AM

    Comment: Having been a preschool teacher and Director of a Center, I think preschool is a good idea but NOT a necessity. Any parent can teach their children the basics in the home. Let your children help you with chores. They learn sequencing (cognitive). Have a play group (social). Love them when they are hurt, let them be frustrated teach them to share and be nice (emotional). Children will learn from YOUR example. They will learn from your example whterhr they are in preschool or not.TTTTTThey will learn how to

  • Posted By: harrymann@bellsouth.net @ 01/08/2008 9:06:02 AM

    Comment: I am concerned that professionals and others are having more and more influence and parents less and less influence on the lives of children. Granted some parents aren't a good influence, but good parents are often so busy making a living they have no time or energy to rear their own children. If one parent was paid a living wage, the other could spend time with the kids. I was lucky to have a mom who spent time reading with us and playing table games, such as dominos or cards, and I did well in almost every subject. Mom took me to the library when I was in second grade and introduced me to the Bobbsey Twins books, which I then read. My younger siblings weren't so lucky as Mom had to go to work during my senior year in high school. However, she gave me such a good "Head Start" that I eventually earned a B.A., M.Div., and D.Min. degrees. I'm not against Pre-K education but think we need to rearrange society so parents have more time and energy for parenting, and kids need more quality time with their parents.

  • Posted By: JustKate @ 01/07/2008 2:57:19 PM

    Comment: I just need to interject quickly about how most Preschool programs do not require the teachers to have a degree: As a former Preschool teacher, then Director of a Program, these programs cannot afford to pay college-educated Early Childhook Education teachers the salaries they want (and deserve) unless they charge the parents more. These teachers worked while attending college or simply out of a desire to make the difference in the life of a child... for $7-$10 an hour. Turnover in preschool and daycare programs are high because the teachers simply cannot afford to live on that pay and survive. They finish their degrees and teach in public school or leave the field altogether. Needless to say, if I wanted to quit my current job in the legal field and return to teaching preschool, my family would suffer and we would not be able to afford our mortgage.
    Funding should be put in place to compensate the teachers salary above and beyond what the preschool or daycare can budget to pay them. Good teachers have been lost due to poor salaries, and that does affect the foundation for our kids. Bottom line: if you want early education teachers with degrees, be ready to pay a whole lot more for your preschool program.

  • Posted By: teachereducator @ 01/06/2008 10:00:22 PM

    Comment: Here are some stark realities -- children living in poverty (who are disproportionally represented among children of color) are all too often beginning their educational careers without being ready for kindergarten. They then are being warehoused into schools with overburdened teaching staffs. Because of NCLB and its attendant district and state policies, often these children are taught using scripted materials that connect to standardized tests. They don't live in print rich environments and are not given access to that in schools either, due to the use of basal texts and teacher proof materials such as Chicago's DISTAR curriculum. Their schooling doesn't make them excited about learning, nor does their home environment generally support it.
    That said, these children need to experience learning through play in a well structured, caring environment. They would benefit greatly from the types of rich child-centered pre-schools that are generally available to their wealthier peers. If that is what these pre-K government proposed programs turn out to be, then all is well. If they only push for higher test scores and focus on "drill and kill" teaching styles, teacher centered rather than child centered, then there is still no hope that we will really ever have a level playing field for children entering first grade, no matter the hours of seat time a child puts in before entry.

  • Posted By: Sonia4Him @ 01/05/2008 10:13:21 PM

    Comment: I live in New Jersey and I see alot of low income families benefit from the 3 and 4 year old program, but then again I see it's drawbacks. I have a friend who is a single mother and works 2 jobs to make ends meet and she enrolled her child in the 4 year old pre-school program, but she was put on a waiting list and mean while other kids whose mother does not work were placed in the program!?

  • Posted By: Newmen @ 01/05/2008 9:51:17 PM

    Comment: This is just another case for goverment intervening in our lives. Let the parents raise the children. Any time Goverment takes over it gets screwed up and waste more tax dollars

  • Posted By: See Jane Read @ 01/05/2008 8:11:10 PM

    Comment: My son read his first word at age two. He did attended pre-school and had no shortage of creative play and creative interactions with others. He would not have been an early reader, however, if he had not had an equal opportunity to see ever letter of the alphabet and then learn the letter names and sounds. Some times you need to repeat things to memorize them. That is a good thing. "Creative chaos" is just that --chaos. Nearly half of all children in the fourth grade in the United States do not read at an appropriate level. I strongly believe that this has a LOT to do with chaos in the early childhood environment. The parents who have written (especially those with multiple children) need to have structure for their children to learn respect and interpersonal skills. There is a clear need for pre-school but there is NO clear need for more research or pre-school pundits. I would prefer seeing the money that researchers collect going directly to the teachers who need equal access to resources.

  • Posted By: cvuchetich @ 01/05/2008 6:17:30 PM

    Comment: As a teacher, I can see politicians doing preschool on the cheap and when it comes time for state mandated test time and the student is not prepared it will all be blamed on the teacher. They will all want to know what went wrong. People, especially politicians do not pay attention to how much education really cost. They may talk the talk but not walk the walk

  • Posted By: Momof4inAustin @ 01/05/2008 3:16:34 PM

    Comment: Well said Kami -- A "one size fits all approach" to anything -- "No Child Left Behind" is another great example -- does not work -- My youngest is five, will go to kinder next fall, and is AT HOME with me for a reason -- I want her with her mommy and daddy until it's time for her to go to school. She has three older sibs and knows her colors and letters and letter sounds. She doesn't "need" pre-k -- so please, people, don't get caught up in this idea that all little children "need" pre-k !

  • Posted By: Momof4inAustin @ 01/05/2008 3:15:42 PM

    Comment: Well said Kami -- A "one size fits all approach" to anything -- "No Child Left Behind" is another great example -- does not work -- My youngest is five, will go to kinder next fall, and is AT HOME with me for a reason -- I want her with her mommy and daddy until it's time for her to go to school. She has three older sibs and knows her colors and letters and letter sounds. She doesn't "need" pre-k -- so please, people, don't get caught up in this idea that all little children "need" pre-k !

  • Posted By: Mililani Mom @ 01/05/2008 1:26:21 PM

    Comment: The push for cradle-to-grave government care is all about increasing employment for adults, preferably unionized employees. With the increasing exodus from public schools to private schools, legislators must appease the NEA and local affiliates. At the preschool level, parents still have "choice" on where and how to educate their children. All but the wealthy or those who can home school lose that choice at Gr. K Government should not control the education of children -- parents should!

  • Posted By: Kami @ 01/05/2008 2:31:36 AM

    Comment: I am a pre-school teacher and I was a stay at home mom. I did the pre-school thing with my kids...I can honestly say that preschool is not for every child. Here we go again, trying to make every child fit into that square box...People even when young are individuals. Some do well, some don't do well. You have to make the judgement call on that. Pre-school teachers have a lot more on their plate than regular teachers: You cannot reason with a child that small. You can give choices. Much of it is training. But other teachers don't deal with potty issues, nap issues, illness issues to that extreme. And lets face it: kids get exposed to a lot of sickenss in schools. So is it better to send your kid to school? I think all schools need a system change. I don't thing training your kid to be in a box furthers humanity. I think you need to train them to think. Not just what fits into school, but real creative, analytical thinking. That doesn't happen in most schools.

  • Posted By: deescow @ 01/05/2008 12:48:30 AM

    Comment: I am a stay at home mom with a pre-schooler. My pre-schooler is attending a pre-school three days a week for two and a half hours a day. She is getting a lot of socalisation and school rutine things there. My older daughter did great at the pre-school and it made a big inpact on her when it came to starting kindergarden. This has worked great and still is working great for our family. My daughters are getting the best of both worlds exta time home with me and time to learn skills needed in school. Kindergarden is not what it was when I went.

  • Posted By: ThePaganAngel777 @ 01/05/2008 12:28:49 AM

    Comment: I agree. This is just another step to our world becoming like the one described in "Brave New World." Truely horrifying.

  • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/04/2008 10:03:29 PM

    Comment: A college professor (from Berkley no less!) telling us how to raise our kids and denigrating stay at home moms. And Newsweek sees this as credible and newsworthy? How does anyone buy into this nonsense?

  • Posted By: Shortly24 @ 01/04/2008 10:00:10 PM

    Comment: I think some of you are missing the point, he is not bashing every mom who stays at home with their children. I am sure that there at home pre school programs that would put most "traditional" centers to shame, but for every one of those there are probably half a dozen homes where the children are dumped in front of the TV all day. Quality programs can be found in many different setting, let's focus on educating parents on WHAT to look for instead of WHERE to find it. Once you know what to look for they will be able to find it on their own. Instead of taking offence to his stereotypes take pride in being an exception.

  • Posted By: Tiare @ 01/04/2008 7:59:29 PM

    Comment: You can say that again. I WAS a highly qualified preschool teacher before having my own children. I have a BA in Child Development and years of wonderful experience teaching in both public and private centers. If you'll forgive a slight brag; I was really a very good teacher. However, my highest pay (in California) was $11 per hour, working with the poorest families in a public school center. I knew uneducated receptionists who earned more money than me. There is no way I would go back into teaching preschool. They can't even pay me enough to cover childcare for my children! I am happily staying at home raising my own now.

  • Posted By: gfurlong @ 01/04/2008 6:37:47 PM

    Comment: Interesting. "Most mothers work." For pay, outside the home, I assume he means. No, actually many moms of preschoolers are at home with them giving them the benefits of "preschool" in the loving, nurturing environment of the home. All this talk of art, creativity, hands-on learning, engaged learners...it can all take place quite successfully with Mommy at home. Too bad the government doesn't encourage the advancement of the best preschool program of all.

    • Posted By: farmkids42morrow @ 01/08/2008 08:30:52

      Comment: Best comment in the discussion! All children need is the love and attention of a mother at home. No government run preschool kid-o-matic needed, thank you.

      • Posted By: ceskourup @ 06/02/2008 09:27:16

        Comment: I totally agee with this statement. My husband and I were just talking last nite that our 5 year old will attend kindergarten in the Fall and we're so afraid she'll be "bored" with it. With her being at home with mommy since birth, she is able to write, read, draw etc and very good I might add. She did not get these abilities from being in pre school, she obtained them from hanging out with Mom, Dad and other siblings all her life who instilled in her a love of learning. Thank you for menioning that those of who are able to be at home are not encouraged or even acknowledged most of the time for our efforts!!

  • Posted By: gresens @ 01/04/2008 6:26:11 PM

    Comment: Another point is that with hopes that the quality of early care will increase, we need to demand more from the states. For example, did you know that most states do not even require a degree to work in child care? New Hampshire only requires that lead teachers in licensed and licensed exempt programs to have 12 college-level credits in early childhood education? Yet, the second they go on to public school, the teacher needs a minimum of a bachelor's and state certification? And NH is not the only one! How can we expect to provide high quality education if the teachers are not prepared. And child care workers are not paid even close to what public school teachers are, so there is no chance that a certfied teacher would even consider working in a child care program.

    • Posted By: Jaden199 @ 01/08/2008 11:39:13

      Comment: As a public school teacher, I'd like to point out that paying Pre-K teachers my salary would still not be enough to allow them to support a family. My wife and I are both middle school teachers and we're scraping to get by. I feel for the situation of Pre-K educators, but please don't suggest that elevating their compensation to that of public school teachers is the answer to ensuring quality instruction. The entire system, Pre-K to graduation, needs an economic overhaul.

  • Posted By: gresens @ 01/04/2008 6:16:53 PM

    Comment: There is no easier answer or resolution to this issue. No Child Left behind has raised the standards for children in public school - this topic could be its own dissertation. But what this means for early childhood education is that the stakes are higher and children need to be more prepared when they enter public schools. Public school teachers no longer have the time to help children learn social skills and self-regulation, nevermind precursors to academic skills. They need to focus on true academics. the point of this article is not whther we should even have child care - it is saying that what is available is not high quality. What is high quality is not available to to parents in low and even middle income families. Funding is not available to programs providing child care unless they are focusing on pre-academics - take Early REading First. foe example. There needs to be more funding available to famiilies with all incomes so that their children can be successful students and memebers of society later on.

  • Posted By: Auriane @ 01/04/2008 4:44:29 PM

    Comment: I happen to agree that pre-K is a great thing. I have seen the difference in children that attended pre-K and those that did not. They are more capable of adjusting to a regular school schedule, are more well behaved at home and tend to express themselves better. I agree that a per-k cirriculum should be centered around play based learning with small bits of the more strict cirriculum in it. It teaches them that thier imagination and thier ability to free think are imortant but also they must learn that there are certain rules that all people are expected to follow. The childcare comment is just a plus for working parents. And oh, by the way, hasn't anyone noticed that most mothers that kill or abuse thier children are full-time stay at home moms?

    • Posted By: KMMiller @ 01/04/2008 20:11:18

      Comment: Although I agree with your pre-k statements, children in preschool are better prepared in many aspects, I feel that your comment regarding at-home Moms was uncalled for and offensive. I do not know statistics on "most mothers that kill or abuse their children" and whether they are at home or working, but your comment stereotypes and lumps together a group of hard working, caring and compassionate women (and men) that do not deserve to feel shunned or unequal to the so-called "working" moms of the world. I am sure that the news stories that you hear and are apparently referring to are real and of course they are horrible, but without statistical data you are not equal to the free thinker that you would like children to be through pre-k education.

      • Posted By: Auriane @ 01/05/2008 12:31:51

        Comment: Undoubtably, a stay at home mom has the hardest job in the world. But what I am saying is that women that don't get that break (either a hubby, a sitter or some other way) are more stressed and isolated that most others. I am glad that there are mothers who are willing to make that choice. What I am saying is that they need more support from thier family and community for doing the hardest and the most rewarding job on earth.

  • Posted By: wcor242 @ 01/04/2008 4:10:03 PM

    Comment: DEAR COUNTY1013:
    Sure atleast one person can stay at home:
    my wife stays at home. It all depends on what your wife wants: Some women work even when their husband makes over 100K a year saying that they dont want to stay at home. My opinion on this is dont have kids if you dont want to raise them, other wise pay for the extra cool schooling yourself since you have 2 incomes and dont want to raise your own.
    Priorities is what its about: If anything the economy like it is : is more reason for one person to stay at home for the fact that it costs alot of money to go to work: Gas, Lunch every day, Child Care, Eating out more often, Potty training is later with working parents (More money for diapers) An extra car payment, The second income is Taxed at a much higher rate as well. You can easily add an extra $2,500 per month in additional expense for that extra job, maybe more depending on the lifestyle of the person with the second job.

    There you go

  • Posted By: lookin4ahero @ 01/04/2008 3:57:17 PM

    Comment: I would be interested in knowing what the constants and variables were in the research that led to the belief that children who attend pre-school have higher graduation rates. Most of the data I have seen about the children not graduating indicated that a high number of those children were in special education (learning and/or behavior disorders). As someone who works as an advocate for children with neurological disorders I am finding that our high stakes testing is causing even more problems in this area in that these same kids end up being held back over and over again and between their academic failure and their social failures in that they are often suspended repeatedly for behaviors relating to their disorders (which will only get worse thanks to the new IDEA laws that allows schools even more room to punish these children and places the burden of proof on the parents), they become disheartened and quit rather than continually subjecting themselves to what really is an unhealthy and unsupportive environment. Perhaps the money would be better spent in providing a supportive environment that provides these children with a quality education from kindergarten to graduation.

  • Posted By: Country1013 @ 01/04/2008 3:38:31 PM

    Comment: I agree to some extent of Mr. Kirp's definition of a quality pre-K program, however, my child attends a private pre-K program (Montessori) where they have both structure and skills and drills, which is what I prefer oppose to the public preschool setting which on any given day sounded more like a prison yard. There was profanity, hitting, biting, and very little learning taking place.
    For parents who can afford to stay at home with there children, that is great, but realistically how many of us can, especially with the economy the way it is. Even if I could afford it, I would not based on the fact that children need to interact with others and learn how to function outside of the home.

  • Posted By: dearwinn @ 01/04/2008 2:56:08 PM

    Comment: The comments below are obviously from those that have never worked in a day care or preschool environment. I have studied different models of teaching and worked with preschool age children. I no longer work in that field only because I'm young, single and had school loans to pay. In this line of work its impossible to get by. As much as I'd rather be spending everyday with kids I can't because I have bills to pay and no one to pay them for me. Preschool teachers and staff should be paid a lot more for what they do. I've worked at two high quality centers. I did not see myself as a "glorifited babysitter" as some like to call it but as a teacher and a caregiver. I do agree there are centers out there that don't focus on the right areas. But I know when I have kids I want them to have social experiences with more than me, my husband, their siblings and other family members before I send them to kindergarten. Staying home with them isn't allowing them to have those experiences, therefore hindering their academic capabilities. At home kids get what they want. There is little or no structure which makes it difficult to enforce rules. Children need to learn about authority figures other than Mommy, Daddy and grandparents. The sooner this happens they will have an easier time transitioning into school.

    • Posted By: mldmomof4 @ 01/05/2008 15:34:30

      Comment: As a parent of four, I have to say, IMHO, that your comments show a sincere desire to the best for your as yet unborn children, but you have made a gross assumption and generalization that receiving socialization that comes from family and friends is somehow "not adequate" enough. Do you somehow think that the time that my husband and I spend teaching, guiding and disciplining our children as pre-schoolers is somehow not socializaing them and preparing them to appropriately interact with others in a school setting? My oldest was in day care and pre-school (because I went back to work after he was born), my other three were not, and I don't think anyone who knows my children would say that they could "tell the difference" between my children with respect to their social skills and general manners. I just really get frustrated when I hear and read comments from people who make blanket statements about how pre-k is some kind of panecea. Parents should be the FIRST and MOST IMPORTANT educators of their children. It's not rocket science to teach manners and social skills. Please stop lableing children by saying they ALL NEED pre-k, and please stop labeling parents by saying that ANY GOOD PARENT would put their child in pre-k -- how insulting that is to me, my parents, and to all parents who decide to actually put in the time to parent their children.

      • Posted By: sltierce @ 01/05/2008 20:34:33

        Comment: Just because you don't see a differance in your childs' mannerisms doesn't mean that your pre-k child is not better prepared thanks to being in pre-k. No one has ever said that pre-k is a (by the way it is spelled)"Panacea (Greek ????????????????, Panakeia ~ Greek goddess of cures)." What the studies show is that children who attend pre-k are better prepared and thus better able to cope in school, which in turn allows them to "statistically" do better in college and adult life (a.k.a. the working world). To make this a personal attack against Parents is childish on your part. Perhaps you might consider taking day day or two at your childs' preschool maybe then you might find yourself less imature.

        • Posted By: jwnewsweek @ 01/08/2008 11:17:26

          Comment: you misspelled immature--it's not "imature". Perhaps you forgot to run your Spell-check too.

        • Posted By: mldmomof4 @ 01/06/2008 20:47:19

          Comment: I'm not personally attacking anyone -- I'm simply saying that not all children "need" pre-k -- if a parent wants to put their child in pre-k -- then more power to them, if not, then that's their choice. And look who's takling about "personal attacks" with your HOLIER THAN THOU spell check and definition check -- I know what PANACEA means, thank you. I'm so sorry I forgot the spell check. Puleeze with the childish comments. You're the one who is being a hypocrite.

  • Posted By: wooliewonka @ 01/04/2008 2:42:27 PM

    Comment: There are many options available today to parents who want early education for their children: home schooling, pre-k, etc. Working parents might appreciate the opportunity to send their pre-schoolers to public schools where there are professional educators in charge. Parents who can't afford and/or don't have the ability to teach their children themselves would also benefit from public pre-k. In all instances, society at large could benefit from an good, early start for children if it would result in higher graduation levels. Nothing is as good as conscientious parents who have the time and motivation to give their own children a good start and make the importance of education a priority. Unfortunately, life comes with good parents, bad parents, and in-between parents. The availability of public educations helps to mitigate parental failings. There is no perfect solution.

  • Posted By: ECEducator @ 01/04/2008 2:23:40 PM

    Comment: The "best case scenario" is a preschooler at home with a parent, going to the park, story time, and play groups, but how many families have this as a choice? Mandated universal preschool could never compare to the best case scenario, but if we analyze the research that shows a direct correlation to the type of cognitive development that has a direct impact on school success, we are compelled to look for ways to provide similar experiences to ALL children. The children who do not have the advantage of a stay at home parent with all the developmentally appropriate opportunities for preschoolers will be sitting in the Kindergarten class next to the child who has had the advantage. At that moment the Kindergarten teacher has an enormous task at hand...bringing the disadvantaged child up to speed while not losing the prepared child. After many years in the field of Early Childhood Education, I applaud Kirp's description about what a good preschool looks like...we need more well trained educators at the early child hood level that understand the latest brain research that encourages learning through play. Even stay at home mom's need to understand this research, as I have sadly witnessed many a new mom with "brain boosting" flashcards in the diaper bag!

  • Posted By: drldc @ 01/04/2008 2:18:12 PM

    Comment: I would take earlier comments a step further and suggest that home-schooling is an option that should be considered by those who can afford it. Obviously, home schooling is not a solution for everyone (or perhaps even most). Despite the claims of the Education Establishment, providing for the education for most individual K-12 children at home is not particularly difficult. Home-schooling is quite enriching and rewarding for both parents and children. As a home-schooling family solidly in the middle class, we find these debates regarding public school and pre-school as less and less relevant to our lives. We pay our taxes and hope that the government uses our money wisely to educate the general public and lift up the lower-class to a better life. But honestly, we've moved on to an even better way. Hopefully, someday everyone can afford to do the same.

    • Posted By: farmkids42morrow @ 01/08/2008 08:27:06

      Comment: Homeschooling is not only for the wealthy. If you have children it is YOUR responsibility to raise them, teach them, and prepare them to be a valuable addition to society. The fact that parents want to push this off on a school system provided by the government astonishes and horrifies me. Why do you want the government raising your children? Maybe if more tax dollars were spent to encourage stay-at-home parents and homeschooling families, the problem would solve itself.

  • Posted By: glogoodwin @ 01/04/2008 2:16:48 PM

    Comment: The argument that it is parent and not preschool that determines success operates on the premise that most parents have the time and energy and desire to create the pre-school learning experience at home. As a former educator and a parent who has emphasized the joy and value of education in my home I know that the pre-school experience was still a valuable partner in that effort for my child. What about the millions of children who do not have parents with that view? Preschool is not the industrial warehouse that many believe and with some support could elevate the entire educational process.

  • Posted By: John B @ 01/04/2008 2:11:25 PM

    Comment: The solution is quite simple, my friends. Once we figure out how to allow only quality parents to procreate, there will be no need for the use of tax dollars to fund what is essentially gov't supported babysitting. Just imagine all the other benfits as well !

    • Posted By: buzdd @ 01/04/2008 14:13:26

      Comment: Amen brother.

  • Posted By: buzdd @ 01/04/2008 2:10:47 PM

    Comment: I am 16 year veteran teacher. I strongly feel the opposite is true. Much research has been done into the incremental development for the mind. We have started teaching children concepts that their congnitive abilities are not developed well enough for. We see that standardized test scores have dropped, problem solving skills are at a low, more and more children are in Special Education programs. Why? We have tried to teach our children to ride a bike before they can walk in terms of their educational development. Let kids develop at appropriate paces. Can someone show me some research that says we are succeeding on a national level soley BECAUSE of early education?

  • Posted By: morndew247 @ 01/04/2008 1:54:39 PM

    Comment: Sounds good, but how about a child who stays at home with mom, goes to the park and library story-times, Sunday School and out in life for socializing, gets read to thruout the day, played with, a good nap, fresh food...I mean, are they going to suggest that preschool beats that? That I am ruining my kids chances for being happy later in life because I'm not handing them over to be indoctrinated into the public school system even earlier??? Please @@
    Please.

    • Posted By: buzdd @ 01/04/2008 14:12:22

      Comment: I agree! I gave up teaching to stay home with my two little ones. I KNOW I do far more at home with them that their classroom teacher would do.

  • Posted By: RyanBruner @ 01/04/2008 1:40:42 PM

    Comment: Isn't it possible that it isn't the preschool itself that determines future success beyond high school, but the involvement of parents who take the time, energy, and resources to ensure their children have a good education? Maybe it has nothing to do with how good the preschool is, or even whether or not a child attends preschool...but that the parents have an on-going emphasis on the importance of education throughout their children's lives? Providing more, and even better, preschools, won't help anything if the parents don't demonstrate the value of a good education to their children. It simply becomes wasted money that makes politicians feel like they are doing something. Ultimately, parents are the determining factor on how their children will fare beyond high school.

  • Posted By: RyanBruner @ 01/04/2008 1:39:40 PM

    Comment: Isn't it possible that it isn't the pre-school itself that determines future success beyond high school, but the involvement of parents who take the time, energy, and resources to ensure their children have a good education? Maybe it has nothing to do with how good the preschool is, or even whether or not a child attends preschool...but that the parents have an on-going emphasis on the importance of education throughout their children's lives? Providing more, and even better, preschools, won't help anything if the parents don't demonstrate the value of a good education to their children. It simply becomes wasted money that makes politicians feel like they are doing something. Ultimately, parents are the determining factor on how their children will fare beyond high school.

  • Posted By: chotii@oz.net @ 01/04/2008 1:22:31 PM

    Comment: I think it would be very useful to examine this concept a little more closely. Future income is hardly the only - or the most important - criteria around which we should plan our childrens' childhoods. For a criticism of the idea of 'universal preschool', please see http://www.universalpreschool.com/articles/hem_pied_piper.asp

 
 
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