An Argument for Preschool

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.

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.

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