If you missed Rachel's segment last night on President Obama's proposed universal pre-kindergarten program, it's well worth your time. While you're at it, read Jonathan Cohn's incredibly informative piece on the larger policy implications and Dylan Matthews' take on why pre-K is such a spectacular investment for a society to make.
The next question, I suppose, is a political one: won't congressional Republicans reflexively kill it? Some aren't prepared to give up so easily.
David Brooks isn't necessarily on board with much of the White House agenda, but he sees great value in Obama's pre-K plans. "President Obama has taken on a big challenge in a realistic and ambitious way," the columnist explained. "If Republicans really believe in opportunity and local control, they will get on board."
Well, sure, of course they would. The facts, evidence, arithmetic, and common sense all point in the same direction. Obama's plan hasn't been scored, but independent estimates suggest it would cost about $100 billion over 10 years, and that's (a) affordable; and (b) money incredibly well spent given the long-term effects.
Except as Jon Chait noted, "House Republicans are not the sort of people who, when presented with evidence of a really promising public investment program, nod their heads and say, 'okay, then!' They hate Big Government, and the fact that some Republican governors are already expanding early education is not likely to dissuade them."
Now, Chait has a vision in which Obama might get his early-ed funding if he trades it for sequester revenue. It's a provocative pitch, but at its root, the core question remains the same: are there circumstances in which the GOP can tolerate the policy or not?
Kevin Drum argues against it: "It costs money, it doesn't benefit the rich, and it's something Obama wants. That's three strikes, and that's all she wrote."
If the White House believes otherwise, it's going to have to change the politics.
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It's a provocative pitch, but at its root, the core question remains the same: are there circumstances in which the GOP can tolerate the policy or not?
Sure - Make sure the new Pre-K law excludes girls and minorities.
And uses the Bible as its core curriculum?
And close the Department of Education. That'l increase learning.
Republicans do'nt want a well educated population. Their voting base would disappear.
That sentence just about says it all.
Burdening our college graduates with $50,000+ dollars of debt seems an incredibly bad way to start a career, let's study that. For profit higher education equals ripping off our future generation's credit so the rich can get richer.
Yeah, yeah, all the other countries have socialized their higher education with great results but, money, money, money. Maybe it will matter that college grads vote?
Sooo,, is Head Start a bust?
As an old head start teacher, I have to say that President Obama's statement was mostly true. It's true that early education prepares young children for school and life success. Preschool education does not replace education. Children with preschool education outperform those without on most measures of learning, but if the school learning does not build on preschool learning, the gains are lost. Big surprise. It was that effect that led conservatives to the conclusion that "Head Start didn't work." !#$!^%@^@!
I am for it. I think it's a good idea. It does not cost much. This is an investment for our children. I sure am hoping that the GOP will be onboard with this one. If not then the hell with them.
(Jovian)
Florida does it too, and there has already been significant improvements to children's education.
Kevin Drum hit the nail on the head. Enriching the rich is the sole purpose of modern day Republicans.
I may be off base with this observation but it seems to me that pre-K would help single parents be able to work without them paying half their income for day care. I would rather the kids go to a public school that is supervised by trained educators than have them sent to some neighbors fenced in compound where one old lady watches over fifty screaming brats. That is the kind of place many of the poor use!
It is so obvious that President Obama loves kids. That is why Newtown hit him so hard.
Former Governor Randel gave a good pitch on Now with Alex Waggoner this morning for just such a program. Of course that is not likely to impress Republicans; it was based on proven results.
This is one of my favorite segments ever.
Can we make ALL of our facebook friends watch the WHOLE thing?
As Dr. Heckman says the FACTS and research are all there.
Investing in Quality Early Learning IS Quality Economic Development.
It's the best bang for any community's buck. Period.
rwnj's from Breitbart to Drudge to Limbaugh to squeal to the heavens about "socialist indoctrination of our children!" Wait for it.... three... two...
Apparently you were lucky enough to miss that weird southern woman who posts here rant against socialist indoctrination of public school education brainwashing our children into becoming liberals and Obama's nefarious plans to extend the brainwashing to infants....or some such horribly misspelled drivel.
Perhaps I'm just becoming a cynic, but I'm getting tired of President Obama and his "all talk" programs. These are beginning to just seem like the photo op of the week and off to some other feel good thing.
He's talked about a lot of things, but then turns around and either ignores the issue from then on, or changes his view.
Immigration. Gay rights. Protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and on and on.
Look what has been done without a single vote from the opposition
As much as I am all for universal pre-k, if the Republicans get on board it is because they know there is money to be made. Any backing by conservatives means that the programs will not be based on educational theory and best practices but in how much profit can be made.
if there is a way to connect the program to the bible, it can probably be done. Now, the main obstacle that it has been scientifically proven, that word by itself is a problem for the GOP. an African american guy pushing a scientifically proven fact doesn't stand a chance!
Stop saying they hate big government. They don't. Just check this out:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/thu-february-7-2013-neil-barofsky
More tanks to rot in the desert!!!
This is what I love most about President Obama. The investment in four-year-olds won't start to see real pay-back for a dozen years or more, but each dollar that is spent will save many, many dollars later on.
It's forward thinking, doing the right thing instead of the quick bang for the buck. That's why we originally had an electoral college, for an informed group to select an excellent person for president, instead of turning presidential elections into a popularity contest.
It costs less to keep a kid in school than it does to keep an adult in prison.
And, as we are learning from Senator Warren, educated adults do NOT go to prison. . .
Just a thought. I'm wondering if pre-k is something we should really be focusing on. It seems to me that that time would be better spent allowing children to be children, and spending that time bonding with their parents. I realize that just isn't economically feasible for a lot of parents, but we can make it feasible if we're dedicated to it.
I'm not saying that learning shouldn't happen before kindergarten, but I wonder how traumatic it is on kids to be away from their parents at that young of an age. ,
I work at a daycare/preschool that stresses the UPK program. Our kids are transitioned at 3 yrs old to a preK room and I have never seen one child traumatized. Even the kids who have never been in daycare before generally have no issues. Sure, you will have a period of adjustment, just as you would with one starting kindergarten. UPK has a very strict set of rules as to ratio of teachers to kids (1-10), teaching strategies, progress reports, assessments.....you would be shocked at the amount of work these teachers put in every day. Often more than a school age teacher. UPK does not allow just any old joe to teach either. You must be degreed in ECEd (early childhood education) and attend several training/refresher classes each year. It is more than worth the money.
UPK kids score higher on Kindergarten entrance exams, are more social/socialized and ready to learn more. They are allowed to be kids more than many that are at home. Teaching is based on learning thru play not sitting them down with a book or video and told to figure it out.
My 7yr old (1st grade) son is at a late 3rd grade reading and comprehension level, math skills are in the same place. His teacher is even recommending him for gifted classes. My 4yr old who will be entering kindergarten this fall is already reading, doing math and writing way more than just her name. All learned thru play.They both developed great friendships and had awesome experiences that they would never had the opportunity for otherwise.
Believe me, for what they expect a child to know coming in to kindergarten.....UPK is where the focus should be.
Shuga Pie, what's another 100 billion among a debtor nation? For what? A nanny state day care? Why I ain't neva!!!
They will be able to program computers in C plus and Java at 6 I reckon, LOL
"It costs money, it doesn't benefit the rich, and it's something Obama wants. That's three strikes, and that's all she wrote."
I think it's worse than that. Too many Republicans in the House think such programs are "mind control" or "socialistic" or worse.
As if the Christian charter schools--teaching that there's no such thing as climate change and the earth is just 6,000 years old--are not indulging in brainwashing! That's the reason for the whole home-school movement, too, with parents afraid that their children are going to hear about things they don't want them to believe.
Education is all about learning to use your mind to suss out dogma and follow truth and beauty. Some folks are just plain afraid of it, though.
It's far worse than you think. http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/07/photos-evangelical-curricula-louisiana-tax-dollars
why on earth would anyone want their kids to be in communst indoctrination earlier than they allready are?
Please tell us you haven't reproduced!
(Lie if you must)
By communst? you probably mean and or include socialist,,. Here's a description of how the world's smartest kids are educated in Finland. And they start school at 7.
.
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3749880
While the president is right about the value of Pre K education, his policies tell quite a different story. Long story short, they are an absolute atrocity. He has opened up public education to a hostile takeover by Wall St who are just in it for the money. Here is but one of far too many examples of a poorly thought out policy badly implemented. The investors will get rich though. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/29/a-tough-critique-of-common-core-on-early-childhood-education/ And if you want to be truly horrified at where this has already lead, just look at Loser-iana http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/07/photos-evangelical-curricula-louisiana-tax-dollars