Universal Preschool - Thesis Example

?UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL Many different opinions exists as to what should the ‘Universal Preschool’ program include. However, the basic idea can be defined as a preschool program funded by the state which serves children aged 3-4. Additionally, there are some programs like the ‘Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Act’ which has a broader outreach and includes children from birth to age 5 (EdWatch, 2002). IMPORTANCE OF UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL One of the most important reasonswhy a universal preschool should exist is the underlying fact about the importance of learning at the preschool age. According to Brotherson (2005), “A 3-year-old toddler's brain is twice as active as an adult's brain.” However, given today’s scenario of every increasing cost of living it is very difficult for parents to stay at home all the time to take care of their young children. Additionally, most parents cannot afford to send them to a good day care/preschoolwhere the child would be taken care of not just in terms of their basic need of being fed and kept clean, but also their psychological development needs. A ‘Universal Preschool’ is a program which addresses both the concerns. Both about the financial aspects and quality of care provided. HISTORY Universal preschool is a program spanning across international geographies. It is said to have started in France in 1834. However, in the US the Head Start program which started in 1965 as a summer school marked the beginning of universal preschool. Many states now have their own universal preschool programs which may differ in structure, but cater to the same needs. For example, Georgia’s universal preschool program which began in 1995 serves all 4 year olds and is a voluntary program. Similarly, Florida started in 2005 with a voluntary program serving 4 year old children (LeMire, 2009). Other states which are running such a program: Illinois, New Jersey, Oklahoma and West Virginia. States which are currently doing ground work to implement universal preschool program: Vermont, Wisconsin, Maryland, New York, Maine, Louisiana, and New Mexico (LeMire, 2009). RISKS The most common arguments given against universal preschools are: huge cost to the state, no long-term impact, negative behavioral and lack of substantial difference in child’s development and cognitive ability.All of these in turn raise questions on efficiency of tax-dollars spent. Out of these, the one associated with behavior problems is more important and something that needs more serious consideration. According to Hanson (2007), Dr. David Scott in 1989 said addressing an international psychiatric conference in Eastern Europe: “Institutionalized children... suffered developmental retardation and deprivation. In comparison with children raised in families, the institutionalized children suffered heightened emotional disorders, fear, tension, behavioral disorders, and even such physical symptoms as weight loss and more frequent respiratory infections.” These were the findings for a 20 year period after WWII when 90% of Czech children were sent to state run preschools. (p. 1) BENEFITS Universal preschoolsadhere to better health and safety standards than most substitutes. Another important benefit of the program is the separation of policy for infants/toddlers and preschoolers (Bushouse, 2009). It prepares children for better performance in kinder garden and later on in schools. Universal preschools also help the non-English speaking children. For example, when non-English speaking start kinder garden, they often lack comprehension just because they do not know the language well enough. There is a very high probability that the school then puts them through special language programs, which can be frustrating and create extra burden for the child. A universal preschool would help such children by developing English language skills early on. An increase in the number of working mothers has resulted in a large number of preschoolers being in some kind of non-parental care. For example, in the state of California over 65% of 3 year olds and about 80% of four-year-olds are in some regular non-parental care (Karoly, Reardon and Cho, 2007). With numbers being so high it is imperative to have a good quality non-parental program which caters to parents in all income groups, particularly the low income group. Another major advantage of a universal preschool, which is also the point of major debate is ability to perform better in kinder garden and hence forth. The Head Start model is what most people look at to measure the effectiveness of a universal program. Head Start program which has been providing education and health related services to low income families is said to have positive impact on children who’ve attended it. According to findings of the Head Start Impact Study conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the program has a positive impact on children in terms of their readiness to go to school. Additionally, Head Start also has long term benefits when the kids become adults. Benefits include better education, better earnings and lesser involvement in crimes (Garces, Thomas and Currie, 1995) Sawhill (1999), in his article ‘Kids Need an Early Start: Universal preschool education may be the best investment Americans can make in our children's education - and our nation's future’ shares views expressed by a superintendent John Jordan. According to the superintendent, ‘5-year-olds sometimes arrive in kindergarten not knowing their own names—only their nicknames’. Such gaps in basic learning can be very well bridged by universal preschools. A federal/state sponsored universal preschool program would give all children, whether they are in parental care or non-parental care, an equal opportunity to prepare for K-12 education. Parents who are unable to send their 3-4 year olds to a preschool program would be encouraged to send them to preschool. Once a child starts attending a preschool there is a high probability of the child enrolling in K-12 education as well. This in turn results in a higher school attendance ratio. Children are the future of the world and education is one of the most empowering tool a society can give its children to lead a better life. While universal preschool alone cannot solve all issues the education system is facing, it will definitely help to build a strong base for more educational reforms to be implemented. REFERENCES 1. Drumbeat Grows for Universal Preschool: Government Daycare Renamed ‘Early Childhood Education. (2002). EdWatch online. Retrieved on July 14, 2011 from http://www.edwatch.org/updates/052002.htm 2. LeMireD. P. (2009). Universal Preschool. Information Brief. Research Department Minnesota House of Representatives, 1-5.Retrieved on July 14, 2011 from http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/univpresch.pdf 3. Brotherson S (2005). Understanding Bran Development in Young Children. Family Science Specialist, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension Service. Retrieved on July 14, 2011 from http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/famsci/fs609w.htm 4. Hanson, R (1989). Institutionalized Early Childhood Education and Development Background and Issues, Updated November 2007. Child and Family Protection Association. Retrieved on July 14, 2011 from http://www.childandfamilyprotection.org/ECE%20BG%20US%20071101.pdf 5. Anthony M (2010). Review of Bushouse, Brenda K., Universal Preschool: Policy Change, Stability, and the Pew Charitable Trusts. H-Education, H-Net Reviews. Retrieved on July 14, 2011 http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=30048 6. Karoly L, Reardon E and Cho M, (2007). Early Care and Education in the Golden State:Publicly Funded Programs Serving California’s Preschool-Age Children. Rand Corporation. Retrieved on July 14, 2011 from http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2007/RAND_TR538.pdf 7. Sawhill, I (1999), Kids Need an Early Start: Universal preschool education may be the best investment Americans can make in our children's education - and our nation's future. Brookings . Retrieved on July 14, 2011 from http://www.brookings.edu/articles/1999/fall_education_sawhill.aspx 8. US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (2010),. Head Start Impact Study Final Report, Executive Summary . Retrieved on July 14, 2011 from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/impact_study/reports/impact_study/executive_summary_final.pdf 9. Gorman (n. d.). The National Bureau of Economic Research. Favorable Long-Term Effects of Head Start. Retrieved on July 14, 2011 from http://www.nber.org/digest/aug01/w8054.html 10. Wikipedia (n.d), Universal preschool: Movement. Retrieved on July 14, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_preschool Read More