Is Zero to Five Possible?
Pre-Kindergarten Research BlogArchive for March, 2009
Final Argument
- Friedrich Froebel started Kindergarten in Germany for three to five year olds. When America adopted Kindergarten, the first two years disappeared, leaving us with our current program for five- and six-year-olds. The three- and four-year-olds were ignored until recent years when a combination of occurrences sparked an interest in prekindergarten movement. Educators and psychologists realized curious children embraced learning at younger ages results from long term studies. After this interest ignited researchers began studying effects of prekindergarten. Effects tended to be insignificant, but in the decade, longitudinal studies emerged reporting astonishing social and benefits of low-income children who attended a preschool program compared with children living in identical demographics that did not attend preschool.
- Underprivileged children consistently perform below average both in school and in life. Preschool, as found in research, has the ability to curb that trend in a positive direction. Some parents, working to make ends meet, struggle to afford high quality preschool programs that can help their children succeed in life. The first type of parents prefer children home where parents and family nurture and support them until they head to kindergarten. Other parents may not support their children, and not even care if they attend preschool. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some elite preschools in Manhattan cost around $18,000 per year. These schools provide the upper-class with skills needed to succeed in life, while other children remain hungry and struggle through life daily. Life’s daily struggles prevents them from reaching there social, developmental, cognitive and intellectual potential. Middle class children, often with working parents, also cannot attend elite preschools. America, a country founded on principles of social mobility and equal opportunities, fails at facilitating these principles for all children. The question arises: Should the federal government fund quality preschool for all American children?
- Irrefutable evidence produced by countless researchers, education professionals, and psychology professors proves that high quality preschool will improve the quality of life for underprivileged children. This will give the underprivileged children more equal opportunities. Our government; however, also prides itself in being a strong democratic republic, and funding preschool for everyone borders socialism.
- We must remember that we do not choose the social situation we are born into. Some are lucky, and some are not, but I believe that the future of America and the potential of America should not be left up to luck. As I recall a team is defined by two or more people working together to reach a common goal. America; therefore, is a team. Teams are only as strong as their weakest members, and we must support our weakest members before we set them up for failure.
- Commonly, foreigners stereotype Americans as being rude and self serving. If you fit this stereotype, the previous argument may not have convinced you that preschool is worth funding for all four-year-olds, after all, an ideal preschool program funded in Chicago costs taxpayers $18,000 per year per child. Recent studies forced researchers to draw conclusions that high quality preschool, although expensive to start up, benefits the public more than it benefits the individual. This seemingly impossible statement has been proved in multiple cases, most notably the Perry Preschool Study. When provided with an environment that fosters success, students in the preschool did just that, they succeeded. The study included a two groups, one that attended preschool and one that did not. Observations were taken at yearly from ages 3-11, at ages 14, 15, 19, 27, and finally at 40. Continuously throughout the study, the group that attended preschool performed better, but the most drastic achievement gap between preschool attendees and the non-preschool attendees was in their later years, at age 40. The attendees had a lower crime rate, had higher paying jobs, had less welfare dependancy. This benefits taxpayers because although funding preschool burdens the taxpayer initially, the return in 15 to 20 years, if consistent with the study, will be a little over seven dollars to every dollar invested. Because the benefits to the public outweigh the benefits to the individual it should be publicly funded. Public goods, such as school, must be funded in order for American’s to feel equality, solidarity and feel the economic benefits.
- Economic benefits pay off because less people depend on social welfare programs including jails, welfare, and other social programs that react to societal problems instead of preventing the problems. If we reached the roots of the problems we would develop into a more productive society. This will, inevitably, decrease jobs for peoples who serve the current welfare program, but with more innovative, contributing Americans, more jobs will be created. More teachers, for example will be needed. For a society to be optimally functional, it must take care of its children so it does not have to take care of adults.
- Currently, head start programs are in place. Positive results that would make it worth funding don’t seem apparent. That is because the head start programs aren’t the quality programs necessary to change a person’s life. Quality programs include meals, parental visits, basic healthcare, and a three to eight student to teacher ratio. Head Start programs need more funding to benefit all, or less funding to benefit a smaller, but worthy group. Benefits do not show because money isn’t invested in making the programs quality.
- Funding this preschool still seems overwhelming, but America needs to stop focusing on immediate solutions and work on lasting solutions. They need to allocate the funds for preschool to keep up the quality. For example, less federal money should be allocated to paying teachers because after that money runs out, no money will be left to fund preschool. The money needs to be invested in establishing a strong program.
- Based on the substantial evidence that preschool will benefit society, I have concluded that preschool is the most worthy cause for America to fund because it will help individuals as well as our entire country. This only can be done if the preschool program is the same quality as those that were in the study and if America invests billions of dollars in it. Everything pays off in the end, and we owe it to ourselves and our country to patiently wait for the pay-off.
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/5-standardized-childhood5-standardized-childhood/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/5-interview-stakeholder5-interview-stakeholder/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/4-interview-with-james4-interview-with-james/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/5-preschool-for-everyone5-preschool-for-everyone/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/4-david-kirp-interview4-david-kirp-interview/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/a-focus-on-toddlersa-focus-on-toddlers/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/say-yes-nowsay-yes-now/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/taking-on-educationtaking-on-education/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/5how-our-schools-should-be5how-our-schools-should-be/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/3-the-state-of-preschool3-the-state-of-preschool/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/2-more-children-less-money2-more-children-less-money/
http://klapan20.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/3-virginias-fight-on-crime3-virginias-fight-on-crime/
5) Examining Obama’s Education Numbers*
Examining Obama’s Education Numbers (National Public Radio, March 12, 2009)
President Barack Obama asserts that we need to improve our public school systems starting with early childhood education to get almost $10 back for every one dollar invested, but economists believe this and other statistics Obama used exaggerate our current education problems to persuade the people to approve of his investing $5 billion in education.
Topic: zero to five
Location: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101823886
Category: Mainstream Journalistic Multimedia
What is it? An NPR broadcast/radio program.
Publication Information:
National Public Radio
March 12, 2009
Author: Larry Abramson; Hosts: Robert Siegel and Michelle Norris
Location: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101823886
Accessed: March 12, 2009
Support:
Robert Siegel, host on NPR
Michele Norris, host on NPR
Larry Abramson, NPR employee
President Barack Obama
Rob Grunewald, Economist, Federal Reserve Bank, Minneapolis
Mr. Gerald Bracey, blogger
Mr. Jay Greene, Senior fellow at Manhattan Institute
Hosts of NPR introduce interviewer author who questions experts and comments on inconsistencies between facts and Obama’s claims.
Audience and Agenda:
NPR reaches approximately 26 million viewers weekly. This privately owned, not-for-profit, membership organization produces 130 hours of original content weekly. NPR, partnered with 860 private radio stations, has the potential to reach all Americans. A lot of Americans feel too busy to read and want information by listening instead. After they listen, if they feel strongly about a story, they can engage by writing on the NPR blog. Additionally, NPR adheres to a strict code of ethics claiming that their coverage is “fair, unbiased, accurate, complete and honest.”
Usefulness:
This document was created in response to a speech given by Obama to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This source is useful because it put the speech previously mentioned in perspective and encourages you to take a second look at what the president says. Some Obama’s powerful claims can be clarified and verified in David Kirp’s book, The Sandbox Investment where based on research done for the Perry Preschool Program, in part preformed and presented by Larry Schweinhart, showed that when Obama claimed that the return on each dollar invested would be nearly $10, he actually meant $7.16.
Works cited:
5)How Our Schools Should Be
How Out Schools Should Be (Whitehouse.gov/blog,February 4, 2009)
Summary: This photograph depicts President Barack Obama spending time at a charter school.
Topic: zero to five
Category: Government Institutional Still Image
What is it? online photograph
Publication Information: (Whitehouse.gov, February 4, 2009)
Photographer: Boghosian, Joyce N.
Location: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/how_our_schools_should_be/
Accessed:
February 15, 2009
Support:
None
Audience and Agenda: This is a government publication that reaches American citizens. It was government funded and might show biased to the current administration.
Usefulness: This source is useful because it shows the enthusiasm that Obama has for the education efforts. The drive Obama has to improve education in this source is consistent throughout Obama’s campaign, as shown in his campaign plan and his recent address to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Works cited:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/
4) Major Findings from Perry Preschool Study
Major Findings from Perry Preschool Study (highscope.org, 2005)
Summary: This source illustrates that universal preschool will decrease crime rate and increase school performance
Topic: zero to five
Category: Academic Still Image
What is it? A graph printed on highscope.org
Publication Information: Highscope.org, 2005, Michigan
Author: unknown
Location:
http://highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=219
Accessed: 03/7/09
Support:
None
Audience and Agenda: Highscope.org has over 15 thousand visitors monthly. Its goal is to relay accurate information to policy makers to accomplish its mission to lift lives through education.
Usefulness: This source will be useful to easily show the difference that preschool makes long term difference. It shows that students who attended quality preschool will perform better in school, have higher IQs, commit fewer crimes, and earn have higher paying jobs than those who did not. It demonstrates the claims that Larry Schweinhart made based on his research in The Perry Preschool Program. This source shows the evidence of the claims made in the movie “Say Yes, Now!” It doesn’t go into detail on the methods used in the study, but the study supported in The Sandbox Investment, an academic source.
Works cited:
Thttp://www.quantcast.com/highscope.org
3) The State of Preschool
The State of Preschool (NIEER.org, n.d.)
Summary:
This source shows Oklahoma as the strongest state for funding universal preschool for 68% of 4-year-olds, and all the other states fall below 51%.
Topic: zero to five
Category: Non Profit Institutional Still Image
What is it? a choropleth map
Publication Information: NIEER.org, n.d. USA
Author: unknown
Location:
http://nieer.org/mediacenter/pressimages/PercentStatePreK.jpg
Accessed:
03/15/09
Support:
None
Audience and Agenda:
The audience who views this will include state policy makers who can see where their state falls among preschool availability. It shows how far we need to go to get a
Usefulness:
It shows how far we need to go to get a quality, accessible preschool. It also shows that it is possible and what states to look to for examples both good and bad.
Works cited:
http://nieer.org/about/
2) More Children, Less Money
Title:
More Children, Less Money
Summary:
The graph shows that as the percentage of children in state-financed prekindergarten programs has increased, the funding per-student has decreased.
Topic: zero to five
Category:
Non-profit Institutional Still Image
What is it?
Online graph
Publication Information:
National Institute for Early Education Research (New York Times, October 10, 2007.)
Author:
Charles M. Blow
Location:
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/10/27/magazine/28wwln.350.664.jpg
Accessed:
February 21, 2009
Support:
None.
Audience and Agenda:
The New York Times‘ readers via nationwide circulation and online readership over 14 million yearly.
Usefulness:
This image is useful because it shows recent trends in state-financed prekindergarten programs. It can be used to argue against increasing availability for preschool in New York based on the article in TIME called “Preschool for Everyone,” because the quality decreases.
Works cited:
http://www.nytimes.whsites.net/mediakit/
1) Virginia’s Fight on Crime
Virginia’s Investment in Crime (Fightcrime.org,1993)
Summary: This photograph illustrates the crime rates between preschool children and non-preschool children.
Topic: zero to five
Category: Non-Profit Institutional Still Image
What is it? online graph
Publication Information: (Fightcrime.org,1993)
Author: Unkown
Location: http://www.fightcrime.org/reports/VABirthto5report.pdf
Accessed:
February 28, 2009
Support:
None
Audience and Agenda: This is an institutional document that reaches American citizens, education insiders and policymakers. The funding for the document comes from numerous locations, including private donors and businesses.
Usefulness: This source is useful because it shows the enthusiasm that Obama has for the education efforts. The drive Obama has to improve education in this source is consistent throughout Obama’s campaign, as shown in his campaign plan and his recent address to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
5) Preschool for Everyone*
Preschool for Everyone (TIME, Nov. 09, 1998)
Summary:
Middle class parents lack funds to send their children to beneficial, quality preschool; therefore, the state governments stepped up to work toward increasing funding for preschool. This story as reported in TIME magazine focuses on both past policies and future plans for public preschool.
Topic: zero to five
Category: Mainstream Journalistic
What is it? A magazine article from the web version of TIME
Publication Information: TIME Magazine, Nov. 09, 1998
Published online; TIME is based in New York, NY
Author: Jodie Morse
Contributing Reporters: Leslie Everton Brice and Greg Fulton/Atlanta
Location:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989515,00.html
Accessed: 03/1/2009
Support:
John and Janine Morreale, parents of young children in Brooklyn; stakeholders
Zell Miller, Georgia Governor
Richard Riley, Education Secretary
Sandra Feldman, president of the American Federation of Teachers
Christine Todd Whitman, New Jersey governor
Neal Opromalla, Brooklyn principal
Patrick Fagen FitzGerald, fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation
J.D. La Rock, spokesman for New York City’s board of education
These sources a young represent middle class parents who struggle to afford preschool, politicians who are trying to increase funding for preschool, and education professionals who support funding universal preschool.
Audience and Agenda:
Time magazine, first published in 1923, reaches millions of American consumers and claims to “shape conversations and illuminate the common ground.” The article aims to reach as many Americans as possible and encourage them to discuss and debate the possibilities of a publicly funded preschool. It also informs the public of the current efforts in the universal preschool movement.
Usefulness:
This article informed the public about the universal preschool movement which, in 1998, received little media attention. Universal preschool has become an increasingly popular idea. Currently, only preschool for the very poor is funded. The ambitious 1998 plan, which New York pledged to it’s people, to have universal preschool in New York by 2003 still fails to be in place. Currently New York has succeeded in spreading universal preschool to 452 districts have universal preschool; however, in a youtube video with David Kirp, he pointed out that as the amount of students in preschool increases, the quality of the preschool decreases. This is also illustrated by a graph published in the New York Times entitled “More Children, Less Money.” A report published by pre[k]now also advocates universal preschool for the middle class as evidenced in the news release “The Pre-K Pinch: Early Education and the middle class,” published in 2008, ten years after the 1998 TIME article which drove conversation into action. The promised universal preschool in New York still is underway and currently intends to fund preschool for all by 2009, an unknown fact at the time of the article.
Works cited:
http://wadsworth.com/english_d/templates/student_resources/0759398313_sundance/m-r/morse.html
http://www.time.com/time/mediakit/1/us/timemagazine/index.html
4) Tackling the achievement gap*
Tackling the achievement gap (Omaha World-Herald, March 9, 2009)
Summary: Working to make universal preschool a reality in their state, Nebraskan lawmakers believe that due to the economy it will take them 15 to 20 years to have an effective program in place. This local newspaper focused on their specific state’s lack of funding for universal preschool that would not be an issue preschools received federal funding.
Topic: zero to five
Category: Mainstream Journalistic
What is it? An article from the web version of the Omaha World-Herald
Publication Information: Omaha World-Herald, March 9, 2009
Author: Saunders, Michaela
Location: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10582013
Accessed: March 9, 2009
Support:
Daniel Pederson, president of the Buffett Early Childhood Fund
Jessie Rasmussen, representative on the state’s early childhood endowment board and vice president of the Buffett Early Childhood Fund
Building Bright Futures, philanthropic group
Larry Habrock, teacher at Wildewood Elementary
Janell Shain, Wildewood’s principal
These sources represent citizens working to fund early childhood education in Nebraska as well as school officials developing a workable, quality early childhood program for their schools on a limited budget.
Audience and Agenda: Omaha.com, the web version of the Omaha World-Herald reaches 429,000 viewers monthly. The World-Herald was founded in 1885 and continues its tradition as a locally owned community newspaper with goals to provide information that will inspire people to be involved in the community. Since its founding date, the paper has changed hands within the community, and in recent years, the publication was willed to its employees. The audience serves all of Nebraska and is the most subscribed to newspaper in southeastern Iowa.
Usefulness:
This source shows how state’s have inadequate funding for preschools and shows a desire for universal preschool in Nebraska. The article states, similarly to the report released by Pre[k]now, “The Pre-K Pinch: Early Education and the Middle Class,” that there is enough funding children who are well below the poverty level, but no funding for the middle class who cannot afford preschool. Traditionally, when states can’t satisfy their needs, it is the federal governments responsibility to heed and act on on those needs. In this case, that would mean funding universal preschool instead of leaving it up to philanthropic institutions such as Building Bright Futures. The article doesn’t assert any facts or statistics relating to universal preschool, but it is assumed by the author that we know that universal preschool benefits children.
Works cited:
4) David Kirp Interview
Authors@google: David Kirp (google)
Topic: zero to five
Category: Expert Citizen
Location: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v9rQs9KvxE
Host: authors@google; unnamed
Publication Information: authors@google via youtube.com,
Support:
Various unspecified studies referred to from The Sandbox Investment
The support in this book is from academic research proving pre-k as valuable and how it was attempted in California.
Audience and Agenda: This video has been viewed 2,926 times through youtube.com and intends to reach readers of David Kirp’s book, The Sandbox Investment. Youtube.com is funded by advertisements, and anyone can post any video on it with no charge.
Usefulness: This interview is an excellent supplement to The Sandbox Investment because it clarifies questions left after the book. It paints a clear picture of David Kirp’s research and motivation. Kirp discusses why preschool had never been advocated. Kirp brings up the point that children don’t get funding because they lack intelligent advocates. Because kids don’t vote, they tend to get brushed to the side, but that is beginning to change. Kirp argues that politicians tend make decisions that will yield quick results, and it will take 15 to 20 years before we see results.
Works Cited:
