Preschool For All

Jun 6, 2006

Is providing free preschool to increase school performance the place of the government or should this be left up to the parents to decide?

I was recently reading an article about the pressure that is on schools that teach children younger than kindergarten that formerly did not exist. This article talked about teachers feeling pressure and how this was causing undue stress on children who could not meet the minimum requirements for kindergarten in time-- and instead stayed home or in preschool until they were at least six years old.

I spoke of this to my friend and former co-teacher who is now a stay at home mom. As we led the preschool in our center for three years together we saw rapid growth from 2 preschool classes-- one for three year olds and one for fours up to four preschool classes bearing names such as "Traditional Threes" "Late Threes" "Traditional Fours," and "Early Fives." We saw parents become stressed out because Late Threes was filled and their child had to attend Traditional Threes and they were worried that their child would not be intellectually stimulated enough. I've heard of parents worrying about their children's academic standing when they are four, because if they don't get into a good private elementary school, then they can't get into Harvard. Our school has now increased to six classes and next year expects to add at least one more, and all of this just makes me wonder-- is it really worth the stress to all of the parents?

I ask each of you, my readers, to think back to when you were in preschool, do you remember feelings of being horribly bored, or feeling like you were not keeping up? What I remember from my own experince was the days that we got to ride tricycles in the parking lot, and "Miss Amunley" as I called Mrs. Munley my teacher who I still think of on occassion (especially considering my given vocation.)I remember that I learned how to spell my name and that I wanted to read and build and make friends and experience the world.

The concept behind universal preschool, or "Preschool For All" is an admirable one: to provide all children, regardless of economic status. But will the curriculum being controlled by the state really acheive the most vital of tasks-- to teach children that reading is important, exciting and exhilirating? That I think is the most pertinent question, and one that needs to be brought to the forefront of any arguing about taxes and curriculums and celebrity endorsements.

If this blog interests you, be sure to visit my article, Universal Preschool?

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