Here's Your Opportunity To Comment On "Universal Preschool" Proposed By Pres. Obama

[Willow]

as i said in my original post, the education is not needed for the children.

The parents need educating far more than the children do.

Money would be better spent investing in helping families become self-sufficient not educating their children. That is a parental repsonsibility imho.

bam!!!!!

[Willow]

But maybe, just maybe this is what Obama is trying to do. By beginning to educate our children at a younger age they may not NEED public assistance as adults. It may just be the difference that is needed. No one will know until it is given a fair chance.

It's been done though.

It's called Head Start.

It was given a fair chance.

It been available for decades, given $150 billion dollars of funding, and it's been proven there is no positive effect other than the jobs it provides to keep it running.

It's been declared a employment program instead of an education program at this point because it's well known it doesn't make kids smarter. It doesn't give them a better head start in school. It doesn't help kids grow to be more responsible or more employable in adulthood.


Obama is well aware of the findings and pushes on despite them.


This is not my opinion. It is all proven fact.

[Country Kids]

As I said in my original post, the education is not needed for the children.

The PARENTS need educating far more than the children do.

Money would be better spent investing in helping families become self-sufficient NOT educating their children. That is a parental repsonsibility IMHO.

So I have a huge question on "The parents need educating far more then the children do."

Most of "These Parents" would be about the age of our own kids (Between the 20-30 age group). Did we seriously raise a generation that can't parent, doesn't know how to raise a family, how to be involved in a childs life? Then I look and think if thats the case, gosh were did I GO wrong as a parent. I guess I have to think you can only blame the previous generation for what happened to the current generation. You can only blame the previous generation for the mess the current generation is in if they are unable to do the things needed to sustain a family/job/marriage/etc.

[craftymissbeth]

I agree. My son will be a terror at home but, you put him in his pre k class and he gets full CHARTS of stickers for listening, being a good helper, friend, and is LEARNING what he needs to be prepared for next year. I wouldn't want to deprive him of these lessons his teacher gives him. THOSE ARE PRICELESS.

Exactly this. Not all children benefit fully by being home with their parents, regardless of the socioeconomic class they are from.


My son and I butt heads constantly. He's 6 and started kindergarten this year. We never sent him to preschool because I thought that he would be better off with me. I've wanted to homeschool for as long as I could remember, but we decided to send him to kindergarten and then decide from there if we will be homeschooling. At this point, he is flourishing in public school.

I realize I'm maybe starting to get off point, but what I'm trying to say is that I wish I would have sent him to even half day preschool when he was younger. I feel that he would have gained better social skills had he gone.

Now, I am a little torn in the fact that I don't want to compete with Universal Preschools business-wise. I don't want to have to worry about needing to provide transportation to and from preschool just so I can get some clients.

Edited to add: I am way more conflicted about this than I originally thought. I finished reading the replies to this thread and I agree with a LOT of what both sides have to say. My son was totally ready for kindergarten even though he was home with me... so, yeah, conflicted here. Sorry!

[Blackcat31]

So I have a huge question on "The parents need educating far more then the children do."

Most of "These Parents" would be about the age of our own kids (Between the 20-30 age group). Did we seriously raise a generation that can't parent, doesn't know how to raise a family, how to be involved in a childs life? Then I look and think if thats the case, gosh were did I GO wrong as a parent. I guess I have to think you can only blame the previous generation for what happened to the current generation. You can only blame the previous generation for the mess the current generation is in if they are unable to do the things needed to sustain a family/job/marriage/etc.

I am NOT blaming any generation. THAT is the problem. People need to stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for themselves.

I KNOW I didnt raise my children to take anything for free.

BOTH my children are contributing responsible members of society. They BOTH work two jobs while they are 3/4 to full time college students. Neither of them get financial aide other than the scholarships they received.

(My son earned a science scholarship for his work in a robotics club and my daughter earned a scholarship through her employer for going above and beyond in donating her time to the elderly people she works with)

Neither of my children rely on me or any other type of financial help other than their own job earnings. They are not single parents and are law abiding citizens who have never been in trouble with the law. Both volunteer on a regular basis for different charities.

I am proud of my children but I don't take the credit (or the blame). I gave them tools and they chose to use those tools to forge their own way in life.

THEY deserve the credit.

That was MY job and I did it. I taught my children to be responsible for their own actions and choices.

If the government wants to "help" people, they should start by giving them the tools and then stepping back and allowing them to use those tools. If someone chooses to use them...they will succeed in life. If they chose not to use them, they will fail and they should have no one to blame but themselves.

Even Jesus taught that concept when it was said that if you give a man a fish he will not be hungry today but if you teach a man to fish he will never go hungry again.

Seems a simple enough concept to me.

Society needs to STOP lowing the bar, stop lowering the expectations and have some consequences that have some follow through.

[MyAngels]

On a lighter note, check out Jon Stewart's take on the subject (the preschool bit starts at about the 3 minute mark). It's funny, no matter what side you are on :

http://earlyed.newamerica.net/blogpo..._critics-80431

[spud912]

I am NOT blaming any generation. THAT is the problem. People need to stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for themselves.

I KNOW I didnt raise my children to take anything for free.

BOTH my children are contributing responsible members of society. They BOTH work two jobs while they are 3/4 to full time college students. Neither of them get financial aide other than the scholarships they received.

(My son earned a science scholarship for his work in a robotics club and my daughter earned a scholarship through her employer for going above and beyond in donating her time to the elderly people she works with)

Neither of my children rely on me or any other type of financial help other than their own job earnings. They are not single parents and are law abiding citizens who have never been in trouble with the law. Both volunteer on a regular basis for different charities.

I am proud of my children but I don't take the credit (or the blame). I gave them tools and they chose to use those tools to forge their own way in life.

THEY deserve the credit.

That was MY job and I did it. I taught my children to be responsible for their own actions and choices.

If the government wants to "help" people, they should start by giving them the tools and then stepping back and allowing them to use those tools. If someone chooses to use them...they will succeed in life. If they chose not to use them, they will fail and they should have no one to blame but themselves.

Even Jesus taught that concept when it was said that if you give a man a fish he will not be hungry today but if you teach a man to fish he will never go hungry again.

Seems a simple enough concept to me.

Society needs to STOP lowing the bar, stop lowering the expectations and have some consequences that have some follow through.

You're a great mamma !

[Country Kids]

I am NOT blaming any generation. THAT is the problem. People need to stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for themselves.

I KNOW I didnt raise my children to take anything for free.

BOTH my children are contributing responsible members of society. They BOTH work two jobs while they are 3/4 to full time college students. Neither of them get financial aide other than the scholarships they received.

(My son earned a science scholarship for his work in a robotics club and my daughter earned a scholarship through her employer for going above and beyond in donating her time to the elderly people she works with)

Neither of my children rely on me or any other type of financial help other than their own job earnings. They are not single parents and are law abiding citizens who have never been in trouble with the law. Both volunteer on a regular basis for different charities.

I am proud of my children but I don't take the credit (or the blame). I gave them tools and they chose to use those tools to forge their own way in life.

THEY deserve the credit.

That was MY job and I did it. I taught my children to be responsible for their own actions and choices.

If the government wants to "help" people, they should start by giving them the tools and then stepping back and allowing them to use those tools. If someone chooses to use them...they will succeed in life. If they chose not to use them, they will fail and they should have no one to blame but themselves.

Even Jesus taught that concept when it was said that if you give a man a fish he will not be hungry today but if you teach a man to fish he will never go hungry again.

Seems a simple enough concept to me.

Society needs to STOP lowing the bar, stop lowering the expectations and have some consequences that have some follow through.

I guess I'm wondering why the "government" should give the people the tools? Thats my question-why shouldn't the parents give the kids the tools. The government didn't give me my tools-my parents did and generation to generation before that. This generation is being told/given to many things by the government and it needs to be slowed down and given back the parents or possibly be there to help the parents. Passing an english/math benchmark isn't going to help feed your family but learning life skills (an ELECTIVE in our school but not a required class) would help you tremendously. Having a year of child development would be a great required class to have for a graduation requirement. I see these classes helping the parents give the tools to their children that are needed to succeed in life.

I remember a time when you could work a summer job and pay for a full year of college at a University and have money left over. When of our good friends talks about making more working in mills then he did teaching a full year of school. He worked in mills during the summer to pay for his schooling at the university. Now your lucky if you can find a full-time job and still be able to pay your bills. The government is now making it so full-time jobs will eventually be a thing of the past.

I guess they can give our children the tools they need to succeed because I have a feeling they will receive the tools that the "government" feels they need, not what we would feel they needed. They have encrouched on pretty much every aspect of our lives already-our schools, our work, our homes, our healthcare, our parenting styles, why not let them raise our children. Thats what I feel is scary!

[MarinaVanessa]

I was just thinking about when I split up with my DD's father and how embarrassed I was to go ask for financial aid from the gov't. But I needed it because I wasn't working at the time (I was let go from a job because I refused to lie to government officials about illegal things he was doing as a landlord) so I applied. While I waited to find out if I would be approved my job was to find a job. Because I was approved for financial assistance I needed to participate in Cal-works (welfare to work which required one weekly meeting) and I had an interview scheduled before I even went to my first meeting to that program. During my first meeting at the Cal-works program there were other welfare participants there and I was amazed at how just blatantly lazy some of these people were.

There was a young lady there in partivular about my same age that I had worked with a few years previously at a retail store and she had been on the program for a full year. She slouched in her seat, didn't make eye contact with the program specialist when she was being spoken to, filed her nails during the meeting and said that the meeting was a waste of her time. When the specialist asked her if she had scheduled any interviews for that week the answer was no, when she was asked if she had applied to any jobs that previous week her answer was no. The specialist commented that she hadn't applied to any jobs in three weeks and hadn't had any scheduled interviews in over 3 months, her response was an annoyed "I know, and?". The specialist asked her why she wasn't out looking for a job (which is a requirement of welfare here in CA if you don't have a job) and the girl's answer was "I don't know. I just didn't feel like it".

THESE are the people that should not be on the program. If you are not willing to help yourself then why should the gov't help you? Why should I and the rest of the US working class help you if you aren't even willing to help yourself? I was shocked. And I think I was disturbed at the idea that the specialist wouldn't just say this person shouldn't be on the program. Cut her off. The welfare system is broken. I for one am glad that some states are requiring drug tests. It's about time that someone did something about the people taking advantage of the program.

BTW I had my interview later that week and started working that following week. It took me 2 weeks to apply at jobs, interview at a few places and get hired. I know things are different now but back then there was work available and people just being lazy and not wanting to work. And why should they when they can get money for doing nothing? This problem needs to be fixed. Let's fix what is broken first before we start another project.

[Willow]

On a lighter note, check out Jon Stewart's take on the subject (the preschool bit starts at about the 3 minute mark). It's funny, no matter what side you are on :

I hate to disagree but it's actually incredibly left bias and ridiculously offensive.

It mocks the findings of the results studies and sends the message that this countries children are stupid - hence the need to not only continue Head Start but completely back Obama's new plan.

[MyAngels]

I hate to disagree but it's actually incredibly left bias and ridiculously offensive.

It mocks the findings of the results studies and sends the message that this countries children are stupid - hence the need to not only continue Head Start but completely back Obama's new plan.

[craftymissbeth]

I have to say, this thread is becoming intolerable for me. I know I don't have to view it, but the some of the responses are on the verge of ridiculous.

It's unlikely that anyone in this thread is going to change anyone elses opinion to match their own, yet many on here are debating it like they that's their goal.

[Willow]

I have to say, this thread is becoming intolerable for me. I know I don't have to view it, but the some of the responses are on the verge of ridiculous.

It's unlikely that anyone in this thread is going to change anyone elses opinion to match their own, yet many on here are debating it like they that's their goal.

That's a whole lotta *rolleyes" ! If it's intolerable, simply stop clicking on the link to the thread and move on to other topics?

I think it's been a great conversation, lots of respectful back and forth. There is nothing wrong with hashing out the information that people have that's brought them to the beliefs they currently hold.

[Scout]

I have to say, this thread is becoming intolerable for me. I know I don't have to view it, but the some of the responses are on the verge of ridiculous.

It's unlikely that anyone in this thread is going to change anyone elses opinion to match their own, yet many on here are debating it like they that's their goal.

But, it's fun!! It's not every day we get to have these conversations with our dck's or our own!! Some of us don't see anyone over 4 all day long!

[craftymissbeth]

That's a whole lotta *rolleyes" ! If it's intolerable, simply stop clicking on the link to the thread and move on to other topics?

I think it's been a great conversation, lots of respectful back and forth. There is nothing wrong with hashing out the information that people have that's brought them to the beliefs they currently hold.

Haha... I enjoy clicking on those emoticons... It's strangely satisfying.

You're right, nothing wrong with respectful discussion. There are those, though, that must not realize when they aren't as respectful as they could be.