Foundations and Current Issues of Early Childhood Education/Chapter 9/9.3

Universal Preschool

By Theresa Ritter

Introduction
Do children need an early start if they are to succeed in school? Should any child be left behind because they don’t have the means to pay for a good education? And should all children have equal chance to get ready for kindergarten? Studies prove that learning is indeed a lifelong journey and the earlier our children get a start, the better for them in the long run. So what can be done, and who should foot the bill? An ongoing argument or debate is voluntary universal early learning programs available to all 4 year-olds regardless of their disability, social status, and economic status. So what exactly is universal preschool? What are the pros and cons and who is it best suited for?

The plight for universal preschool
First of all, I would like to reflect on the work of renowned researcher, David Weikart, who conducted a 40 year study on the effects of high-quality preschool programs for children living in poverty. Weikhart made dramatic changes in the education of those economically impoverished to gain personal, academic, social and economic success. This study gained notoriety as the “High/Scope Perry Preschool Study,” and began in the 1960’s. Weikart’s study proves that “with highly skilled teachers working with students three hours a day, five days a week and weekly visits to their homes, their IQ scores climbed dramatically compared to no-program groups” (High/ Scope Resource, 2006/07. What the study unveiled, was that due to early childhood intervention these students would prove to be more likely to graduate high school, stay out of trouble, less likely be arrested or to go to prison. They would also be more likely go to college, get better paying jobs, be better parents and be less likely to be on welfare, have children out of wedlock, and would in essence benefit society with less crime and violence.  “Even though since they're way in the future, you discount them, those benefits outweigh the costs under pretty much any scenario you can think of," says Clive Belfield, an economics professor at Queens College at the City University of New York. The return can be as high as $12 for $1 invested, he says, although it's lower - $1.50 to $3 - for his analyses of universal state programs” (Paulson, 2006).

Illinois Paves the Way; Oklahoma follows suit
Illinois states that universal preschool is the answer to keeping people off the streets and out of prison, and that it seems to be the fix-all for academic and social failure. Illinois sets the lead in the “push” for universal preschool for 3 year olds. Don Owens talks about how well developed their preschools are in Illinois. “If you look at pre-K as a national movement, it's continuing to move across the country, and we think California is indicative of that," says Don Owens, a spokesperson for Pre-K Now, an early childhood- education advocacy group (Paulson, 2006).  Paulson states that by the time children enter kindergarten, many of them are already around eighteen months behind.  She also states that if placing children in preschool at 3 and 4 years of age will keep them off the streets and graduate high school, which in itself is a strong reason to look at funding universal preschools in Illinois.  In an article written by Davis L. Kirk; you’re doing fine Oklahoma! the writer states, “Oklahoma's pre-K rules are as stringent as any in the nation. There can be no more than 10 students for each teacher, 20 children and two teachers in a classroom. Teachers must have a bachelor's degree and be certified in early-childhood education.”  Kirk adds that “preschool teachers earn as much as higher math teachers because of their college education; all thanks to a generation’s worth of hard work deciphering what works and what does not” (Kirk, 2004). Kirk shows that Tulsa’s pre-K program has positive effects on cognitive and language test scores.

Governor Schwarzenegger signs legislation supporting universal preschool in California
In September 2006, “after a 3-2 margin where California voters rejected Proposition 82 the previous June, which would have taxed the state's wealthy to pay for pre-kindergarten programs open to all students, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation to expand preschool at California’s lower achievement schools,” (Report on Literacy Programs, 2006)   Schwarzenegger promised to help close the achievement gap by expanding preschool programs throughout California, and says “Preschool gives our kids the strong foundation they need to be successful in school and in life. This proposal will ensure more than 12,000 additional children receive high-quality preschool education” (Report on Literacy Programs, 2006).

While Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he is “open to additional preschool spending, including a $50 million increase for direct services in early childhood and another $50 million for facilities.” Still, anti-tax groups and some existing private pre-schools, including Montessori schools, opposed the initiative and mounted a large advertising campaign against it. Those against the program questioned whether the program would suit the rich preschoolers, and doubted it would do anything to better the pre-k-12 system in California.

Gains in success short lived
Studies assert that any success gained by preschool is, in fact, short-lived. “While young children who participate in preschool may show temporary literacy improvement in the early academic years of elementary school, by the 3rd or 4th grade there is no marked improvement or advantage, and in fact, there is a steady decline” (Wisniewski, 2007). Hope/Perry study report to the contrary. They report academic again may fade by 3rd or 4th grade, but participants of his study “achieved greater success in social and economic life then their counterparts” (High/scope resource, 2006/07). Regardless, many voices have lashed out, criticizing the push for universal preschool; their views are quite contrary to that of the Perry Study, and they argue that  it is the parent’s job to nurture and education their own children in their own time, and in their own way. They also portray that not all children need be “institutionalized” in public preschools, that only the disadvantaged or the poor really need it, and that there truly is no real gain in placing children so young in state run schools.

Who will foot the cost?
In a journal article, written by Wilson Greene, the writer argues that “universal preschool is a costly but worthy goal. He outlines the benefits of universal preschool for all children, for students with handicaps, and for children from poor backgrounds. He then dismisses arguments against universal preschool and concludes that federal and state governments should collectively implement universal preschool” (Green, 2006).

Research states universal preschool will, in fact, benefit society by keeping the underemployed and undereducated off the streets, in school, out of jail, and working. These same preschoolers will in essence being paying their debts back to society by staying out of trouble, working hard for a living, becoming upstanding citizens who will work hard pay taxes. Maybe not as much as the wealthy who will “foot the bill,” but they will pay their portion eventually.

Multiple Choice Questions
1. Universal preschool gives children a strong foundation to be successful in life.

A. True

B. False

2. Universal preschool:

A. benefits the rich only

B. benefits the underprivileged and the disadvantaged children only

C. is not currently available in all states in the U.S.

3. Illinois is a model state for universal preschool because:

A. the US is known for its poor education system

B. Illinois preschool programs appear to provide lasting academic advantages.

C. other states do not have as educated preschool teachers.

4.The Hope/Perry Project claims that preschool:

A. benefits affect the person throughout life

B. is not really all that important

C. is too expensive 5. Some claim that any success gained in preschool:

A. dissolves around 3rd or 4th grade

B. dissolves around 5th grade

C. dissolves around 8th grade

CORRECT ANSWERS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED

Essay Question
What concerns do you have about universal preschool? Answer: In a letter written by Tricia Shore, “Preschool for All,” published at LewRockwell.com,” she undoubtedly hates the idea of universal preschool. Ms. Shore’s exact words on the subject are: “Young children need their mommy and daddy. The security that comes from a young child’s being around his or her parents all day is much better incentive to learn than giving the child to change agents teachers who take the child with ten other young humans on a leash and walk them to the library; the teacher will be lucky to remember a child’s name in ten years.” Gosh, that is harsh! I wonder if Ms. Shore has ever had place her own children in preschool to have the opportunity to learn social skills, to be creative, to hear exciting stories, build towers or dinosaurs out of legos, create beautiful paintings for their mommy on Mother’s Day, share a birthday cake with school friends, or just mingle with kids their own age? If she has she would know that there is much more to preschool than lugging kids around on leashes. While I agree that children can be, and are, nurtured by their own parents who are quite capable of setting firm foundations within their own children’s lives, many simply do not have the incentive, the desire, nor the time to expose their children to the things that preschool can. Being in the school system myself, I have witnessed first hand how many children are falling between the cracks because of LACK of parental involvement or support in their children’s social, academic and emotional development. Shore also complains, “I could go on and on, of course, about how strange it is to force money away from those who have more, to give to those who have less. Those individuals who are making over $400,000 or the couples who are making over $800,000 will pay for this "free" preschool. But that's okay. They're rich. What's that thing about forced wealth redistribution? My publicly schooled mind just doesn't seem to remember.” Sarcastic as it seems, she is quite right; the rich will pay, but in the long run, will they?