The huge amount of information put out each week did not touch upon the importance of early education in this issue, but a reference was made in an article dated Sept 22, 2014 entitled, Historic Summit Fueled Push for K-12 Standards. On the 25th anniversary of President George W. Bush's historic summit, during which teacher accountability and standards based education reform were introduced, the goals set forth have not been met and there is discord as to who is responsible. Should schools be held accountable for poor student achievement if policy makers did not provide the proper supports through preschool and early education? The 1st Goal of the No Child Left Behind Initiative was to have all --ALL children ready to start school by 2000, yet at that time still only 28% attended state run preschools.(Klein, 2014) Everyone agrees it needs to be done, but no one agrees on who should provide it.
An article about iPads in the classroom by Justin Reich, Towards a Pedagogy for Tablets: From consumption to Curation and Creation, describes a useful tool in the classroom, giving students the ability to record science experiments, take and share notes, and create. Many believe this new technology does not belong in the classroom, but teachers can creatively put it to efficient uses. I agree that it can be a useful tool, used properly, and can even see the benefit in early childhood classes. Children can acquire hand-eye coordination, increase math skills, listen to stories or music, and even 'face time' with people in other cultures.Many articles detail support of early childhood education by policy makers (State Offers Early Childhood Grants, March 2013) neuroscientists (Music Training Sharpens Brain Pathways, Studies Say, Nov 2013) and economists (John Thompson: Michelle Rhee's DC IMPACT Value Added System Drives Teachers Out- Living in Dialogue, Sept 2014).
Listening to the news, I have only heard negative results of Obama in office. I was happy to find Obama has put education on his "short list" of priorities, and includes early childhood education as a top issue on that list. There is so much to read about the Race to the Top for Education Equity, the Tribes to Take Over Schools initiative, the High School Redesign Contest, and his interest in making college affordable, that I only chipped the tip of the iceburg. This president has his priorities straight when it comes to our children and this nation's future.
Until we have a change in Congress, it doesn't matter WHAT our President wants...they block him at every turn! They came out against drinking water just because the First Lady said people need to drink more water, for goodness sake! Frankly, I have lost faith in our government to do the right thing for the citizens. Early childhood education isn't important to politicians--unless it's an election year--then they spout lies that they think people want to hear and hope they don't remember their actions (or lack of actions).
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