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Hello,
Child friend , Head start is not a true programme . Through Head Start a successful programme cannot be held . It is not possible for development for all round .

Do people even pay for headstart? If it is a free program? If so it is only a free babysitting program. How about these moms stay home and raise their children. Children need to learn trust, comfort and love at this young age. Their brains are not ready to 'learn the alphabet' or tell time. How do I know this? I have been a preschool teacher for 17 years.

I have been a part of our local Head Start program for seventeen years. I started as a parent volunteer and am now the Director of our program. I can personally say that I would not have pursued further education had it not been for the opportunities that were afforded me through the Head Start program. I am appalled each time I read an article such as that written by Mr. Klein. Our Head Start Program has four out of five of our locations accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and we were one of the first programs in our state to participate in the STAR's for Kids Now Quaility Initiative program and three of our five centers are Level IV centers, the highest level attainable. One of the very first concepts I remember being taught about in the Child Development Associate (CDA) class I attended was stereotyping.
For those who aren't familiar with this term I offer this explanation:

Stereotypes are generalizations about a group of people (Head Start programs) whereby we attribute a defined set of characteristics to this group (being described as a failing program) . These classifications can be positive or negative, such as when various nationalities are stereotyped as friendly or unfriendly.Stereotypes are generalizations, or assumptions, that people make about the characteristics of all members of a group, based on an image (often wrong) about what people in that group are like. (Are all Head Start programs failing? I have given just one example above of a quality program that I am proud to say I am a part of). For example, one study of stereotypes revealed that Americans are generally considered to be friendly, generous, and tolerant, but also arrogant, impatient, and domineering. Asians, on the other hand, were expected to be shrewd and alert, but reserved. Clearly, not all Americans are friendly and generous; and not all Asians are shrewd. If you assume you know what a person is like, and don't look at each person as an individual, you are likely to make errors in your estimates of a person's character. (Just as errors are being made about Head Start. There are some specific programs that aren't performing to parr just as there are some public school systems who are shamelessly failing our children and these school systems continue to be funded year after year with the same administration that has run the system into the ground.) There are Head Start programs that are producing desired outcomes and there are some that are not. To assume that Head Start program budgets are "overstuffed" is ludicrous and I would like to know where people are getting that information. Head Start has been "flat-funded" for the past several years and any one that has any finance background at all knows that when you are "flat funded" you are actually experiencing a budget reduction because when the costs of insurances, diesel fuel, building maintenance, vehicle maintenance and utilities continue to rise and your budget remains the same you have to "find" the finances somewhere to offset your deficit. I know that Head Start does work. There are so many variables to these statistical studies such as FACES. The reality is I have seen children in our communities who came into our program scared, hungry, reluctant to speak, in need of immunizations, in need of dental care and hesitant to participate in activities--- develop into four year olds who walked across the stage on "Graduation Day", shake the Executive Director's hand and proudly accept their certificate certifying that they have completed two years in the Head Start program. When these children go on to "big school" their personal environments go with them. Some live in homes of drug addicted family members, some live with aunts/uncles or grandma and grandpa because their parents are incarcerated. I take pride in the fact that for six hours a day, 10 months out of the year these children born into these "unfair" cirumstances have a nutritious breakfast, lunch and evening snack, are provided needed special education services, receive health and dental care that is needed and are shown unconditional love in a safe, healthy learning environment. I can tell you that Head Start works.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_mean_the_stereotype_of_the_stereotypes#ixzz1S7kD3MV

If children who attend Head Start match their peers in the early primary grades then we could argue that the program is successful. We might ask a different question; i.e, what happenes when these same children arrive in public schools? What supports are available? I do not believe that the mission of Head Start was to exceed the "achievement" of peers in school but to promote readiness on an equal footing. Public schools face their own issues and "attacking" Head Start is not a solution.
There is still a gap in the preparation of Head Start teachers and public school teachers that needs to be addressed. Early Childhood teachers are seriously undercompensated and often leave for higer wages. How will our government take action to remediate this situation? What will take the place of Head Start comprehensive services if the program is dismantled in the guise of relieving the federal deficit? Children are not a commodity to be exchanged for money.

After 37 years as an independent operator in the child care industry, I feel I can speak to this debate with some validity. Head Start, just like so many other "government" programs, has been a run-away-train and a drain on public funds for years. A great idea in it's time, and one that did help catapult a lot of issues concerning low income children and the importance of early education into the limelight - it quickly became a money pit. In it's effort for a quick fix to a mounting problem, the powers-that-be didn't even look at an infra-structure that had been in place and doing a good job since WWII - private child care. Instead of embrasing what was already there and offering us some help (free staff training, tax incentives for improved programs, low-interest loans to make physical improvments in our facilities, etc), they started Head Start! If it is doing such a good job - why do we now have pre-school for supposedly low-income families in Public School?!?
Again, they have left the private sector out of the picture, yet continue to tax us to death, and increase regulations & restrictions on us that don't even make sence and that none of the "government" programs have to abide by? Oh yes, and we have CCMS - where the government "allows" the private sector to take low-income children into our care at only 1/2 of what it costs us to care for them - and we are supposed to be greatful! But that is a whole other subject that I could write a book on!
Huge amounts of money have been poured into Head Start, but as is typical of any government run program, there has been no to very little accountability. One of many personal experiences that back this up - a Head Start program in Midland, informed that they were getting all new equipment for their building and that they were to dump everything,even when the Director told them they didn't need anything, all of their equipment was in great shape -it didn't matter, dump it - do not sell it or even give it away - "dump" it! When asked why, he was told we have excess money in our budget and if we don't use it, they will cut our budget next year! Another incident in Dallas - all upper management were treated to a posh spa week-end and a large bonus, just because they had excess money in the budget that had to be used up or lost! The Head Starts that I have personal knowledge of do NOT work under the same restraints or restrictions that I do and have pretty much limitless funds for staffing, training, building improvements/repairs, etc.
As business owners and tax payers we are acutely aware of making every penny count. In fact, my whole operating philosophy is based on "you watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves" - obviously not one the "government" has ever heard of! Most of us in the private sector are in this business to help children and families - no matter what the cost to us physically or financially. We spend every cent wisely and always to the benefit of our children, staff and programs.
As you can see, I have a soap-box to stand on when it comes to government waste - and in my estimation - Head Start has served its time, and it's time should be over.

As a former Head Start Parent and Teacher, I am compelled to comment on this article. It was with great pride that I read in our local newspaper two weeks ago, a story on our local high school's graduating class. There, in the paper, was a picture of the class of 2011's Valedictorian, a former Head Start student of mine. With great pride I read of this young man's many notable accomplishments over the course of his high school years. Not only did he graduate at the top of his class, he is also going to be attending one of our most prestigious Ivy League colleges on a full, four year scholarship!
Head Start not only helped this young man 14 years ago, it also helped his grandmother who was his custodial guardian and his mother who was working on reuniting with her son.
Head Start is for families and children! To "attack" a vital program that serves so many is unacceptable; and yes, I consider your article an attack. This program not only teaches children important skills needed for school readiness, it empowers parents and caregivers to improve their own lives for the sake of their families. Shame on you Mr. Klein for even thinking this program does not work but even bigger shame on you for actually publishing your ignorant opinion in Time Magazine no less! Perhaps you could write your next article on other unnecessary programs for our nation's poorest and youngest members, like the Food Stamp program or health care for children. I mean after all, the average Head Start student is 3-5 years old and once again, thanks to your ridiculous article, those of us who work in the world of Early Childhood Education will work even harder to defend the basic rights these children should have as a birth right!
I am just so sick of you and others who had your needs met as a child, and I mean basic needs..food, shelter, clothing, education, trying so hard to balance this country's budget on the backs of our most vulnerable members of society. Find something else to attack and leave our children alone!

Head Start does work. People who say that Head Start is a failure does not have a clue how the program works or all that it offers. Let me tell you about Head Start. It provides children who would otherwise slip through the cracks a chance to catch up to their peers and be able to function at the level of their peers. Yes by first grade they are even with the other children, that's the point. If these children did not have Head Start where would they be? I'm also curious as to why the children who are moved up a grade and those who are placed in gifted are not also included in this Head Start put down. Don't tell me Head Start doesn't work when I've had two children who have went through the program and both are gifted. Another thing is while your attacking, and it is an attack on Head Start, remember this you can't tell people to teach and then cut the budget and expect their to be miracles in Education/Head Start. The government are the ones failing our children, Education, and Head Start.

what did you use to measure the headstart results.
how did you determine that headstart was the problem after the first grade

The Klein piece is not an "Attack" , it is a thoughtful and powerful analysis of the facts that have been presented to us yet agin in this current study.

Head Start has not worked. When ever someone is bold enough to point it out,,, they are labeled as attackers.... And Head Start keeps on failing and spending outrageous amounts of money with little to show.

Our public education system is a failed system, including Head Start....

Stop vilinizing the messengers..