ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

Sure, it would be cool. But why are you so impressed with his visit? Is Head Start actually working? I consulted with Head Start programs- and this is not the fault of the teachers-but they were not properly trained to teach. Many were not fluent or literate in English and they were teaching ELL"S. I saw chaos, unhappiness, and children's needs being neglected because many staff did not have an understanding of child development. Among other things, they were overwhelmed by and frustrated with children. I am not saying they are all like this, but many are. Whose idea was it to segregate the poorest, neediest chlldren in these programs? Not the best idea. Teachers are overwhelmed by the needs and the children lack language models and social models. I don't want to sound like I am saying the children are deficient. They have many strengths. But if the idea is to prepare them for school success, to give them the tools they will need to succeed academically, this is not the way to go. This would not be an issue if we had universal preschool- taught by qualified teachers- starting at age 3 like other countries - the UK, France, etc…I do not consider the president a friend of education. In addition to the lack of universal preschool, he and Arne Duncan are destroying public education with the current privatizing and profiteering school "reform" movement. If you are interested in supporting early childhood education then you need to pay attention to what is really gong on.