Posted on 02/24/2013 1:14:28 PM PST by John Semmens
The rationale for the federal governments Head Start program is to give disadvantaged students a boost with their school work. Sadly, though, a recently completed research study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reveals that students enrolled in the program actually do worse than similarly disadvantaged peers not in the program. The biggest deficits show up in math and behavior.
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urged that we should not read too much into these findings. Given our societys widespread access to computers, calculators, and cash registers that can do the math for us, proficiency in math may not be as an important a skill as it once was. Many people occupying positions of high authority in our government readily admit a lack of aptitude for math. So, Id say that discovering that our Head Start students arent grasping the subject isnt something Id get worked up about.
The important thing is that President Obama has stressed how crucial this program is to his agenda, Sebelius argued. While this and previous studies have indicated that there seems to be little tangible benefit from the program, from what Ive seen, the intangible gains are significant. When students are joyfully singing the presidents praises it is clear that their lives have been improved. Ill take that over a dry comparison of test scores any day.
The Secretary was disdainful of critics who see a disturbing similarity between the indoctrination of American children and that of North Korean children. Just because we have our differences with these other cultures doesnt mean that everything they do is wrong, Sebelius pointed out. Teaching children respect and reverence for the countrys leader strikes me as a very positive objective of our educational system.
if you missed any of this week's other semi-news/semi-satire posts you can find them at...
http://azconservative.org/2013/02/23/administration-lashes-out-at-congressmens-failure-to-consume-office-budget-allowance/
Nicely done! Nearly got me!!!
Ping.
I hate these semi-satire things. They are so true. SIGH.
Satire?? Not really John??? But we love you!!
Fareed Zakaria in a CNN commentary today was saying just about the same things you attribute to Sibelius. Are you sure you didn’t just lift the remarks from him ? ;)
For libtards, it's not the actual results that matter as long as the state is providing everyone with an equality of opportunity. Everybody can be equally worse off in their nurturing just as everybody is worse off with socialism, and they don't care.
Head Start isn’t for the kids, it’s for the Single Parents.
Where IS the satire?
Can anyone tell me why parents who don’t have jobs need day care for their children?
You’d rather have them take their kids along while they score their drugs?
(ok, that was sarcasm.......or was it?)
I don’t know from sarcasm, these days ... but surely even buying drugs doesn’t require full-day preschool. What do people do all day if they’re not taking care of children or employed?
“Where IS the satire?”
Yes, indeed. What if there were a “buyback” program where people could sell their kids. I’ll bet there would be a lot of takers.
Which group has killed more people? Head Start grads or School of the Americas grads?
LOL...Brilliant!
Because they can’t watch their kids and smoke crack at the same time?
As noted Obama supporter Bob Dylan put it, “There’s no success like failure.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.