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Interesting post. I wonder what the author's attitude is concerning sending children to Pre-K? I have some real misgivings about the Pre-K concept, but some school administrators swear by the improved results in reading, etc that you see in children who attend Pre-K.

Most pre-k situations are only for people living below or at the poverty level (at least in Texas). I would venture a guess that most of the children in non-disadvantaged homes do not need pre-k at all. It is designed for the children who will probably not get what they need from their parents.

>>>I have some real misgivings about the Pre-K concept, but some school administrators swear by the improved results in reading, etc that you see in children who attend Pre-K.

Of course the school administrators swear by it. They get more money for their salaries and the parents still have to subsidize for school supplies.

My daughter didn't go to pre-K. She started school in Kindergarten.

She's now 10, in 5th grade and brilliant, of course (as many Freepers can attest as I've recounted her comments during the debates and conventions).

:)

I have some real misgivings about the Pre-K concept, but some school administrators swear by the improved results in reading, etc that you see in children who attend Pre-K.

That's compared to children who sit in front of the TV, whose parents never read to them, and who haven't even learned their colors or to count before beginning kindergarten.

The children in our family all knew their colors and could count to 10 by the time they were about 2 years old, most were reading by kindergarten, and they also knew shapes, letters, etc.

If you spend time with your children, they don't need Pre-K.

Without trying to pass critical judgment on anyones current situation, this is my opinion of Pre-K.

Many years ago the understanding was that starting children to school to early actually hurt those children. It used to be that you could not start a child in a Texas school until they were seven.

My observations and opinion only is that Pre-K is nothing more than another tool so government entities and some unions can employ more teaching bodies there by expanding their power base.

I have a child in Pre-K and he hates going to school. I have another child in K and she loves every minute of school and doing home work.

My wife who is also a medical doctor believes in Pre-K. I personally have doubts about the good over coming the loss of being home with a parent. That is if a parent can afford to stay home with the child.

Don't get me wrong I am not condemning couples where both parents work. However I have noticed over the last few years that more and more a mom or dad is choosing to stay home with a younger child. I can not say that any of the children I see from both situations are any more adjusted than the other.

I read somewhere, that American children are even with, and in some cases more mentally developed than those in countries that consistently beat us later on. It is not that our education is completely broken, only that somewhere between grades 4-college, something is introduced that destroys the discipline and love for learning.

I'm sure it's the same as Head-Start. Study after study has shown that Head-Start improves kids academics for the first couple of years after they enter school, but after that, no difference. In other words, Pre-K will not make any long-term difference academically for your kid, but emotionally may be detrimental. I advise against it.