Is French Preschool Right for America?Goldwater Report Raises Questions about Government Plans for

AZConservative and Goldwater Institute ^ | Goldwater Institute

[RKV]

“Fundamentally, the early education discussion is not about the effectiveness or cost of the programs,” Olsen said. “At heart is the question of in whose hands the responsibility for young children rests. Further entrenching the state into the lives of young children cannot be squared with a free society that cherishes the primacy of the family over the state.”

Amen.

[hsmomx3]

Try convincing Janet Napoloreno of this. She is obsessed with putting in place what they have in North Carolina. Or is it South Carolina? She is wanting the govt. to take care of the toddlers (4 year olds) all day while Moms are away at play (or work).

[RKV]

I work in academia (staff guy, not pointy headed lefty prof). The other day they gave a briefing about state education initiatives - they call it universal preschool here in the PRK. The state superintendent of education wants it badly. We are fresh out of $$ so this has a low probability of occurrence. What is really the point of this stuff? Replace the influence of parents with the influence of state approved (read that as secular socialists) teachers. This was the point of universal state education anyway - get the immigrant kids away from mom (and dad) early and fill their little heads full of John Dewey's socialistic pap.

[kjenerette]

Education PING.

[Renegade]

Don't feel bad. The school board in Upper Township , New Jersey APPROVED a Charter School in a French Immersian setting . The WHOLE curriculum is in French. The program was originally part of the regular school district . BTW, TAX dollars still pay for the Charter School. The community did not get to vote on this proposal .Forced through by a bunch of liberal no nothings . They think it is cute to have a program like this .

[TalonDJ]

While U.S. children are “A” students in fourth grade, they regress to “D” students by 12th grade.

Isn't is a shame that many homeschoolers send their kids back to public school for highschool.

[LauraleeBraswell]

""The report finds the widespread adoption of preschool and full-day kindergarten is unlikely to improve student achievement. ""

Children learn through play. Let four year olds be four year olds.

This is nonsense

[lolhelp]

My oldest grand daughter was home schooled till the ninth grade, she made straight A's in all her classes, including the advanced classes which all counted as college credits, she went to the Future Leaders of America conventions all three years. She won full scholarships to one of the finest University in the country and several others, being a good little Republican child she chose a Conservative religious college. Wonderful home schooled background, wouldn't you say?

She is in her freshman year in College, with perfect grade records so far.

[ladylib]

Gee, in my county in NJ, school officials do everything in their power to thwart charter schools because they "take funds from the local public schools." The thinking is that parents should be thrilled with the local public schools and charter schools are only for the disadvantaged. I don't think there is anything in the state charter school law that supports that position, however.

Do parents who send their kids to the French language charter school pay school taxes?

[ladylib]

"While U.S. children are “A” students in fourth grade, they regress to “D” students by 12th grade."

Kids are still enthusiastic in the fourth grade. By the time they reach 12th grade, they've had it. They want out of there.

I think the trend is changing for homeschoolers regarding going to a public or private school for high school. From what I've read, more are staying at home or attending junior college -- better homeschool curriculum -- on-line courses -- the wave of the future.

If I were a public school official, I'd be worried.

[Renegade]

Everybody pays school taxes . Even if your child goes to a Parochial school , you pay local school tax .

[ladylib]

Yes, I know that.

[JenB]

It seems so backwards to me! If I had kids in a public school, there's no way I'd want them to go through public high school.

[Renegade]

This French immersion school was for lower grades . There IS a Charter High School in Somers Point called Charter-Tech which zeros in on kids interested in the arts. HOWEVER, 70% of the 8th graders in the school failed the GEPA test in Math last year ..

[steve86]

Our grandchildren, of whom we have custody, are in a Head Start program. I do feel that the 3-4 year old class is doing an excellent job teaching pre-academic and socialization skills, and I have not detected any liberal bias in the program. The teachers seem well-suited and enthusiastic, although they are paid only a few dollars above minimum wage. I notice the kids learning "politeness" mannerisms lately and they do tend to mimic the good attributes of the teachers. I have no idea if Head Start programs in other parts of the country are like this.

Having praised the preschool program, I can't wait to get the kids into a private school once they are past kindergarten. I have remarked before that the public high school kids in this area tend to be rude, loud and vulgar, while kids from a local Christian school are the best behaved I have ever seen. I'm sure that there are some polite kids in the public schools as well, but I have NEVER seen a rude kid from the Christian school!

[Richard Kimball]

I think it's a money grab.

FWIW, though, back in the 1960's, I graduated from Cedar Ridge Elementary. Everything I needed to know to be successful in college, I learned there. Junior high and high school were a waste of time. This was also about the time that the Japanese Deming crap from WWII was seeping into the system. For whatever it's worth though, elementary education being good and secondary education being bad in the US isn't a new thing.

[TalonDJ]

yeah, except getting straigth A'a in public highschool usually means the kid is not really challeneged and she could potentially have learned much more.

[TalonDJ]

Kids have 'had it' but 12th grade in part due to the fact that they don't like the stuff they are stuck doing. The smarts ones are not challenged and the not-so smart ones could care less. Their attitude has a lot to do with the work they are doing. The same is true in any school or job situation. If they are bored they slack off and want out.