Posted on 04/16/2006 1:59:26 PM PDT by SmithL
But as the June 6 election approaches, an increasingly vocal number of preschools are lining up against it.
Some Montessori schools fear Proposition 82, dubbed the Preschool for All Act, would lead to new state standards that could compromise their unique teaching methods and mixed-age classrooms. Faith-based preschools say they would be at a competitive disadvantage, because the measure wouldn't fund schools that offer religious instruction. Others worry a requirement that teachers earn a bachelor's degree would drive them out of business.
"I am going to vote no, and I am very much in favor of universal preschool," said Bonnie Mathisen, director of Discovery Children's House, a Montessori school in Palo Alto. "I just feel that Prop. 82 is not the right way to go about it. When you get down to the nitty-gritty, a lot of preschools will be left out."
Others are taking sides: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former California Senate President Pro Tem John Burton came out against Prop. 82 this week -- Schwarzenegger because of how it's funded and Burton because he believes it wouldn't do enough to help the poorest Californians. Democratic gubernatorial candidates Phil Angelides and Steve Westly endorsed it.
Numerous early childhood educators also favor the measure, which was spearheaded by Hollywood director Rob Reiner.
"Many of us see this as a tremendous opportunity," said Eve-Marie Arce, president of the California Association for the Education of Young Children. "It will not take away anything we have now."
Prop. 82 would raise income taxes on residents who earn more than $400,000 a year. An estimated $2 billion a year would flow from Sacramento to county offices of education, which would implement the program locally. Preschools would get about $6,000 for each 4-year-old they serve.
But some private preschools fear public schools will be favored when money and contracts are doled out. Prop. 82 also allows preschool teachers to unionize, raising red flags since the vast majority of preschool teachers are not union members.
"We feel completely left out of the loop," said Carla Ames, who owns two preschools in Morgan Hill. "We can't afford to pay our teachers what a public school teacher makes. If this passes, we'll be forced to close or raise our fees."
Prop. 82 would be voluntary. Prechools would not have to join the system, and parents would retain control of where their children would go. But like public schools, preschools could only receive state funding if the curriculum does not include religious instruction.
That's no problem for some faith-based schools, which attract children of all backgrounds and don't teach about religion. But others say it's huge.
"It's not like we just talk about God for 15 minutes," said Pat Baer, director of the Baymonte Christian Preschool in Scotts Valley. "We pray before we eat our snacks, and we might learn about Noah's Ark by playing with toy animals. The core of what we are is a Christian preschool, and it would be misleading to try to work around that."
Prop. 82 hopes to make preschool widely available to families currently struggling to afford it. But it also raises the bar on quality: It would cap class sizes at 20 children to one credentialed teacher and one aide, and require teachers to get a bachelor's degree.
Those mandates are at odds with the philosophy of Montessori schools, whose teachers have extensive training but are not required to have four-year college degrees.
At Casa di Mir Montessori School in Campbell, children ages 3 to 6 are grouped together in "community classrooms."
"Montessori has been around for a long time, and it is quite successful," said school director Wanda Whitehead, who questions why the bureaucracy that governs the state's troubled K-12 schools is adding 4-year-olds. "The initiative seems to disregard the quality preschool programs that already exist."
Prop. 82 spokesman Nathan James says the measure would not restrict mixed-age groupings or the Montessori style of teaching.
"The initiative is all about creating flexibility so that a variety of providers can participate," said James.
Casa di Mir has added its name to a Web site for the measure's opponents, and the California Montessori Council is working very closely with the No on 82 campaign.
Still, the Montessori world is far from united. Some teachers feel Prop. 82 is the best chance to ensure that all California children get the education they deserve.
"This is not going to cut out private preschools," said Scott Moore of Little Elephant Montessori in Oakland. "I understand people's fears, but the reality is that those fears will dissipate."
Others aren't so sure.
"What looks good isn't necessarily good," said Elizabeth Sholes, public policy director for California Church IMPACT, the sister organization of the California Council of Churches. "The initiative is very well intentioned, but very poorly executed."
Let's hope this goes down to defeat.
Grade: F-
Poorly thought out, poorly written, too exclusive.
But...but...it's FREE, FReepers! How can anyone be against the children?
Gosh, why don't they just take the babies out of Mom at the hospital and start indoctrinating them as of Day 1? More importantly, they can start collecting taxes earlier! Cripes, these greedy bas-turds will never let up!
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Like most laws.
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.