Proposition 82: Voters split on pioneering preschool plan [Meathead's Nanny State Prop]

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/30/6 | Mark Martin

[SmithL]

Ballot measure would expand programs by taxing richest

Attending preschool for free would become a constitutional right for every 4-year-old in California if voters approve a June ballot initiative that could dramatically reshape the state's public education system.

Called a key to improving the state's lagging schools by proponents and a colossal waste of money by opponents, passage of Proposition 82 would place the state in the forefront of a national movement toward standardizing pre-kindergarten education. Illinois, Georgia and Oklahoma already have implemented or are considering universal preschool programs.

Most of California's half-million 4-year-olds attend some form of preschool or day care now, but backers of the measure say many programs are of low quality. They say Prop. 82 would add preschool spots and raise the quality of instruction.

The ballot measure, which pre-election polls suggest will be decided by a narrow margin, is the brainchild of Hollywood director Rob Reiner. Reiner has been mentioned as a potential gubernatorial candidate but has been publicly invisible during the past two months because of charges that he used public money to help promote the proposal. Reiner was chairman of the First 5 California Children and Families Commission, which was charged with distributing cigarette taxes collected through Proposition 10. Prop. 82's main backers include the California Teachers Association along with other labor unions. Business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, oppose the tax-raising measure.

Prop. 82 would raise the income tax levels of the richest Californians to generate about $2.4 billion annually and pay for half-day, voluntary preschool programs

...class sizes would be capped at 20 children; and teachers would be required to hold a bachelor's degree and would be paid what a K-12 teacher earns -- a huge salary increase.

[Still Thinking]

Yeah, I can see why te teachers are behind this. The taxpsyers OTOH, I can't imagine what they must be thinking if they're "divided" on this. Of course, in the MSM, voters being divided often means the Marxist wet dream so beloved of the writer is going down in flames and that's the best pro-Marxist spon he can reasonably sell. When an issue actually IS controversial "everyone" supports the statist point of view, if you read the papers.

[A message]

Voting NO on 82.

This will just be another giant liberal black hole sucking taxpayer funds into the vortex of oblivion.

Soak the wealthier now to pay for this boondoggle, soak everyone else later.

I can see it five years down the road, " we need more funds for preschool education," will be the liberals cry.

We need more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and.....

[originalbuckeye]

Just another Cali-socialist program to indoctrinate the toddlers in Marxism. They can't start them too young, dontcha know!

[Paleo Conservative]

What a meat head!

[stephenjohnbanker]

I guess kids aren't allowed even 5 years to be just kids anymore. Reiner would no doubt have approved of Dicken's sweatshops for 6 year olds too..."" A great program of apprenticeship for boys and girls in the 19th century""

[stephenjohnbanker]

""Give Your Box Lunch Away To The Illegal Immigrant Day""

[Republic Rocker]

But what is scarey is the voters here will adopt this...... there is a total take over going on here and in Los Angeles mayor Villa-GROSS-a is campaigning hard for all his illegal followers......... "let the wealthy American pay more for all the children of immigrants here in California..."

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

We already have the much touted "Headstart" program that by 3rd grade testing shows provides no benefits to education. We don't need these programs, but if we have them, there should be more of an emphasis on teaching something.