Original Letter
Solid investment
Editor: I was pleased to read about Sen. Bob Casey Jr.’s plan for increased preschool funding.Response
In a liberal arts literacy course, I researched the impact of pre-kindergarten education on literacy and related outcomes. The United States has been late to realize early education’s potential to shrink the socio-economic gap between students at various levels of privilege. In many countries, children as young as two years begin formal schooling. Research shows that French students who entered preschool at age three exhibited better behavior and higher academic achievement in the first and second grades. They were also less likely to be held back at later grade levels than students who started at age five.
Education is among a democracy’s most valuable assets and it should be available as early as possible — without cost. Mr. Casey’s work can make our nation aware of the unfortunate truth that some children are already “left behind” by age six. Hopefully his new legislation will motivate both Pennsylvania and the United States to adopt the new international norm for early childhood education.
REBECCA DOWD GEOFFROY
JERMYN
Lifetime process
Editor: In supplement to Ms. Dowd-Geoffroy’s (June 8) letter referring to the importance of early childhood education as being a “valuable asset” to democracy, may I add one thought to bolster her (and Sen. Bob Casey’s) argument. Lest we forget, education should not be thought of as a stock as much as it should be considered a flow. Education — in all forms — must be present throughout one’s life to not only enrich our lives but also add to the social trust that makes American democracy and civil society the most unique and dynamic form of governance found around the world today.
The writer’s example of closing the corrosive “socio-economic gap” by strengthening democratic institutions is not simply the function of early childhood education efforts and increased budget lines as she (and Sen. Casey) may very well know. In order to cure the social ills that afflict this country and to preserve our national ideals for future generations, citizens must be in a constant educational process that fosters progress and a search for the truth.
With federal funding receding at all levels of education (the perennially endangered Pell Grants and Head Start programs come to mind) strong, viable democratic institutions are not only thwarted at a pre-kindergarten level, but downright undermined from a failing system at all levels — including higher education.
MICHAEL A. STERCHAK
FOREST CITY
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