Washtenaw Success by 6 and United Way are fighting for equity in education
James Corey
Essentially the United States has a modern caste system. Children born into poverty have little chance of getting out of poverty without some form of formal education prior to grade school.
With the average cost of quality daycare and preschool hovering around $10,000 a year, how can a parent making below $20,000 afford to give their child the type of preschool training they will need to be successful in school? They can’t, and they have no choice but to find the cheapest alternative - perhaps an elderly neighbor or an out-of-work relative, who will serve as substitute educator and may have the best intentions, but their lack of training, will become apparent in a few short years.
Therefore we doom these children - these unseen, these unknown - by sealing their fate before the age of 5. For these children, it is too late. They are 30 percent more likely to become a teen parent, twice as likely to be placed in special education and 70 percent more likely to commit a violent crime. This “caste system” forces us to abandon the creed that “all men are created equal”, because it is too expensive to ensure equality at birth.
My resolution for the New Year, I will fight this injustice. I will fight this trend. “Success by 6” is desperately trying to combat the influx of helpless children. Washtenaw Success by 6 is an educational organization with the mission to ensure that every child in Washtenaw County will start school ready to succeed.
With the loss of manufacturing jobs, the ensuing banking crisis, and our country focused on the economic bailout, we have lost sight of a gap that continues to grow. The income gap - the gap of rich versus poor - that parallels the achievement gap in schools. The gap that means children in poor school districts will drop out or graduate with few skills to make it in our modern economy.
The caste system is here in our country and will only worsen if we choose to ignore it. Instead choose to Live United.
Fight for children by advocating for Success by 6, volunteer to mentor a child or a young parent, and give all you can to help us stop this injustice from continuing. You can learn more about Success by 6 at www.washtenawsuccessby6.org. To make a donation or become involved visit our website at www.uwwashtenaw.org or email education@uwwashtenaw.org to learn more.
James Corey is an account executive at The United Way of Washtenaw County.
Comments
Basic Bob
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 8:04 p.m.
"The U.S. is now a highly stratified class society." And nowhere is the stratification more apparent than the one between public sector workers and everyone else.
Killroy
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.
My momma always said that you have nothing good to say, say nothing?! "Washtenaw Success by 6" is a great start-up organization and they deserve our full support!
Bill Sloan
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 9:43 a.m.
Who are these kids? I'd like to know something about the demographics beyond "children of poverty who's parent or parents can't afford expensive pre-school." Are they from single or two-parent homes? Are they provided a regular healthy diet? Is there a father present? How many siblings are in the home? Are they provided appropriate medication when needed? Were they nursed as infants? Are their parents literate? And so forth. Our new governor talks a lot about "changing cultures." Changing the culture that amounts to child abuse by default from which unprepared children come would be an important place to start.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 7:21 a.m.
welcome to the peanut gallery "speechless". Your allegations in your last paragraph are completely unfounded based on anything written in this forum.
Speechless
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 11:49 p.m.
The U.S. is now a highly stratified class society. Over the last thirty years or more, in the name of the so-called free market, this country has gradually returned to a world more similar to that of Charles Dickens and Scrooge than to what existed here just 40 years ago. In 2011, the living standards of 1971 have become unimaginable and unattainable for most Americans. As the article doesn't quite state directly, the radical growth in income inequality is the driving force behind inequality in educational opportunities. Yes, it can certainly help to offer charity and assistance through non-profit private or public sources to improve access to preschools among low income families. But that confonts only one small corner of a malignant and increasingly major social ill, and it would be more effective as part of a far larger, generalized war on poverty and inequality. Just like forty years ago. As for Corey's sniping critics up above in this peanut gallery, the writer can rest assured that the root of his "problem" is merely ideological. If instead he promoted a church-run program employing low-paid, non-union teachers who instructed their 4-year-old charges in the divine science of creationism, his critics might well shift gears. They'd regard him as a social hero beyond criticism. If he called for vouchers, their cheers would become deafening.
West Side Mom
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 10:22 p.m.
If you think early childhood education is an important to our community's long-term success, consider donating to Perry Nursery School of Ann Arbor. Perry offers a high quality preschool program that is heavily subsidized by grants and private giving, and has been doing so for 75 years. Check out their website: http://www.perrynurseryschool.org.
stunhsif
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
I must agree with Rocky and say this opinion piece is bizarre. In a sense it totally slams K through 12 education because if kids don't get "a formal education prior to grade school" they will never get out of poverty. On the other hand, it is obvious this writer is in love with public education. This opinion piece solidify's my reasoning for dumping United Way years ago for my charitable giving. My money goes to the Salvation Army and Purple Heart.
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 6:36 p.m.
Perhaps professional educators are attempting to increase their business? Step one is to create a need in the customer's mind...whether that need is real or not. Society has always been stratified. Mostly, much more than now. To compare the States to a caste system suggests ignorance of the caste system. We are so not a caste system.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 5:32 p.m.
just wondering@ "I'm really interested in finding a helpful and positive comment, Rocky. Do you make them?" I may hide behind a fake avatar "just wondering" but trust me when I say I don't hide behind a fake name. And as to a positive comment I did make one. More of a suggestion in my 3rd post. "Is it possible that rather than viewing kids without a $10,000 preschool experience as "behind" we should view kids with a $10,000 preschool experience as "ahead" and just send them straight to first grade?" But mostly I have questions evidently without answers. What exactly are you folks teaching 5 year olds now that is different from 20 years ago? I am hoping to hear some specifics other than "there are differing challenges" or "Kindergarten becoming increasingly more academic". We are talking 5 year olds. Is it not possible that these youngsters with $10,000 preschool essentially just had kindergarten a year early? I am struggling to believe any/every kid is hopelessly behind at 5 years old if their parents couldn't afford 10 grand for preschool.
Cold
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 4:50 p.m.
Then all those tax dollars for Head Start were wasted.
sh1
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 4:09 p.m.
Sheesh, so much negativism. I support the author's efforts to provide preschool for the families who need it.
AlphaAlpha
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 3:44 p.m.
It's odd that two authors are listed. "Essentially the United States has a modern caste system." Really? "Children born into poverty have little chance of getting out of poverty without some form of formal education prior to grade school." What does this say for 'grade school'? This opinion piece has too many inconsistencies and erroneous assertions to address. Likely some or most of the upportive comments are submitted by professional preschool educators. One need not spend $10K-$20K on professional preschool education to help youngsters get along in the world. Tangentially, if you want to help youngsters, feed them human milk instead of 'formula'. Numerous studies are clear: it is one of the best choices any adult cam make for their newborns. And, Mr's. Corey and Peeples will be glad to know, it provides an academic advantage as well.
Muskus
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.
As a middle school educator, I can attest that the rigors and challenges faced by students in the 21st century (regardless of grade level or institution) are growing increasingly more academic and intense. The best way to prepare our children and students for this new age is to create an early opportunity for them to develop a love of learning that will inspire them to take advantage of the great public (or private) education this country can provide. Even with the very best of teachers, those students who do not have the base of an early childhood education and a motivation to learn tend not to be prepared for the challenges to come. Success by 6 sounds like a notable initiative that will only serve to help our children and students love learning and embrace the challenges they will face in the future. I commend your resolution to address this achievement gap.
just wondering
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 3:17 p.m.
Excellent article about an important subject. We have an opportunity here to support a program that will benefit our children or we can pick it apart on philosophical grounds. It is difficult for me to criticize anyone who would choose Rocky the Flying Squirrel as a symbol, but as someone who also had children in kindergarten 20 years ago and has worked in the field since, there are differing challenges today even if we would prefer to return to the days of watching Bullwinkle after school. Take the opportunity to see what you can do to make this a better community even if it is just seeing what is really out there. I'm really interested in finding a helpful and positive comment, Rocky. Do you make them?
stunhsif
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.
James Corey said: "With the average cost of quality daycare and preschool hovering around $10,000 a year, how can a parent making below $20,000 afford to give their child the type of preschool training they will need to be successful in school? They cant" So make everyone else pay for your idea of "formal education before grade school"? A better question might be why are people having children when they cannot even support themselves? Most of us ( thank goodness) wait for years and sacrifice worldly goods to plan for having children when we can afford to provide for them. If kids are doomed before the age of 5 ( as you say), what does this say for the next 13 years of public education Mr. Corey? Nothing positive, that is for certain!
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
Is it possible that rather than viewing kids without a $10,000 preschool experience as "behind" we should view kids with a $10,000 preschool experience as "ahead" and just send them straight to first grade? If kindergarten is getting that academically challenging why aren't we seeing better results 13 years later? Maybe kids are suffering "academic burn out" by 6th or 7th grade?
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 2:18 p.m.
"...average cost of quality daycare and preschool hovering around $10,000 a year,..." "Therefore we doom these children - these unseen, these unknown - by sealing their fate before the age of 5. For these children, it is too late." So if a kid doesn't go to a $10,000 a year nursery school they are doomed?
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 2:13 p.m.
kinderpro, My kids haven't been in kindergarten for more than 20 years so pardon my ignorance but why is kindergarten becoming "increasingly more academic"? What in the way of "academics" is different now than 20 years ago for a 5 year old?
corey002
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 1:35 p.m.
Totally agree! Great column.
corey002
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 1:34 p.m.
I completely agree with this column. Preschool education is vital to future success and should be available to all children. The United Way is wonderful to support this program!
kinderpro
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 1:28 p.m.
As a Kindergarten teacher I find that students who begin the year without formal preschool education are already behind their fellow classmates. With Kindergarten becoming increasingly more academic, it is essential that students begin the year with basic skills. An organization such as "Success by 6" can help eliminate this early achievement gap. It is an excellent organization, and I fully support their initiative.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.
I would contend the problem isn't the lack of "some form of formal education prior to grade school" rather the problem a lack of parental expectation and support once they hit kindergarten. This may be one of the most bizarre columns I have ever read.
dotdash
Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 12:15 p.m.
That sounds like a wonderful organization. As a Mom who remembers how hard it is to balance the needs of her children against the financial constraints and emotional and physical demands of child-raising, I sympathize deeply with struggling young families. Some of their struggles one cannot do anything about, but early childhood education is a solution that can be provided by caring communities. A small investment of money now makes a huge difference later -- research on HeadStart shows this clearly. And for working parents, the relief of knowing your child is safe and well-cared-for while you are at work is a blessing in itself. What a great way to support our young families.