Quality Programs for All Children

Throughout the years, public opinion on early care and education programs for children has varied. In the 1920s, nursery schools (preschool programs) were designed to care for children from middle class families. In the 1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a War on Poverty, leading to the creation of programs to serve children from disadvantaged families (i.e., Head Start). However, prior to either of these programs was the development of kindergarten education, which served to prepare children to transition into formal schooling and to provide an extra year of education before children began working at age eleven (Laureate Education, 2018).

Current public opinion favors the original intent of kindergarten, which is to prepare children for entrance into formal education. However, we now also realize the long term benefits of providing quality early childhood care and education to all children. Research shows that children in poverty are exposed to factors that impact brain development and cognitive functioning, as well as social and emotional functioning. These children are more likely to have a parent with depression, malnutrition, trauma, abuse, and low-quality childcare. Children from low-income families are also more likely to battle chronic illnesses and mental health problems (Child Trends Data Bank, 2016).

Investing our resources to equalize the playing field for all children can lead to more positive economic outcomes. Targeting disadvantaged children and their families can reduce the achievement gap, the need for special education, and the crime rate, while also leading to healthier lifestyles and a higher investment return (Heckman, 2011). This investment is theorized to also create a better prepared and better trained future workforce, thus securing the economic future of our nation.

I hope that over the next five years, public opinion will continue to be influenced by all of the positive benefits provided through early childhood education strands of service. I hope that quality monitoring will become mandatory for all programs. I hope that educators will require more training and will in return receive higher compensation. I hope that people will recognize areas in which we fall short and advocate for stronger policies and better resources. I believe the related implications for children, their families, and our field will include an increased interest in serving in the field, better health, education, and development for children, and a more involved parenting style.

References

Child Trends Data Bank. (2016). Children in poverty: Indicators of child and youth well-being. Retrieved from https://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/04_Poverty.pdf

Heckman, J. J. (2011). The economics of inequality: The value of early childhood education. American Educator, 35(1), 31-35. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ920516.pdf

Laureate Education. (2018). Historical overview of early childhood systems: Head Start/Early Head Start. [Interactive Media]. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6765/02/mm/historical_overview/index.html