This topic contains 3 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by Julie Jumes 10 years ago.
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"Texas needs targeted, not universal, pre-K"
Started by MC Lambeth
“If individual school districts in Texas want universal pre-K, they can have it. But they’ll have to pay for it – even if the state can help defray some of that cost.”
MC Lambeth
Policy, Texans for Greg AbbottYou will need to login to join the discussion.3RepliesJulie Jumes, 10 years ago
Doesn’t offering money for a state defined “Gold Standard PreK,” with much freedom in how districts use the money, set younger children (toddlers/babies/in utero) up for benchmark testing like the pressure filled, early elementary benchmarks so many parents hate now?
Re: Comments last week made in the other thread that the “Testing is not out of control.” How about doing a poll of parents (the customer?) on that? No doubt many politicians believe they are Pearson’s customer and EVERYTHING, especially tax payer’s money and our children’s time, is very much under control (theirs).
Denise Quiros Nobs, 10 years ago
I agree with Julie James’ concerns. What are the indicators that the prek programs are achieving their goals? I believe a good prek program creates an environment for the inquisitive, to teach social skills especially for those in At Risk environments, and to be proactive in early assessment of developmental issues that may cause problems in the elementary setting. Well qualified, creative, warm and energetic teachers and aides should be employed in these settings. There is nothing more miserable than to see folks in our schools who are there for a paycheck and do not grasp the great task of elevating these little ones.
Julie Jumes, 10 years ago
We once left “the great task of elevating these little ones” to parents, churches and communities. Is our state government truly better equipped to define a “Gold Standard PreK” for elevating these fearfully and wonderfully made, individual little image bearers? How about we start using technology to put options in the hands of adults to whom these little ones matter most, instead of creating more systems to profile and fit them into a predefined mold?
I don’t think my oldest son was reading at grade level in the third grade. All three of my boys read later than my girls and I never labeled one of them with a standardized test. By the time my oldest was a junior in high school he had written a published casebook and won a national debate competition. He took upper level college accounting classes his Sr year in high school and graduated with 70 hours toward a bachelor’s in accounting which he completed debt free at 19yo. By the grace of God, he loves to read, learn and work and relates well to diverse people.
If the Tutt Case is any indication, I was at huge risk of having this kid removed from my home, tested and placed with total strangers, because he wouldn’t have tested at grade level (like many of his 8 & 9yo public schooled peers). Rouge judges are seemingly given that authority with the focus on “Gold Standards.”
Defining and enforcing a “Gold Standard PreK” is yet another hit to parental rights: the right to steward our money and their time more wisely.
