From the Escanaba Daily Press about investing in early education.
Mr Millett may be right on his assumptions but I have something to ask. Aren't we already investing plenty of money in education per student? Could it be we are not getting a good return from what we are paying? While most people were living with less during this recession, how many teachers voted for a wage freeze? How many teachers asked for a pay cut? How many school boards threatened to take away sports, band, busing, etc., etc., to increase taxes to increase teachers salaries? Do the leaders of teachers unions and their rank and file really care about the children or is it all a show to get more money?
Maybe if the union leaders would expect more from their people we would not be in this mess like "72 percent of 17 to 24-year-olds do not meet the basic minimum standards
required for military service."
To keep throwing money at teachers or throw more money at early childhood education will not solve the problems we have today.
What juniors and seniors in high school are taught money education? How to balance a check book. How to read the fine print on a credit card statement. How much interest you pay on loans? The amount of taxes taken out of a pay check by federal, state and local government. How much local sales taxes do you pay that most people don't even think about?
But no, they teach our children how to find their inner self. They play games and don't keep score. They can't where shirts with the American flag on it. They are taught how to overthrow the US government! They know more about face book or twitter then what is in the US constitution!
Yes we need better early education for children but why don't we hold our teachers accountable for what they teach now? Maybe if we see progress we can take the next step.
More money in early child education will not solve the problems we have with education.
"Wise investment
Speaker says early childhood education essential for business, economy to thrive
By Dionna Harris
POSTED: May 15, 2010
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Email: "Wise investment"
ESCANABA - If America has any chance of regaining its advantage as a global leader, changes in education perceptions must be made.
That was the message delivered Friday by Bill Millett during a presentation held at the House of Ludington. Millett is the founder of the Charlotte, N.C.-based Scope View Strategic Advantage. Millett's firm deals primarily with business and economic development. However, Millett has an intense personal interest in children's issues dealing with quality early education.
Millett's presentation, "Early Childhood Education; A Competitive Necessity in a Global Economy" was sponsored by the Delta-Schoolcraft Great Start Collaborative.
"Currently one third of all college students are taking remedial classes," said Millett. "Among high school students, the dropout rate is 30 percent."
Millett said, during the past 25 years, Americans have become complacent about early childhood education. This complacency has led to other countries surpassing the U.S. in the global market.
"Children today are facing a much more competitive world than it was 25 years ago. There is a finite number of jobs and more and more people are chasing those job opportunities," said Millett.
He said children today are living in a global and cognitive age.
One problem, he explained, is too much of education today is dedicated to memorization. There is a lack of practical application and collaboration for problem solving.
The solution, said Millett, is to invest time and resources to improve kindergarten through 12th grade education in the United States.
Millett added the economic and social costs not only to individuals, but communities, are too great to ignore.
Research revealed the capacity for developmental skills begins within the first five years of life, said Millett. Creativity, communication, team working, problem solving and critical thinking skills are beginning.
"These studies reflect the need for children to enter kindergarten prepared to learn. Unfortunately, too few young children today are prepared with these tools when they enter kindergarten," said Millett.
"A study was conducted between 1962 and 1967, where preschool teachers worked extensively with children from low-income families," said Millett.
The results reflected that after 40-years, almost one-half of the preschool children performed at grade level by age 14, with 60-percent earning nearly $20,000 per year.
"When the higher number of school grades completed was factored in, along with lower rates of criminal activity, reduced time spent in prison and other factors, the benefit to cost ratio was approximately $17 for every $1 invested," said Millett.
He said early childhood education offers greater potential returns with less risk. Unfortunately, early childhood development programs are rarely portrayed as economic development initiatives, which is a mistake, according to Millett.
Millett said for companies to become more competitive, an educated workforce is necessary. Aggressive preschool training for children, especially those from troubled homes, can yield extraordinary results for families and society.
"If early childhood education programs appear at all, they are at the bottom of the economic development lists for state and local governments. They should be at the top," said Millett. "America's continuing efforts to improve education and develop a world-class workforce will be hampered without federal and state commitments to early childhood education."
The plight of education regarding early childhood education is not only being seen in the global market, but also in America's military strength.
Research indicates 72 percent of 17 to 24-year-olds do not meet the basic minimum standards required for military service.
"We must invest now in the next generation to preserve our nation's security, freedom and opportunity. This includes fully funding early childhood education programs," said Millett."
Wise investment - DailyPress.net | News, Sports, Jobs, Escanaba Information | The Daily Press
Mr Millett may be right on his assumptions but I have something to ask. Aren't we already investing plenty of money in education per student? Could it be we are not getting a good return from what we are paying? While most people were living with less during this recession, how many teachers voted for a wage freeze? How many teachers asked for a pay cut? How many school boards threatened to take away sports, band, busing, etc., etc., to increase taxes to increase teachers salaries? Do the leaders of teachers unions and their rank and file really care about the children or is it all a show to get more money?
Maybe if the union leaders would expect more from their people we would not be in this mess like "72 percent of 17 to 24-year-olds do not meet the basic minimum standards
required for military service."
To keep throwing money at teachers or throw more money at early childhood education will not solve the problems we have today.
What juniors and seniors in high school are taught money education? How to balance a check book. How to read the fine print on a credit card statement. How much interest you pay on loans? The amount of taxes taken out of a pay check by federal, state and local government. How much local sales taxes do you pay that most people don't even think about?
But no, they teach our children how to find their inner self. They play games and don't keep score. They can't where shirts with the American flag on it. They are taught how to overthrow the US government! They know more about face book or twitter then what is in the US constitution!
Yes we need better early education for children but why don't we hold our teachers accountable for what they teach now? Maybe if we see progress we can take the next step.
More money in early child education will not solve the problems we have with education.
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