Comments from an article I read on the NIEER website (www.nieer.org)
“Kito (Rep. Sam Kito, D-Juneau) also spoke on a failed amendments to restore pre-kindergarten and Parents As Teachers funding. Kito said he would have benefited from Parents As Teachers as a new parent.”
“Without state funding, the Juneau program will disappear, its director said in a previous Empire report.”
“Gattis, chair of the House Finance subcommittee on education, read aloud from the Alaska Constitution and pointed out that the state does not have an obligation to provide pre-kindergarten.”
“Parents are teachers,” she said. “We don’t need a program to be a teacher of our kids.”
“Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, said pre-kindergarten wasn’t around when he was in school and is an unnecessary expense in tight times.”
“How about pre-pre-school?” he said. “How about pre-pre-pre? How far back do you start? Do you start education in the maternity ward?” Retrieved from http://juneauempire.com/state/2015-03-13/house-shoots-down-added-funding-pre-k-uas-ferries
The comments by Chairwoman Gattis and Representative Lynn are disheartening to me, but probably typical of many politicians who are not informed about educational research and the needs of children from birth. Reading articles like this motivates me to be politically active and to educate decision makers about the needs of children.
I wanted to know more about the Parents as Teachers program they mentioned and found the following information.
Parents
as Teachers
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an
early childhood parent education and family support program designed to empower
parents to give their children the best possible start in life. Home visits and
group socializations are offered to families in 19 communities across the
state. The PAT approach is to support all children so that they will learn,
grow and develop to realize their full potential.
An advisory board serves to evaluate
current services and explore expanding services. Advisory board members are
representatives from community agencies, Native organizations and community
Elders. RurAL CAP also houses the Alaska PAT State Office.
Napaskiak Parents as Teachers mother
and child.
Retrieved from http://ruralcap.com/?page_id=48
This program reminds me of the Pastoral del Nino
program in Paraguay that we read about for our Week 1 Application
assignment. Both programs are ways to
empower parents with practical information and materials to help in their
child’s early development.
Stuart, J. M.,
Berghout Austin, A. M., Peairson, S., de Aquino, C., & de Burró, E. (2010).
Fostering Child Development through Empowerment, Unity, and Cooperation. YC:
Young Children, 65(6), 32-37. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
I love the idea of the parents as teachers program! I have been trying to start a parents group led by the teachers at our center with similar goals. Not only does it make the child's life easier, having the same expectations and learning tools at home and school, but it is also a more effective way of teaching/learning and it makes our lives a little easier as teachers if we are being backed up by the parents!
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