The high cost of preschool

Maybe there can be a compromise. Universal preschool with tuition on a graduated scale depending on parents income. In Japan 90% of children attend preschool. It's probably one of the reasons they outdo American kids at all levels despite lower cost per student and larger student to teacher ratios.

Preschool helps in the development of a child's brain functions, particularly the inhibitory control center. This is significant in helping children cope with a structured classroom setting. If this part of a child's brain is poorly developed, children fail, even those kids that have IQs., because they don't cope well.

We need qualified teachers in early childhood development. We need to subsidize the programs and we need to make it available for every child, including the child born to a middle class family.

Vic of 1:10PM June 20, 2008