Invest in our future by funding preschool
04/24/2011 -
GUEST OPINION: Invest in our future by funding preschool
By URMILA SHENDE and ARI HAUPTMAN
The Press Democrat Published: Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, April 22, 2011 at 1:04 p.m.
Preschool makes a big difference for children. As busy pediatricians who take care of a diverse socioeconomic population, we are alarmed and concerned about the dwindling resources available for early childhood education in this county as well as the state of California at large.
The disparity between the financially stable, privileged community and the less fortunate, underserved population underlies the basis for which educational inequalities exist in our school system.
Quality early childhood development programs, child care and preschool can make a huge difference between thriving in school and undesirable alternatives — school failure, teenage pregnancy, drug use, gang involvement. Studies have shown that children in preschool even have a more healthy body-mass index, a key indicator of obesity.
We are amazed how many of our patients are not prepared for kindergarten. They do not know their numbers, letters, colors or how to spell and write their name. In some communities, there is often no access or knowledge about the importance of preschool and the availability of it.
Furthermore, once children are behind in kindergarten, they stay behind for the rest of their school careers. With the growing demographic changes in our society, it is so important for us to encourage and support early childhood development and preschool for a better educated and more stable community.
In our own practice, we have had great patient interactions, seeing 3-year-olds who have just started preschool and suddenly are positive, excited and more engaged than they were in prior visits. The parents attributed the change in their behavior, and even in their eating patterns (healthier foods), to their preschool experience and are themselves more engaged with their child.
The sudden interaction and interest in books they demonstrate while in the exam room is enlightening. Furthermore, when these parents are engaged regarding their child's potential and interest in learning, the dynamics in the parent-child interaction also change. Studies show that they in turn are more involved in their child's school as time goes on, a win-win situation.
The tragic state of our California budget is forcing us all to make sacrifices and forcing our politicians to cut programs and taxes.
However, nothing seems more shortsighted and irrational than cutting funds that support child care, early childhood development and preschool — especially for those without the resources to provide this basic need to their children.
Because we are advocates for children and their families, we have become intimately invested and dedicated to a valuable organization in our community, 4Cs, or the Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County.
The 4Cs is a nonprofit organization that operates 13 child development centers and preschools and is dedicated to supporting and providing quality, accessible and affordable preschool and child care so that children are prepared for school and life success. The investment made in children now helps ensure the economic development and sustainability of our community for the future.
The funding for the priceless services that the 4Cs provides to our community has already been drastically cut in the last state budget cycle and is now slated for further cuts. We urge you, the citizens, as well as our politicians to prevent further cuts by approving and supporting a California tax extension.
The 2011-12 budget year has upward of a 35 percent cut to preschool programs, and, without the tax extensions, there may be more reductions to services.
You can learn more and provide support by visiting www.sonoma4cs.org.
Urmila Shende and Ari Hauptman are physicians and members of the Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County.
Preschool makes a big difference for children. As busy pediatricians who take care of a diverse socioeconomic population, we are alarmed and concerned about the dwindling resources available for early childhood education in this county as well as the state of California at large.
The disparity between the financially stable, privileged community and the less fortunate, underserved population underlies the basis for which educational inequalities exist in our school system.
Quality early childhood development programs, child care and preschool can make a huge difference between thriving in school and undesirable alternatives — school failure, teenage pregnancy, drug use, gang involvement. Studies have shown that children in preschool even have a more healthy body-mass index, a key indicator of obesity.
We are amazed how many of our patients are not prepared for kindergarten. They do not know their numbers, letters, colors or how to spell and write their name. In some communities, there is often no access or knowledge about the importance of preschool and the availability of it.
Furthermore, once children are behind in kindergarten, they stay behind for the rest of their school careers. With the growing demographic changes in our society, it is so important for us to encourage and support early childhood development and preschool for a better educated and more stable community.
In our own practice, we have had great patient interactions, seeing 3-year-olds who have just started preschool and suddenly are positive, excited and more engaged than they were in prior visits. The parents attributed the change in their behavior, and even in their eating patterns (healthier foods), to their preschool experience and are themselves more engaged with their child.
The sudden interaction and interest in books they demonstrate while in the exam room is enlightening. Furthermore, when these parents are engaged regarding their child's potential and interest in learning, the dynamics in the parent-child interaction also change. Studies show that they in turn are more involved in their child's school as time goes on, a win-win situation.
The tragic state of our California budget is forcing us all to make sacrifices and forcing our politicians to cut programs and taxes.
However, nothing seems more shortsighted and irrational than cutting funds that support child care, early childhood development and preschool — especially for those without the resources to provide this basic need to their children.
Because we are advocates for children and their families, we have become intimately invested and dedicated to a valuable organization in our community, 4Cs, or the Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County.
The 4Cs is a nonprofit organization that operates 13 child development centers and preschools and is dedicated to supporting and providing quality, accessible and affordable preschool and child care so that children are prepared for school and life success. The investment made in children now helps ensure the economic development and sustainability of our community for the future.
The funding for the priceless services that the 4Cs provides to our community has already been drastically cut in the last state budget cycle and is now slated for further cuts. We urge you, the citizens, as well as our politicians to prevent further cuts by approving and supporting a California tax extension.
The 2011-12 budget year has upward of a 35 percent cut to preschool programs, and, without the tax extensions, there may be more reductions to services.
You can learn more and provide support by visiting www.sonoma4cs.org.
Urmila Shende and Ari Hauptman are physicians and members of the Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County.
Related Links:
Press Democrat, Close to Home: Invest in our future by funding preschool
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