Today’s article from Intellectual Takeout Dale Farran spent a decade studying over 1,000 kids who went to a state-run pre-kindergarten—and a control group of kids that wanted to, but didn’t get in. She is shocked and dismayed by what she discovered: By 6th grade the pre-K kids were doing worse all around: worse reading, math and science scores; more learning disorders; and more discipline problems, including serious ones that got them suspended. “It really has required a lot of soul-searching,” Farran told Anya Kamenetz on NPR. Now she’s pondering “what were plausible reasons that may account for this.” One theory she has is that the free pre-K doesn’t look like pricey … [Read more...]
A top researcher says it’s time to rethink our entire approach to preschool
When did we (did we?) decide children could no longer be children and take their time growing up? When did we decide (who is we?) that time to play, socialize and explore the world wasn't ok for pre-K and kindergartners? The article is long so grab a cup of coffee or tea or your favorite beverage and take a few minutes to read and ponder. Today we bring you as story worth reading. Coming to you from NPR and written by Anya Kamenetz. Dale Farran has been studying early childhood education for half a century. Yet her most recent scientific publication has made her question everything she thought she knew. "It really has required a lot of soul-searching, a lot of reading of the … [Read more...]
When School Is Closed: Resources to Keep Kids Learning at Home
Let's be honest...school districts and the State Superintendent of Schools were caught with their pants down when schools were closed for the rest of the academic year. Some have been trying to come up with content. Some suggest parents and students look for themselves. Most of any content is predicated on the availability of a computer and an internet connection. Some school districts have extra computers to lend and others don't. So we've been looking to see if we can find content (if you have a computer and internet connection). We came across a site called: Reading Rockets (click the name on the left to open a link to their site). For those who prefer to see what they offer we share some … [Read more...]
Numbers show no benefit from pre-K education: Rosemond
As summer begins to wind down parents of young children are getting ready to take their toddler(s) to pre-school. Early education initiatives have been pushed by states as a way to better prepare children for later school. These programs are also the equivalent of daycare paid for by the public. We've run articles questioning the value and potential harm to young children from such programs. We cited data that is collected and goes into the permanent record of the child that can affect their educational choices and opportunities (not for the good). In today's shared article written by John Rosemond (and originally published in the Reno Gazette Journal) he shares some dark secrets that you … [Read more...]
Negative Effects of Early Learning on Student Education and Performance – White Paper
School Districts have adopted Early Learning or Pre-K programs as solutions to their perception of preparing children for school. They believe that the investment makes sense and that children benefit for the rest of their lives. There are several “meta analysis” (reviews of a bunch of studies and then coming up with an interpretation) that they claim are definitive. So, we decided to gather studies that suggest negative impacts. This is our form of “meta analysis”. It’s critical that parents and the community understand the implications (mental and financial) of such programs. Psychology Today … [Read more...]
Another Study Reveals Pre-K May Hurt Kids Over Time
Recently we prepared a White Paper gathering studies that suggest Early Learning (Pre-K) may actually produce negative results with children. School districts around the nation support Pre-K because it brings them additional revenue, requires more employees, expands control...and for a host of other reasons. Shortly after we produced our White Paper (which we will share soon) we came across the following article that touches on the same topic. So, without further ado...from Intellectual Takeout (Annie Holmquist)... Sending young children to school at the age of three or four is increasingly becoming the norm for American parents. The fact is, everyone wants to see their child succeed, … [Read more...]
The Gates Foundation wants YOUR children’s complete education data history
If you have been on of our readers you know that we've shared concerns about government and private companies wanting to know your child through data. Common Core was a private effort to control education and gather data supported by The Gates Foundation. That didn't work out so well...but...try try again. Today we bring you an article by Diane Ravitch. She walks us through the newest initiative and the implications. Oh...btw: Congress is voting on creating a national database to track students...money apparently does buy control. Click this link. The Gates Foundation has also announced that the creation of a centralized federal database to track students from preK through … [Read more...]
Is NPR Pushing Propaganda about the Benefits of Preschool?
If you've been following our blog you've seen the materials we've shared about the costs and impact of pre-K programs. We've told you about the cost, how it's a way to start gathering data on your child, how they begin pushing learning too early, how children are not allowed to be children, how by 3rd grade it's almost impossible to tell who went to pre-K and who didn't...all of this and how some additional information. Today we bring you a story from Intellectual Takeout (Annie Holmquist) where she shares some information about NPR's apparent attempt to convince parents pre-K is good by leaving out information. You be the judge. The other day, NPR published an article on … [Read more...]
20 PreK-12 Education Programs Trump’s Proposed Budget Eliminates
There is a lot of money spent on Pre-Kindergarten education under the guise of helping prepare the youngest to perform better in school. The studies say that by 3rd grade you can't tell the difference between those who received the special help and those who didn't. The money that's spent produces little or no value. 2017 and the new budget proposal by the administration proposes changes in the Pre-K funding. The following information comes to us from an article that appeared in Truth in American Education...There are 20 programs. It's a bit of reading but worth the time. 21st Century Learning Centers (- $1,164,500,000) The 21st CCLC program enables communities to establish or … [Read more...]
Pre-K: Destroying children and teachers – A True Story
For those of you who know of or read articles by Diane Ravitch at her blog you will enjoy...bad choice of words...lament this story... This is the story of a teacher in New York who taught pre-K for 16 years at the same school. The teacher tells their story about how the educational system has changed so much it has become such a chore and so inflexible they gave up and retired. This is a letter Diane received. I have been following you for the last 10 years and am in awe of your continued efforts to turn public education in the right direction. I read your article this morning about a teacher who had had enough. It could have been my story. I am a retired NYC … [Read more...]