Does Pre-K Even Matter?

Helen Giddings column “Community colleges can help ease Dallas’ early education crisis” was published in the Dallas News on Feb 22,2016.

 Giddings expresses her concern how many Texas school are lacking pre-K programs, and how community colleges can help with the lack of teachers needed for these pre-K programs.

Although I do agree with some of Giddings approach with the early education crisis in Texas, there are also some aspects I feel we should address that would drastically impact our children of the future.

Texas was approved for a grant of $130 million to strengthen pre-K programs. Giddings stated that “Unfortunately, this victory was not nearly enough” meaning that the grant, Texas was approved for, just wasn’t enough. In Dallas county there are about 39,000 eligible children from the ages of 3-4 are un-enrolled in a pre-K program. Giddings writes about how 90% of a child’s brain develops by the age of 5, and how it would be “unacceptable for Dallas kids to be denied quality education.”

Giddings also filed HB 3836 allowing certain junior colleges to offer a bachelor’s degree for early childhood education. Although the bill was struck down, Giddings claims that HB 3836 would have created more high quality teachers, that Texas is in need, for these pre-K programs.

In my opinion starting at the foundation of how a child learns is crucial. Giddings makes many logical points, targeting parents/guardians, as to why we need more funding for these pre-K programs. Texas should invest more money so all children can receive quality early education and educate the caretakers.

Children learn from what they see and not what they are told to do. How can a child have that support, leadership and direction if their caretakers are completely uninvolved with their education and after school activities?