Early Childhood Education

I was recently asked to sign a petition to better fund early childhood education. I have to admit, though, that talk of early childhood education always raises mixed emotions in me. On the one hand, how could I not want to give disadvantaged youth the opportunity for quality early childhood education. And there is good research on the both how it can make a difference and on the real lack of it for many children.

But there in the rub. What is quality early childhood education? Over the past decade we have seen kindergarten turn into first grade. A place of worksheets and formal direct instruction. A place where children quickly learn whether they are "good" or "poor" students. Where they are put into the "fast" or the "slow" group.

Yes research after research study, as well as comparisons to other countries have shown that earlier is not better. Countries that start formal teaching of literacy later tend to actually do better at literacy over the years. Comparative studies of developmental early education versus formal instruction has shown similar results - developmental forms that do not stress formal teaching leads to better lasting results.

But when I heard of expanded early education, I see that in this county what that likely may mean is early formal instruction, early sorting kids into who is seen as good at school and those who are not, creating self-fulling prophesy, and taking away a time that should be for children to explore their world, and learn to socialize and play.

If early childhood education means a time kids received supportive opportunities to be involved in play, exploration of materials, exposure to wonderful stories and print, to interact with playmates in a safe and supportive environment, I am all for it.

If it means starting "first grade" at 3 or 4, then might we be doing more harm then good?

So it is with such fears that I hear talk of expanded early childhood education.