Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Sunday, March 02, 2003 Page: 2B
OPINION
IF IT’S WORKING, DON’T BREAK IT. THAT’S WHAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WILL
DO WITH A PROPOSAL TO TRANSFORM HEAD START FROM A SUCCESSFUL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
FOCUSING ON EDUCATION INTO A BROAD LITERACY PROGRAM. THIS CHANGE ISN’T JUST A
LITTLE FLAWED; THROUGH AND THROUGH, IT MAKES NO SENSE. HEAD START FULFILLS
ITS MISSION. IT IS REGULARLY REASSESSED AND HAS BEEN ADAPTABLE. LOCAL INPUT
AND COORDINATION ALREADY EXISTS IN HEAD START. THE HEAD START FOR LUZERNE AND
WYOMING COUNTIES HAS 15 PRESCHOOL CENTERS. THERE ARE FIVE CHILD CARE
PARTNERSHIP CENTERS IN THE WYOMING VALLEY, TWO EARLY HEAD START CENTERS IN
WILKES-BARRE AND HAZLETON AND AN ENROLLMENT OF MORE THAN 800. THE PROGRAM HERE
WORKS JUST AS IT DOES NATIONALLY: PREPARING NEARLY 1 MILLION POOR CHILDREN FOR
KINDERGARTEN BY EMPHASIZING LITERACY, HEALTH AND NUTRITION. IT HELPS FAMILIES
AND PREGNANT WOMEN. IT MAKES SENSE. MOVING THE PROGRAM FROM THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND FUNDING THE PROGRAM THROUGH BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES SETS UP HEAD START FOR
FAILURE. MONEY WILL BE SPENT ON ADDITIONAL LAYERS OF ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE
AVOIDED NOW. THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND EDUCATION REFORM DOES NOT MANDATE
FOLLOWING NATIONAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. STATES WOULD DEVELOP THEIR OWN
LEARNING STANDARDS. UNLIKE HEAD START, THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT DOES NOT
PROVIDE HEALTH OR SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR THOSE UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS. WITH
EMPTY BELLIES, THEY WON’T BE PREPARED FOR FIRST GRADE, MUCH LESS TO READ IN
THIRD GRADE. AND WITH MANY STATES ALREADY CUTTING INTO EDUCATION, IT’S EASY
TO FORESEE GOVERNORS STEERING THOSE BLOCK GRANTS AWAY FROM EDUCATION REFORM
INTO OTHER PROGRAMS. HEAD START WAS SURVEYED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR
EARLY EDUCATION RESEARCH, WHICH FOUND THAT THOSE CHILDREN ENTERED SCHOOL
BEHIND PEERS BUT CAUGHT UP. A BROAD LITERACY PROGRAM IS AN ADMIRABLE
INITIATIVE BUT IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE TO GET THERE BY GUTTING HEAD START AND
LEAVING SO MANY BEHIND. CONTACT SENATORS SERVING PENNSYLVANIA AND OUR AREA
CONGRESSMEN. LET THEM KNOW THAT FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTRY’S FUTURE, ALL KIDS
NEED A GOOD EDUCATION AND SOME OF OUR CHILDREN ABOUT 1 MILLION NEED THAT
HEAD START. Sen. Rick Santorum: 120 Russell Senate Building, Washington, D.C.
20510. (202) 224-6324 or 527 Linden St., Scranton, 18503. 344-8799.
Sen. Arlen Specter: 711 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
20510. (202) 224-4254 or Stegmaier Building, 7 N. Wilkes-Barre Blvd, Suite
377, Wilkes-Barre, 18702-5283. 826-6265.
Rep. Paul F. Kanjorski: 2353 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington,
D.C. 20515. (202) 225-6511 or Stegmaier Building, 7 N. Wilkes-Barre Blvd.,
Suite 400-M, Wilkes-Barre, 18702-5283. 825~2200.
Rep. Don Sherwood: 1223 Longworth Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. (202)
225-3731 or 538 Spruce St., Suite 514, Scranton, 18503. 346-3834.