Head Start

This article is fantastic.

The author argues that preschool programs like Head Start are necessary to thwart the high cost of illiteracy and incarceration. His main points are:

1. "[B]y waiting until kindergarten [to spend money on education], we throw money at kids when it's too late."
2. "Early-childhood nurturing has traditionally been the province of families. But families are deteriorating."
3. Kids who received early childhood education "were more likely to be employed—and to earn more—and less likely to be on welfare. They also committed less crime and had lower rates of teen pregnancy."
4. Preschool spending, with a rate of return around 16%, is a "sound economic investment."

Promoting early childhood education isn't about doing the "right" thing, it's about doing the logical thing. Investing in early childhood education raises our standard of living and costs less in the long run.

According to CNN, one billion was cut from the Head Start program. Won't we just pay for this later?

Now Hiring

As a Special Education teacher, I have an aide/paraeducator in my classroom. Yesterday, I went to school to look over resumes to choose one. The job pays 15-20 an hour. People with the following qualifications were applying:

1. BA from an Ivy league school
2. Juris Doctor degree
3. Peace Corps volunteer
4. Master of Arts/Education (about 6 with this qualification)
5. As much as 10 years experience in education

Really? Either they are liars, or this is another indicator of the downturn.