return to EEA in the News

Advancing every child

EDITORIAL, 2/21/2004

Ask 3- or 4-year-olds what their last name is, and maybe they'll tell you or maybe they'll give a royal shrug that seems to say: Other people handle those details.

Children can't see how much knowledge matters. But Thomas Finneran, speaker of the Massachusetts House, has called for expanding early education. Pending legislation filed by Democrats Fred Berry of Peabody in the Senate and Peter Larkin of Pittsfield in the House sketches a 10-year plan for a system that would be universal and free.

One example of what every young child in Massachusetts could have is at Project Hope's Children's Center in Dorchester. Eighteen children are in the preschool room. The center emphasizes literacy, and children develop the academic, social, and emotional skills that help them become ready for school. Activities have dual purposes. Breakfast builds vocabularies because literacy specialist Gloria Matlock asks children if they want "delicious and refreshing" fruit. The children can spell Massachusetts; Matlock taught it in a song.

When teacher Maria Peguero finds a book torn in two, kids start pointing at each other. "He did it." "No I didn't do it. He did it." Shutting down the blame game, Peguero talks about caring for books. Without saying so, she's also helping the children learn to build positive relationships with teachers.

Full of toys and suds, the water table teaches children about taking turns -- only four children can use the table at a time -- about sharing space with others, and about doing something productive while waiting for a turn.

Early education needs excellent, well-paid teachers. So Lori Thames, director of the Children's Center, encourages her teachers to take classes. One college-level course on special needs was taught at Project Hope during the children's nap time so it would be easy for teachers to attend. The training proved invaluable when the center admitted a boy with Down syndrome. Thames has built a career ladder that increases salaries as teachers earn degrees and other professional credits.

Nine times a year, parents attend meetings on childhood development issues. While Governor Romney has called for making parent participation in education mandatory, Thames says voluntary programs that respond to parents' needs work well.

Building statewide early education will take money. One estimate from Margaret Blood is $1 billion spent over 10 years to build a system and $1 billion a year after that to maintain it. Blood is the head of Strategies for Children, a Boston nonprofit organization. The long-term return on this investment includes better school performance and a better-educated work force and citizenry.

So pass the crayons and start helping young children spell their first and last names. Massachusetts needs their best skills. So pass the crayons and start helping young children spell their first and last names. Massachusetts needs their best skills.

© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.

return to top of page