Argumentative Essay
(Rough Draft)
Dear School Board Members,
I am a concerned parent of two small children ages 2 and 3. I would like to express my feelings concerning their future education. Being a single parent is difficult and like most parents I want a better future for my children. Not all families, like my family, can afford a high quality preschool for their children to attend. I believe universal preschool should be a priority for our district and state.
Many argue that the No Child Left Behind Act signed into law in 2002, would cure the educational system and every child would be on grade level concerning math and reading skills. However, this is not the case because our children are still falling through the cracks in our educational system. According to a recent documentary, “Waiting for Superman,” it stated since 1971 math and reading scores have flat lined in the United States. As a nation our students rank 25th in math and 21st in science. This is unacceptable for one of the greatest countries in the world. This is not acceptable for my children.
It has been my experience that children from birth to age five are like little sponges. They are so eager and willing to learn. We need to take advantage of this critical period in their young lives. I want desperately to send my children to a high quality preschool, but during this tough economic time, this is not an option for my family. I try my best to read to my children nightly, however I have to work two jobs to keep food on the table and a warm place for them to sleep. Please support universal preschool so my children and other children can reach their full potential like the children who have the privilege of attending preschool.
As a minority parent, my concerns are magnified because according to “Waiting for Superman” minorities starts falling behind in the 5th grade and by 7th grade are significantly behind other races. This can lead to a snowball effect leading to increase high school dropout rates, an increase need for special education services, and remediation. I believe the key to leveling the playing field is to provide preschool services for all children.
In closing, please support universal preschool and make it a priority for our district and state. An investment early in their education can reap long term benefits and help our children succeed academically. I want my children to have the best education possible and be productive members of society. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
J. Hofacker
Universal Preschool is Universally Beneficial
Education, a major focal point in most political campaigns, is also a priority for parents. Parents want a brighter future for their children, and common sense seems to dictate that education is the key. Parents, teachers, and policy makers often debate the positive and negative aspects of early childhood education in many communities. Low-income families often cannot afford to send their children to high-quality preschool programs, and the lack of which can lead to developmental delays and knowledge gaps (“Head Start”). I believe universal preschool should be a priority for our district and state to optimize the critical growth and development of the young mind. However, opponents of universal preschool argue it does not benefit the child’s future educational success.
Prior to its ratification, many argued that the No Child Left Behind Act, signed into law in 2002, would cure the educational system, providing every child with the reading and math skills that correlated to his or her age-appropriate grade level. However, The No Child Left Behind Act costs tax payers a significant amount of money each year, and many would attest that it has done little to remedy the current educational quagmire; in Virginia, for example, the state must spend twenty million dollars per year to comply (“Send this Report”). This huge expense provides a stance for critics of universal preschool to discuss the potential weaknesses they see in universal preschool, such as the possibility for another federal program that could cost taxpayers billions of dollars and still may not solve the problem. However, I believe money will be saved in the long term by providing universal preschool because each child will have a solid educational foundation to build upon, rather than trying to remediate the students that have fallen through the cracks. According to a recent documentary, Waiting for Superman, since 1971, math and reading scores have flat-lined in the United States. As a nation, our students rank 25th in math and 21st in science compared to other first-world nations (Waiting for Superman). I believe universal preschools will help reverse these trends, because it will provide our students with the early educational experience that will prepare them for elementary school.
Opponents of the universal preschool movement believe learning can take place at any point in a student’s life. However, according to Dr. Michael Phelps, a scientist at the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at the UCLA School of Medicine, states that the brain of a preschool-aged child is evolving at a much greater rate than that of any other age group; his research shows that preschoolers have twice as many connections, or synapses, as the adult brain. Dr. Phelps further states that what the child learns during this critical period will determine which connections are going to be developed and which connections will no longer function (“Research Notes”). We need to take advantage of this critical period in young preschoolers’ lives and support universal preschools. We must not miss this opportunity to develop the brains of young Americans to their fullest potential.
Supporting universal preschools needs to be a priority for our district and state. An investment early in their education can reap long-term benefits and help our children succeed academically. The funding of universal preschools may eventually reduce or eliminate the necessity of the costly No Child left Behind Act, by preventing the knowledge gaps that exist between the children who attend preschools and those who cannot afford to attend. In addition to stimulating all preschool age children’s brains, taking advantage of this phase of brain development can only result in success. It is imperative that we all support universal preschool programs in our school division.
Works Cited
“Head Start Impact Study—Final Report: What Does It Say? What Does It Mean?” National Head Start Research Foundation. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
"Research Notes: Language Learning and the Developing Brain." Benefits of Early Learning Research Notes. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
"Send This Report to a Friend." The Heritage Foundation. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
Waiting for Superman. Dir. David Guggenheim. Perf. The Black Family, Geoffery Canada, the Esparza Family. Electric Kinney Films, 2010. DVD.