Maine

Central Maine Morning Sentinel

I am confused about an issue related to the school funding problems referred to in Amy Calder's March 29 article.

If we are truly struggling to adequately fund public education, kindergarten through grade 12, and I know we are, why are the Department of Education and others submitting bills to the state Legislature that appear to be advocating free public preschool education for all, regardless of a family's ability to pay, or if whether a child is "at risk" in some way.

We are not just talking teachers. Consider a whole new tier of program development, assessment, teacher certification, transportation, etc. How can we afford to do this if we can't afford teachers for our school-aged children? Who will pick up the tab? In my mind that's just the tip of the iceberg, but it has me perplexed to say the least.

Mary-Lou Ogden

Waterville

Comment: This is a letter from a concerned reader, and it makes sense the way things are today. Now let's take another step. The key word here is "school aged." If we are going to think out of the box, then we have to be out of the box to accomplish something new.

Let's consider the child first. What does it mean to say a child is school aged? In today's common usage, school aged means a child who is traditionally five - eighteen. In today's new world, perhaps we need to change that. In today's world of internal individuality and external sameness, perhaps we need to finally realize that all children are not alike. They might all be dressed alike, and have the same haircuts, but internally, we realize that they are fundamentally very different.

Difference is seen especially in beginning education. Some children should start regular classes at three or four, and some not until they are six or seven, because each child makes the choice to listen and to understand when he is ready to let go of his baby years.

And who cares how old someone is at a particular landmark? Should all people who graduate from college be 21? Should all military recruits be 18? Should people wait until age 25 to marry?

Equipping a school corporation with preschool simply means it will take on another group of children. It doesn't mean a whole new curriculum. Some four year olds are perfectly capable of doing regular kindergarten work, and that's the point. The windows of education are open only for a short time. If the window closes because child has been held back to satisfy a birthdate cut off or a parent not willing to let go, the child is going to lose out.

At the same time, by insisting that a child who is naturally behind be pushed through the system, the child also suffers.

By opening schools to SOME four year olds, we are offering to those who are ready, a piece of the cake that otherwise might not happen until it's too late. Children love to learn. They are hungry for knowledge and experience and that doesn't just happen at some magic cut off date.