27 February 2013
HEAD START: Programs like Head Start need to be pushed for longer periods of time to see results.
By Amy Wang, Staff Writer
During the State of the Union address, President Obama called for universal early childhood education; in other words, to push preschool for kids everywhere. While many find his ideas unbelievable with the budget cuts looming and threatening hundreds of millions of dollars for educational programs, Obama does have the right idea for the future of our children.
As of now, the federal government has the Head Start Program, which “provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services” for children from low-income families. It is available for children from birth to age five, and it serves as a preschool.
The Head Start Program’s effectiveness is unclear. Some argue that its effects do not last past elementary school, as students’ test scores dwindle. However, what do they expect from a program that only lasts until age five? The program cannot possibly have a lasting effect on children if it is not pushed.
Even if children do not score as well on tests, that does not necessarily mean they are not doing well overall. Students are more than numbers and letter grades; they’re actual people. The Head Start Program’s focus is not only on the children’s school results, but also on their emotional and physical health. A healthy child is more likely to go farther in life, regardless of grades.
If anything, we need more programs like Head Start, but expanded to allow all ages. The more time children can spend in interactive and educational programs, the less time they spend out on the streets where they run the risk of getting entangled in the wrong crowds and jeopardizing their futures.
But it’s more than just the kids; it’s also the parents. The Head Start Program allows parents to drop their kids off and take their free time to go back to school or get a new job. On the flip side, parents may even spend time with their children by participating in the Head Start Program. Parents play a big role in molding their children’s futures. According to NYU’s Child Center Study, “parents’ active involvement with their child’s education at home and in school brings great rewards and […] can have a significant impact.”
Changing the children’s environment could change their entire future. According to “The Effect of Poverty on Child Development and Educational Outcome,” children from low-income families are “at risk for academic and social problems as well as poor health and well-being, which can in turn undermine educational achievement.” Everything, from the parents to the neighborhood, plays a vital role in children’s lives, and if the environment is polluted with unhealthy factors, then the children are at risk. The Head Start Program can help pave a clear road for children towards a better future, away from poverty.
The Head Start Program is not a lost cause. It has shown effectiveness in various areas, including health and parent participation. If pushed further to provide for longer periods of times, rather than stopped when the children enter kindergarten, the Head Start Program could show prolonged, expansive benefits.