November 19, 2007: Universal preschool good place to start

11/19/07

Here's all anyone needs to know about children and education: It's not rocket science.

Children who have gone through preschool are better learners, usually enjoy school more and participate more in class than children who have not gone through preschool.

Studies show that children who enter kindergarten without the experience of a quality preschool program are not prepared to learn.

"It appears that children who have attended high-quality preschools are better able to meet the social and academic demands of kindergarten," Judith A. Goodwin, the Springfield School Department's early childhood supervisor, told The Republican during an interview for a two-part series on universal pre-kindergarten that was published last week.

Gov. Deval L. Patrick has proposed universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds as part of a comprehensive plan to expand public education in the Bay State.

One study estimated that it would cost $600 million to provide universal preschool for every 3- and 4-year-old, no small sum for a state with limited revenues.

While that may seem too expensive, it is a smart investment that will yield lifelong results for the children and the communities in which they will eventually live and work. Preschoolers are more likely to graduate from high school, learn skills that are necessary to succeed in the workplace and earn higher incomes.

The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, through its Cherish Every Child campaign, has made Springfield a logical candidate to serve as a pilot city for universal preschool. The Davis Foundation will be the host of an invitation-only conference today at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to discuss with local business leaders the value of investing in early education.

The Cherish Every Child campaign has already done much of the preliminary work that would be needed to establish Springfield as a pilot city. It's a good place to start.