Researchers consistently call out the first six years of a child's life as the most important in terms of brain function and personality development. Yet, early childhood education lacks federal, state and local funding of the kind elementary and secondary education receive. If we truly want to make a difference in the life of a child, the place to start is at least age three and ideally, from infancy on. There is funding for the most disadvantaged, and of course, the high income families can afford to pay for quality education. But what of those in between? Three day a week preschools do not offer the quality care and education that children, families and communities need to thrive. If we hope to change our world; less crime, less poverty, peaceful co-existence, we need to start where and when we have the most chance of success: the child prior to age six. FDR said, "The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to economize." It is time to examine our methods. We fund schools that are based on an agricultural calendar and an outmoded factory model. The times have changed and so have families. Let's fund for the future. Let's fund where we find the greatest payback, for the child and for all of our lives. Contact Senator Al Franken at franken.senate.gov/contact/, Senator Amy Klobuchar at klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm and Governor Tim Pawlenty at tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us (just in case). Just a few words will do. Ghandi said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Maria Montessori said, "Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war." We can all make a difference, one person at a time.
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