Pre-K or early childhood education seems to be coming up often in the two town halls. I think Secretary Clinton is correct to seek such improvements in our public educations system, but, Senator Sanders has a point I can respect. He believes we have to insure the monies spent on early childhood education are quality experience with well paid teachers and assistants.
Part of what bothers Americans when thinking about federal spending is that while money is in the pipeline for such worthy programs as early childhood education there is a problem with insuring quality outcomes at the distal end of that pipeline.
That means fighting corruption and trusting the people invested with such monies are good and honest people.
The Republicans insure corruption before the law is even written by putting federal monies into block grants. How can Americans know corruption will end in federal spending?
I'll also put it another way. I don't think sitting children in front of a computer at such a young age creates learning habits. Most children can sit in front of a computer or some other 'screen' at home. Doing the same activities in a school setting only creates a baby sitter and not learning.
Containing costs are important as well. This is Hawaii with frequently higher cost items, but, there are problems with teachers supplying their own teaching supplies and paper and pencils for students throughout the country. When does the balance return for teachers throughout the country?
It is one thing to pass a bill and provide funding, but, it is something very different to return responsibility to the country. Pass laws with requirements to local school boards to supply books and supplies. The standard today is out of control and puts the complete burden on teachers. It's nonsense.
Teachers are professionals and should be given the respect they deserve. Their salary should be their own, not that as an extension of a local political machine that cuts taxes by cutting costs and putting the burden on teachers. They have to pay property taxes like anyone else, why should they be paying for their own school supplies?
April 25, 2016
By Max Dible
The Republicans insure corruption before the law is even written by putting federal monies into block grants. How can Americans know corruption will end in federal spending?
I'll also put it another way. I don't think sitting children in front of a computer at such a young age creates learning habits. Most children can sit in front of a computer or some other 'screen' at home. Doing the same activities in a school setting only creates a baby sitter and not learning.
Containing costs are important as well. This is Hawaii with frequently higher cost items, but, there are problems with teachers supplying their own teaching supplies and paper and pencils for students throughout the country. When does the balance return for teachers throughout the country?
It is one thing to pass a bill and provide funding, but, it is something very different to return responsibility to the country. Pass laws with requirements to local school boards to supply books and supplies. The standard today is out of control and puts the complete burden on teachers. It's nonsense.
Teachers are professionals and should be given the respect they deserve. Their salary should be their own, not that as an extension of a local political machine that cuts taxes by cutting costs and putting the burden on teachers. They have to pay property taxes like anyone else, why should they be paying for their own school supplies?
April 25, 2016
By Max Dible
Kailua - Kona — For new parents in Hawaii, (click here) figuring out how to afford a quality education for their children is no longer a distant concern.
The 18-year buffer zone between birth and high school graduation to beef up bank accounts in preparation for educational costs no longer exists, as the demand for serious dough is now more immediate due to the rising cost of early childhood education.
According to numbers released last week by the Economic Policy Institute, the average cost of full-time child care for a 4-year-old in Hawaii, either in preschool or at a daycare center, is $9,312. The average price of in-state college tuition in Hawaii was $8,216.
The institution’s estimates vary somewhat from those generated by Child Care Aware of America in May of 2015, which tabulated average child care costs in the state at between $7,600-$9,300 yearly and the average annual price tag to attend a four-year, public college at about $9,700.
But the conclusions of both studies are essentially the same: Early childhood education is now effectively as hefty of a financial burden as college.
“The biggest expense for any preschool is staffing,” said Executive Director of Hawaii Montessori Schools Angeline Geldhof, who employs 20 staff members between the organization’s two campuses in Kona and Waimea. “We are accredited with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which means we have to set higher standards in terms of staffing our programs, what we provide, our equipment and our facilities.”
Maintaining accreditation, paying leasing fees, buying supplies and maintenance work are just some of the costs that contribute to the high price parents pay for their children to attend private preschools.
Hawaii Montessori, which has not raised tuition in two years, still charges $10,200 for year-round care, including the summer months. There are also application, supply and registration fees totaling $235 as well as insurance costs....
