Tom Sticht argues that parenting is key in the transfer of intergenerational Literacy
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(posted on the NIFL family Literacy list, - 26 January, 2006)
Letter to the Editor
Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on January 25, 2006
What 4-year-olds need: parenting not preschool
According to "Universal preschool plan makes ballot" (News, Jan. 14), an initiative for universal preschool for all 4-year-olds has qualified for the June ballot. Proponents say studies show that preschool contributes to academic success later on. But this overstates the case. Studies that show the benefits of preschool have not included the full range of children, but rather children from poverty or near-poverty backgrounds.
New research, "Improving Literacy in America"(Yale University Press) has questioned the effectiveness of both child care and preschool programs that do not focus on improving parenting skills. Concerning child care, it says that "overall, parenting appears to be a more important source of influence on children’s development than is child care. … The contribution of parenting was about three to four times greater than that of early child care. …High-quality child care will not offset the negative effect of poor parenting, and poor-quality child care will not prevent success for children with effective parents." It concludes not only that preschool programs without parent outreach and adult education are not effective but that starting preschool at 4 years old is too late; language and literacy development start at birth and rely upon the love, motivation, and language (vocabulary; knowledge) that parents provide.
Based on this and other new research, Californians need to think about providing high quality parenting and adult education programs to young adults who are or are about to become parents. This way, the majority of adults can prepare their own children for school, and only the children in greatest need will require access to high-quality preschool education.
Thomas G. Sticht
El Cajon
Contact: Thomas G. Sticht
International Consultant in Adult Education
2062 Valley View Blvd.
El Cajon, CA 92019-2059
Tel/fax (619) 444-9133
Email: tsticht@aznet.net
