We're getting beat on preschool. Dial up warning.

[sheshe2]

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education/news/2013/05/02/62048/infographic-were-getting-beat-on-preschool/

[BlueJazz]

1. Blame the American voter. They Love to vote for Republicans who Love to ...

...keep the masses ignorant.

[niyad]

2. k and r for one damned depressing graphic

[sheshe2]

3. I know, niyad.

Sorry.

[LeftInTX]

4. K & R

[WillyT]

5. K & R !!!

[DeadLetterOffice]

6. Depressing, and yet...

...I have to say that I'm not sure kids should be in school earlier than they already are -- at least not with our current teach-to-the-test school environments. My school district (in upstate NY) has instituted a lovely new thing called "test endurance training," wherein they put kindergartners in chairs and have them practice sitting for 45 minutes. So they'll know how to do it when they have to start taking the Common Core exams in 3rd grade. Seriously.
Something is very, very wrong with our educational system. And until it gets put right, sending kids to school at an earlier age just seems like a way to steal more of their childhood.

[reformist2]

7. What's depressing is that we have to worry about getting 3-year-olds into the rat race. WTF?

Is this what life is all about, never-ending and worsening competition?

[aikoaiko]

8. We did private preschool for our son and it was so worth it.

He had some developmental delays and he really blossomed. Now he is holding his own in his grade.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I know a kid in preschool in Mexico

He can read and do some math.

Isn't this first grade here?

[kiva]

10. Not snarky, but why does this even matter?

There is no need to put a 3 year old in school, barring special problems. Daycare is a whole nother issue, given the number of working parents, and should be addressed.

[RayOfHope]

11. The Obama adminstration is advocating for free, quality, universal preschool

which will save many kids from being plopped in front of a tv most of the day or going to a less than quality daycare setting.

Developmentally appropriate daycare helps develop language and social skills. It can help identify kids that need extra support or special services. Its important to catch these problems early--early intervention is key. Also I teach kindergarten and I get some kids every year that have no idea how to interact with other kids, have poor social skills, and have virtually no experience even holding a pencil or crayon.

The brain is in a rapid period of development from birth to age 5. Quality school experience has lasting benefits.

[kiva]

13. Or kids could just have a few years to be kids.

I know there is no universal agreement about this, but we expect children to go to school for 13 years, more with college, and then they are adults - not a lot of time to be children. There are still many parents who juggle schedules to have one of them at home, and there are some good daycare facilities that don't just plunk kids in front of TVs.

You see more of this age than I do - I get them at the other end, in college - but I can't help but feel that pre-school is not where we should be putting out time, money, and energy.

[Spider Jerusalem]

12. And most everything else

Life expectancy and overall health

Education

Child poverty

the US is number one in GDP, obesity rate, number of privately owned firearms, prison population, and military spending. That's pretty much it.

[Jamaal510]

14. Denmark's usual starting age is 1?

Can most babies even talk, let alone walk by that age? They're basically being put in preschool right after being born!

[HiPointDem]

15. same bullshit as 'american schools are failing!!!!" more education deform propaganda.