Early Childhood Development is a KEY - Day 414

Reading through many of the researches done on Early Childhood Development, it is clear that the secret of effective growth of a child is directly dependent on the Child's first 7 years. It was found for instance in a study by Megan McClelland of Oregon State University and her colleagues, that children who have high level of attention span-persistence (the ability to focus, attend to relevant information, and persist on a task) at age 4, had 48.7% greater odds of completing college at age 25.

 

Research done by Dr. Bartik where he was investigating the relationship between economic development benefits of universal, high-quality preschool education compared to traditional business incentives of the same cost and he have found that for instance each $1 invested in universal preschool education is estimated to increase the:

• present value of earnings in the state by almost $3
• present value of earnings in the nation by almost $4

 

 

http://www.upjohninst.org/sites/default/files/images/misc/earlychildhoodprograms.pdf

 

Mr. James Heckman, one of the top economists studying human development stated that "investment in the early education of disadvantaged children pays extremely high returns down the road. It improves not only their cognitive abilities but also crucial behavioral traits like sociability, motivation and self-esteem."

 

There are enormous amount of studies that showed the importance of early childhood development in terms of how educating a child from birth would manifest results that would not only be for the self-growth and self empowerment of the child but also how economically it would benefit the nations as a whole.  So given the ever-growing evidence on the economic benefits of early childhood education and the prevention of future problems within the child's life, one might think that policymakers would do what ever is possible to enhance programs and allocate the funds and yet, it is not the case. In fact, according to the National Institute of Early Education Research, the funding for early childhood programs are declining.

Obviously this doesn't make sense - if specialized economists can prove that investment in early childhood programs would lead to increase of profit/benefits to the nations and if specialized psychologists and psychiatrists proves that early childhood program can prevent and/or decrease future problems in character building, why is it that the funds are not directly allocated to these programs? And why is it that early childhood development is not a priority?

 

 

 

 

This takes me back to John Taylor Gatto and his extensive research showing the deliberateness in dumbing down our children and within that, what was the motive in doing so and who benefit from it  - within Gatto's words lies the answer as to why early childhood development is not a priority for those who make and execute the decisions from high above.

 

So, for those of you who are not yet aware the history of the schooling system and the process of dumbing down the children and thus humanity as a whole, I suggest listen to the greatest history lesson and to also read the book Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory ‎Schooling.

 

Realize the extent of the problem and how this influence our lives as a whole as only through understanding the problem, we can see the solution. Unfortunately, the solution will not come from those in the current sits - the solution can only come from us, the dumb, the mass, through a correction of our own education that was infused and integrated within and as us through years of corruption. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves and thereafter our children within the understanding that the first 7 years of their life will determine who they are for the rest of their life. In this, we can not wait until it is too late - we must act now, we must educate ourselves now, we must take responsibility now.