During further investigation into http://www.nhsa.org/, I am once again hit with
the cold hard fact that early childhood is all about the almighty dollar.
Trainings and conferences are offered to staff and parents, but at a cost—sometimes
in the amount of several hundred dollars! This does not include the cost of lodging,
food, and transportation. Teachers who work for this organization do not make a
large salary, so attending one of these sessions could prove to be cost prohibitive
if not subsidized. Is this the best use of the dollars allocated to Head Start?
As for parent conferences, I cannot imagine how parents could afford to attend,
given the fact that they have to meet low income guidelines in order to qualify
for services in the first place!
Instead
of feeling enlightened or inspired, reading the information found on this
website is making me feel discouraged. On every page are links: “Donate Now” “Become
a member” and notices about budget cuts and how “you” can and need to fight for
this program.
We
have more research than we know what to do with confirming that investing in
early childhood education is not only a good idea, it is a NECESSARY investment
to make (even if everyone jumping on the bandwagon doesn’t necessarily
understand how or why this investment is a good thing). But yet, one of the
biggest organizations concerning early childhood education is devoting much of
their website to trying to raise funds—through expensive trainings and
conferences, through donations and memberships—by whatever means necessary.
If
politicians and people in power truly supported the idea that early childhood
education was vital and necessary, then why aren’t the funds in place? Why do
organizations need to keep begging for them, lobbying for them, and supplementing
them?
When is REAL change going to occur?
OK I thought it was just ME??? I changed the website I wanted to focus on because I couldn't read any of the journals without actually joining the organization. Therefore I picked a organization that I am familiar with but was able to gain a little new insight this week versus the frustration I had initially. I do really love Head Start but I don't use the website of the National Head Start Organization as my resource I go directly to the Head Start website.
ReplyDeleteThe responsibility for K-12 education rests with the states under the Constitution. There is also a compelling national interest in the quality of the nation's public schools. The federal government, through the legislative process, provides assistance to the states and schools in an effort to supplement, not supplant, state support. Schools are getting very little to no funding from the state thus the need for investments.
ReplyDeleteYes, but they cannot get those funds from the very people who qualify for the services in the first place! Parent conferences to the tune of several hundred dollars is INSANE!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. It makes you wonder where all these funds are going. Baltimore city just opened a new casino and teachers are using their funds to supply the classrooms in order to meet the guidelines of the district. I never understood any thinking that policy holders implement. They ask for and want quality education but, expect the teachers to use their own money to make it happen. The site I joined does not require you to pay a fee to join but their is a link to make donations. It is sad that we as a nation are not truly taking early childhood education as serious as we should. I am a firm believer in action. I tell everyone, including my students, do not tell what you are going to do all the time, show me. Seeing it happen is what really matters. It is sad to read that low income families are required to pay for trainings that will benefit the well-being of their child and family. What since is it to charge someone who is already experiencing economic insecurities?
ReplyDeleteMy last sentence should read, "What sense"
DeleteHello Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteI really agree with the point you are making concerning NHSA, the website does solicit funds, and I do not understand what the fees are used for. I work for Head-Start and only the Administrative Staff get to travel to the expensive trainings and they are provided with different materials that is not delayed back to the teachers and if you really look at it they are attending these trainings on funds that a lot of teachers should be receiving. Sad thing when it comes down to the way they ask for money.
It does seem that many are focusing on money and not education. It was sad to read that much of the website you viewed was focusing on raising money. I would surely like to know when a really change is going to happen and when do we take our minds of money and truly focusing on the education of your youth.
ReplyDelete