Hope for Children

So if you click the title it will take you to an article in the NY Times about Obama's pledge for money for early education. (After you click the title, it takes you to an advertisement. In the upper right hand corner it says in tiny white letters, Skip Advertisement...click that and you will see the article). I am optimistic about this program. I totally agree with the benefits of starting earlier. I don't think children should have to pay for the mistakes their parents are making... so hopefully education will give all children the opportunity to end the cycles of poverty, addictions, abuse, etc...
What are your thoughts on this program?

So I guess I should add some background as to why I agree with publicly funding early childhood education. First, is my experience with Halie. All of you who knew her and loved her knew that she was a child in desperate need of lots of things...but definitely education was at the top of the list. It was so frustrating trying to find her a school that not only would DHS pay for, but that was even worth sending her to. The school we ended up sending her to did a lot of great things with her... but it was in definite need of better teachers and resources. I know when I was applying for a job here in A2 for a preschool they were offering me $7/hour. We needed more money. I think our children deserve more qualified teachers...people who are making more than $7/hour. I know there was an amazing preschool in Tucson the other foster moms raved about...but there was a 2 year waiting list... So guess who ends up there? Tell me, what poor and/or uneducated or single mom/dad is going to start looking for a preschool when the child is 1 or 2 years old?
My second experience with early childhood education has been with Bentley. What he receives here in Ann Arbor is nothing less than wonderful. They come to the house, they work with him, they train me, and we are all reaping the benefits. We are living in a very wealthy and intellectually stimulated community where education is a HIGH priority. It will be interesting what kinds of services Ben receives in Detroit. Maybe that is part of the reason God is leading us there....maybe I will get to help raise a voice of awareness for our children. (And I do feel some responsibility for all children... I guess that's why I have such a heart for foster children... )
I just think all children deserve a chance because they are children. They deserve our efforts and money to help build them a future. God has totally put this on my heart. First, with the child who burst through our doors with a bright smile and a desperate need for love and now with our amazing son child with Down syndrome.