Grading the measure to fund preschools

Re “Voters Widely Back Measure on Preschools,” March 13

Proposition 82 should be directed at needy families that can’t afford preschool. Instead, it would lump all children attending preschool into a state-run program that’s maybe only needed for a small percentage of families. That being said, do we really need the state dictating curriculum for 4-year-olds? They’ve already taken the joy out of kindergarten, making it an academic chore. Preschool in no way guarantees kindergarten readiness, socially disadvantaged or not. There are plenty of 5-year-olds with preschool experience who still aren’t developmentally ready for the rigors of today’s kindergarten. The research showing preschool as some sort of magic bullet to prevent crime and dropout rates is painfully limited. Voters should not be fooled into thinking state-sponsored preschool will close any achievement gaps or cure any of society’s ills.

COLLEEN NELSON

Santa Ana

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I have always wondered why, if research has unequivocally shown the importance of stimulating the brain and creating attachments in the earliest years for cognitive as well as social emotional development, the worst-paid and least-schooled educators are preschool teachers. Proposition 82 addresses this by raising preschool teachers’ salaries and providing grants for them to get a bachelor’s degree, thus ensuring that good teachers don’t jump ship to the school districts once they’ve earned their degrees.

Our society is finally waking up to the fact that the work of these teachers deserves to be respected and fairly paid. Those concerned that the proposition would negatively affect private preschools don’t seem to be aware that, somehow, private K-12 schools have managed to survive despite the availability of public education. There aren’t many parents who can afford a Montessori school who would rather send their children to a public school. I fail to see how the availability of preschool for all would be different.

MARISOL SAENS

Los Angeles

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Why wouldn’t the vast majority back the proposition to fund preschools when so few of them would have to pay for it? How widely would it be supported, though, if everyone, not just the rich, had to cough up another 1.7% in state income tax? The proposition would go down in flames.

JOHN A. SUSSMAN

Pacific Palisades