Thayn's latest proposal:"It does everything"

Please read the latest plan from Emmett's own Steve Thayn.

"The measure, which Thayn has vowed to introduce in the 2009 Legislature, would divide up the average $4,500 per-student annual cost of kindergarten, with half the cash going to parents, a quarter going to school districts and a quarter to a fund that shores up public education during tough economic times.

Parents would be eligible for the reimbursements after kids passed a test showing they were ready for first grade.

"It does everything," Thayn told the Times-News. "It gets the parents involved. It gets kids ready for first grade and it saves a little bit of money."

I can not believe this idea will even get to first base in the legislative process! Let's think this through, here's an idea. Why not pay parents to not have their children take Driver's Training and then if they pass the test, let's give them a license without them even being behind the wheel! Oh yeah, that's a good idea...

This plan if riddled with issues.  What test? What about those students who don't past the test?  What about those students with special needs or developmental delays? What about children who benefit from early intervention by professionals with specific training? What about the potential of teaching to the test and teaching nothing else?  Really, I could go on and on.

Maybe someone could develop an four hour "test prep" class for 6 year olds and parent could pay a fee to "guarantee" test success.  

Just remember, "It does everything."

Comments

[Stacey Kannenberg]

How about if our Department of Education actually shared with preschool teachers, parents and kids the information that Kindergarteners are tested on within the first few months of Kindergarten? Answer: the alphabet all mixed up, numbers 0-10 all mixed up, counting objects to 10, how far they can count to 100; basic shapes, colors and coins.

I was a speaker at the National Head Start Conference in Atlanta to a group of about 250 preschool teachers from all across the country who were outraged that parents are not getting their kids ready for kindergarten, so I turned the tables and asked them if they can tell me what Kindergarteners are tested on in their first assessment -- hint answer is above. News flash -- only 4 teachers out of 250 got all 7 correct! That's the problem with education. We are not getting preschool teachers on the same page with parents, kids and Kindergarten teachers at the starting point to a child’s education. We are also not empowering parents and kids into the process and we have no solid blueprint for parents to follow and let's face it -- if a family is not engaged at Kindergarten, they are less likely to be engaged at First Grade, Second Grade and beyond – sadly families don't wake up and say, Let's Get Ready For Sixth Grade!