[Griff]

The most recent research on preschool education shows that it has value to kids from very deprived backgrounds and no value to kids from the rest of society. Unfortunately its the middle class folks who will demand early childhood ed for their kids to shift the costs of child care onto others. This is where I often part ways with the Dems. They like to make their programs universal instead of pin pointing the group with needs. Of course there is always the part where we go from voluntary participation to mandatory participation as well. An out of control public school is the worst place for at risk children.

I can't completely blame the teachers. There are cycles within cycles here. The best way to control behavior is to teach in the zone between boredom and frustration. If the teacher is constantly breaking up fights, she has no chance to put her lesson in play. Ideally you assess, plan, teach, and test repeat... If you miss one step, you've broken the system. One kid can break the system for everybody. Compulsory education is the problem not the solution.

You make a good point with your friend. Sometimes having another life to nurture gives us the focus we need to suceed.