News Release
A Case for Early Childhood Education
3/4/2004
Chuck Butler
406-444-5523
cbutler@state.mt.us
by
Governor Judy Martz
Everything in life starts with a strong education. The most important components of a child’s education are at the very beginning.
Knowing the importance of early learning, I joined experts from Montana and around the nation at the National Governors Association Forum on Quality Preschool in December. It was a special opportunity to exchange ideas with my fellow governors and state policy makers on how we all can make sure our children enter kindergarten prepared to learn.
Montana’s early childhood community has been working for several years to make sure each child is a success story. It is their devotion that makes me so confident in Montana’s tomorrow.
I am pleased to begin work with the early childhood experts in Montana to develop an early learning initiative. We must capitalize on our friendly Montana atmosphere to make sure all stakeholders from education and human services are at the table for the sake of our children.
Montana’s preschool teachers can make sure each child is a success story. It is their devotion that makes me so confident in Montana’s tomorrow.
I know that there are children and parents who have highly skilled, and extremely dedicated instructors working to ensure that every Montanan is ready to face the rigors of our new century.
This all shows why early childhood is so important. It makes sure students at an early age learn as much as possible to ensure success later in life.
Teaching children at an early age means they are better learners, better employees, and better citizens. That is why we must focus on this issue. I am looking forward to listening, learning, and working to bring an effective school readiness structure to Montana.
Children will struggle in school if they are without a foundation for learning. Making it in math hinges on preschool. Successful science is made possible through preschool.
Our economic system relies on the ability of our education system to produce workers capable of fueling and maintaining our world-class economy.
Montana is turning the economic corner and if we are to finish the job early education is going to play a major role. Without effective education Montana will not be ready for new challenges.
But preschool efforts go far beyond academic study. Education is the foundation of our democracy. It opens the doors of public discourse and ensures the public is informed and knowledgeable about governmental happenings.
For any preschool initiative to be successful we have to keep in mind that any quality preschool initiative must include the child’s family. The family is the foundation of education that preschool provides could erode outside of the school.
A loving family, that surrounds a child with books and learning, is a family that is providing that child with a strong future. There are thousands of families that do exactly that each and every day.
Unfortunately not all families have the ability to provide that opportunity for a variety of reasons. That is where a quality preschool infrastructure can help.
By involving the entire family everyone benefits. The parents and guardians, learn that they are welcome at the school to be a part of the learning process and also come to understand how they can extend the classroom at their home. Younger siblings benefit by being surrounded with new knowledge of school and the importance of learning.
It is important because the child never has to feel as though they have nowhere to turn outside of the classroom. They know they have the support to live their dreams and achieve any goal.
I saw this phenomenon of family involvement first hand when I met with Head Start parents in Great Falls, Montana. Mothers and fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles all shared their stories about helping their child learn. They felt empowered and strong. They had new self-confidence and had a sense of accomplishment and pride about helping their child succeed.
Another aspect of a quality preschool that we must be prepared to embrace is comprehensive education. Health and social development are just as important to a child as academic instruction. These are the building blocks of life that give any child an opportunity to succeed. They must be a part of an early learning initiative.
Knowing that the transition from preschool to kindergarten can be difficult, a complete education that not only prepares a child academically but also socially, physically, and emotionally is critical to a successful life of learning. I am confident that our work will ensure this broad focus is emphasized.
All of these items pertaining to early childhood development will be discussed in the coming weeks as my administration works with Montana’s health, education and early childhood officials. We will be using the information we learned from my fellow governors and the knowledge that Montana’s dedicated early childhood community possess to formulate an initiative to ensure every Montana child is prepared for this new century.
Governor Judy Martz has served as Montana’s governor since 2001.
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