News Release
Governor Martz Guest Editorial on Early Childhood
2/7/2004
Kris Goss
406-444-3862
kgoss@state.mt.us
Attached you will find a guest editorial by Governor Judy Martz
regarding
her thoughts on the development of an early learning and school
readiness
initiative in Montana. The editorial is a follow up to her recent
attendance
at the National Governors Association Forum on Quality Preschools and
subsequent meetings with Montana's early childhood community.
***********************************
A Case for Early Childhood Education
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.
# # #
Kris Goss
Education Policy Advisor and Deputy Communications Director
Office of the Governor
State Capitol
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-3862
kgoss@state.mt.us
