What You Should Think...

Below is my first crack at an editorial. I should tell you, editorial writing is my least favorite form of writing.

While I certainly see the value of persuasive editorials, and I believe they should have a home in newspapers, I, personally, do not care for them. I believe in reading well-reported articles and making up my own mind about an issue, rather than have one person at a newspaper (who in a lot of cases does not represent the views of the majority of the newroom, as in Naples) tell me how to think.

Nonetheless, editorial writing is a necessary evil when you're taking an editorial leadership class. Here's what I came up with:

With the sun setting on his time in office, Gov. Bob Riley is pushing to leave his mark on Alabama through the creation of a statewide Pre-K program.

And really, who is going to say “no” to a bunch of 4-year-olds?

The governor’s plan would provide funding to daycares and community centers throughout the state over the course of several years, so more children could have access to early-education programs. Riley said the program will help more children, because it does not specifically target at-risk, low-income families.

A 2005 study of children in Head Start Pre-K programs throughout the nation, conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found children who attended Pre-K programs consistently outscored their peers on scholastic aptitude tests. The study also showed Head Start students displayed better behavioral patterns and were healthier than classmates who did not participate in the Head Start program.

It sounds great. Perfect, in fact.

No one can argue the benefits of a Pre-K education. But the Alabama Education Association, representing most of the state’s teachers and school staff, and several Calhoun County educators have a lot of questions about the governor’s plan that deserve to be answered before this initiative goes any further.

Jacksonville City Schools Superintendent Eric Mackey called Riley’s plan “scary,” saying there are just too many unanswered funding questions, and many Calhoun County educators share his doubts. With cuts amounting to $500 million needed from the statewide education budget this year, nobody seems to know where the money will come from for the Pre-K program, and, no news is the worst news of all.

The lack of information has educators across the state entering panic mode. No one is sure whose beloved programs will be sacrificed in order to implement the governor’s.

Before stumping around the state, hailing the Pre-K program as a top priority, the governor needs to quell some fears. This could be done easily by asking for feedback from, or even explaining his full proposal to, educators, such as Pre-K teachers, school principals and local legislators.

But Riley appears to be content keeping his plan for funding the Pre-K program a secret from those who need to know, allowing the paranoia to continue and communication to breakdown.

The benefits of a Pre-K education are plentiful enough that the governor’s plan should be taken seriously. Riley needs to lay all his cards out on the table and collaborate with educators to give this program a fighting chance.

There’s no good reason why he shouldn’t.

Now is not the time for debate. It is time for cooperation and sharing information, so when a solid plan does reach legislators, they will be able to do what is right for our children.