That's Right, Taxpayer-Funded Preschool Doesn't Help Iowa Children

From Jennifer Jacobs in the Des Moines Ragister:

Preschool doesn’t give children much of a boost and the state should pare back spending, a Republican legislative leader said today.

But a Democratic leader countered that preschool is critical and that’s one area that should definitely be protected.

“It’s very, very questionable where there is any benefit,” Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, a Republican, said during a legislative forum this morning sponsored by IowaPolitics.com...

...State Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who will lead the Democratic minority in the Iowa House, said children who start early with a good education with certified teachers are better off later in life – for instance, less likely to go to prison and more likely to get a higher-paying job.

“I thought that was pretty well settled around the country,” he said.

Really, Kevin McCarthy? Which study is that? The one you just pulled out of your ass?

This entire "public pre-school" thing is a money grab by the unions to get more money out of the taxpayers. It has absolutely nothing to do with education.

McCarthy, you big dumb ass, have you ever been in a room with a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds? How much learning is going on in there? Not much.

In Iowa, public pre-school costs the taxpayer $7000 per student. How much does your typical private pre-school cost? 3 half-days per week usually runs $125 to $150 per month.

Don't forget that this expensive failure is based on a report from The Perry Project, a study of 123 poor black children in Ypsilanti, Michigan, 58 of whom were put through a state-run pre-school back in 1962! The study failed to show much difference between the kids put in a state-run pre-school vs those who didn't attend.