The trouble with calls for universal ‘high-quality’ pre-K

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

So...

...should Pre-K be intellectual discovery time or academic drudgery time?

As a former high school teacher, never entrusted with the care and teaching of "the little people", my response is advisedly borrowed from Sergeant Schultz of the 1965–1971 situation comedy Hogan's Heroes:

"I know nothing! I see nothing! I hear nothing!"

My formal education did not include Kindergarten, much less Pre-K.

As for the "rigor" of early education, well my memory fails me...

...chalk it up to Pre-Rigor Mortis!

:-)

So, I have no basis for venturing an opinion.

That said...

My high school teaching background from the Jurassic Period would assuredly be described as "academic drudgery". Hey, it was before the education "reformation", I didn't know any better. I was not aware of the damage caused by my despicable ways. And, hey, everybody was doing it.

Bless me, father, for I have sinned!

If I had it to do all over again, knowing what I know now, would I change my evil ways? YES! I'd be an accountant or, in the modern period, a computer programmer. Children would be safe from me.

No teaching for this cat!!! (No capitalized CAT for me.)

I have digressed...

Pre-K?

My cat gut tells me that "intellectual discovery" would be best.

I still can't get those Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten out of my mind.

Stop the madness...