by Kristin Ruchowy, The
Toronto Star, March 29, 2004
By the time children get to Grade 1, it may be too late to help those who
have already fallen behind, says a new study by a renowned child
development expert.
The latest research by Toronto-based Dr. Fraser Mustard and his Founders'
Network compares children's readiness for kindergarten and standardized
test results in Grades 3 and 6, and concludes that children who lag behind
early on will generally remain so years later.
"What we tend to do is bash the school system for poor performance, when
it's what's coming into the schools that leads to poor performance,"
Mustard said in an interview.
He says the study helps explain why overall results on standardized tests
in reading, writing and math have stalled, despite millions poured into
remedial programs. That investment should be made earlier, he argues, in
programs aimed at early childhood development.
"If the evidence is that trajectories are set early in life," he said, the
possibility of substantially changing a child's academic performance is
limited no matter what investments are made in the school system.
While socio-economic status appears to play some role in a child's
readiness for school, many students from needy neighborhoods do
exceptionally well, while many from wealthy areas do very poorly.
In pure numbers, it's middle-class children who make up the bulk of those
in need.
Mustard argues that "it's more than just economics" — what really counts
is quality parenting, good interaction and reading to children.
The study is the latest in a series that have concluded that investment in
the early years pays off over time, not only in terms of a country's
economic and intellectual prosperity, but also in terms of improved
physical health and emotional well-being among its citizens.
Armed with the results of these studies, Mustard and volunteers interested
in children's issues want to set up centers across the province that would
help parents learn how and what to read to youngsters, and get advice on
parenting. They would also provide organized activities and educational
play for children, which parents can then use at home. Some could provide
links to community agencies to help parents struggling with unemployment
or immigration issues.
The group, called the Council on Early Childhood Development, is calling
for participation from community groups, public health authorities,
private companies, municipal governments and school boards. Mustard, who
has long advocated a system of centers supported by government,
communities and the private sector, also hopes federal and provincial
governments will sign on.
"If society doesn't invest in early childhood development for families
with young children, we risk damaging the next generation," Mustard said,
estimating the start-up costs to be $3.2 billion in Ontario.
On Thursday, he presented his case to directors of education around the
province, offering them study after study showing the difference that good
parenting and reading to children has on literacy, behavior, health and
emotional well-being throughout the school years and into adulthood.
Mustard's newest research looked at the results of the latest study
assessing the social, emotional and language skills of Toronto
kindergarten students, and compared it with Ontario's standardized reading
and math tests for Grade 3 and 6 students.
Jim Grieve, director of education for the Peel District School Board, said
his colleagues found the information compelling.
"We're already talking" about what to contribute to such centers, said
Grieve, including staff and expertise, space in schools, or even money.
The Peel board is currently assessing all of its young students using the
"early development instrument," or EDI, which assesses pre-literacy
skills, physical health, social skills, communication skills and cognitive
development in young children.
It will then target communities that need better support.
The payoff for paying attention to what's happening in early childhood is
enormous, he said.
"It will ultimately result in children who are better ready to learn,
fewer needing special education, better readers, and a better economic
return — the return on investing in the early years is staggering compared
to the gain from kindergarten to Grade 12 and beyond," said Grieve, who is
vice-chair of the council Mustard is creating.
David Reid, director of education for the Toronto District School Board,
said the board hopes to expand its 41 parenting centres in schools, even
though it receives no funding for them from the province.
He said he's already asked Mustard to speak to senior staff and trustees
about the importance of lobbying for proper early childhood education,
even though it is considered outside the formal education system.
"Given we have 81,000 vacant student spaces (due to declining enrolment),
the assumption is, the only solution to that is to shut down schools
willy-nilly," he said.
"But we have to be more creative about it. In fact, because we're a
publicly funded education system we're situated in every single community.
So if the government is going to start talking about health services,
social services — bringing services to people — they couldn't do it better
than doing it in concert with the publicly funded education system."
Cathy Matthews, a Toronto investment banker, said her role as a member of
the new council is to act as a liaison with the private sector, to put the
proposal "in business and capitalist terms that the business community can
relate to."
She said education dollars are spent in the exact reverse of where the
greatest benefits lie. By investing more in early childhood, "and by
getting it right at the start, to me it makes a tremendous amount of
sense."
Mustard and Margaret McCain co-authored two reports for the previous
Conservative government on the importance of the early years, where they
outlined a vision for quality programs for families with young children.
He is also part of the Founders' Network, which brings together people
interested in early childhood development and related research.
One program underway is Toronto First Duty, which integrates kindergarten,
parent and tot programs, community supports and child-care in five public
schools. As many as 2,000 children are taking part.
Martha Friendly, of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit at the
University of Toronto, said she understands why politicians and voters are
preoccupied with what they see as more fundamental issues.
"We're talking about issues of whether people have electricity and are
they going to die from tainted water and meat. Who would have ever thought
the public education system would be in such decline?"
She said Canadians are conditioned to think of child care and early
childhood education as a personal responsibility rather than a right of
all children, as it is in many European countries, where it's expected
children will go to school at 3 whether or not parents work outside the
home.
David Dodge, governor of the Bank of Canada, earlier this year also agreed
that investment in "human capital," especially in pre-school years, is
essential.
And in a report last week, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development said "investment in early childhood education is of key
importance to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and to
ensure equitable access to learning opportunities later in school."
During the election campaign, the Liberals promised a "Best Start Plan"
making schools community hubs, with child-care and parenting programs.
