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Head Start VS Other Schools

Health and Human Services. "Head Start Impact Study". n.d. Web. 5 February, 2011.

Zigler, Edward and Susan Muenchow. Head Start: The Inside Story of America's Most Successful Educational Experiment. New York: Basic Books. 1992. Print.


The US Department of Health and Human Services has recently completed their 10 year research study of Head Start and the impact it has on children. In this study, it lays out a case study that was done between a controlled group of kids and children from Head Start. This study shows the advantages and disadvantages that children might experience in and outside of Head Start. It goes in depth in each area and aspect of a child's growth. I think this study shows very clearly the hope that this program has given to many children.

Most of the areas that were tested in this study were the basic senses test. As the study came to a close, researchers found that four year old children from Head Start were scoring higher on the vocabulary tests than other four year old children from other programs (Health 4). There were six vocabulary tests that were administered; (1) Peabody Picture vocabulary Test (PPVT); (2) Woodcock-Johnson III (WJ III) Letter-Word Identification; (3) WJ III Spelling; (4) WJ III Pre-Academic Skills; (5) Color Identification; and (6) Letter Naming. Through these tests, researchers saw a dramatic difference in Head Start children than others (6). Although verbal skills exceeded, math showed no significant impacts. Even though this might not seem too important since these children are only four years old, I do not think that speaking alone will get you very far in life. So why didn't math skills increase in Head Start students as well? Well, Health and Human Services has stated in this study that, "Head Start programs vary in terms of instruction in the key areas measured as part of this study, i.e., early development of language and literacy and mathematics skills." (Health 25). This obviously means that the Head Start programs in the case studies focused more on literacy and language than math. So is subsiding math and receiving more english a smart move? I think it all depends on the child that is in the program. These children come from all different backgrounds and learn at different paces. The Teachers at Head Start Facilities all have their Early Childhood degrees that allow them to work specifically with that age group (Zigler 99).

Other than reading and math, children were studied on their social-emotional development. Children were observed on their behavior, social skills; relationships with teachers, parents and other children; approaches to learning; and school adjustment (Health 15). This study proved to have a different turn of events for Head Start as there didn't seem to be a distinctive upper hand. This study reveals that children who were in the Head Start program were a little more timid and shy when advancing to the next grade. On the similar hand, these children seemed more behaved at home and at school (15). This area of a child seems to be more affected in large crowds of people, which you don't get at Head Start. These classrooms are no more than 20 people and all contained to one property.

The last area I would like to talk about is the health of children. It was clear that the children in Head Start programs had a distinctively clearer respect for health and dental. These children received more dental and health coverage than those who weren't in Head Start programs (Health 18). Edward Zigler tells us that most of the children who are in Head Start have never experienced health or dental benefits that are crucial to every human being for their respective development (28). We can see that Head Start children have a big advantage when it comes to their health and physical development.

So how did Head Start compare to other programs? Human and Health Services states, "On nearly every measure of quality traditionally used in early childhood research, the Head Start group had more positive experiences than those in the control group." (Health 25). But that leaves all of us with some very important questions. Would it be beneficial for children to have two years in a Head Start program instead of one? What processes are being taken to fill in the gaps where these children didn't excel above other program's students (i.e. math or timidness)? Also, if this program is a success, wouldn't more teachers from other schools and programs adopt the Head Start policy? Either way, this study shows us that there are some serious advantages to Head Start.

Implementations from the Beginning to Now.

Marshall, Gordon. "Coleman Report".  A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 5 Feb. 2011

Wikipedia. James Samuel Coleman. 15 December, 2010. Web. 5 February, 2011.

Zigler, Edward and Susan Muenchow. Head Start: The Inside Story of America's Most Successful Educational Experiment. New York: Basic Books. 1992. Print.

  As I had stated in my last bibliography on Head Start, I wanted to see how and what teaching methods have changed since the 1960's.  I soon found that there weren't very many recorded studies done until the 1990's.  I found that the information that went toward the Head Start program in the 1960's was con-screwed and left very little support.  As I met with one of the Head Start advisers on February 5, 2011, Tawnia informed me that, "The Attorney General of the United States implemented the Head Start Program to reduce the delinquency of America's children."  I wonder if he was sincere in his declaration to increase the importance and affordability of education in America?  There were a couple studies that were conducted just after the first year Head Start had commenced, such as the Coleman Report and the Westinghouse/Ohio Evaluation, that do not paint a pretty picture (Zigler 56).

  One study that I want to touch on is the Coleman Report.  It was instigated by the US Department of Education and conducted by James Samuel Coleman.  The 1966 Coleman Report became a controversial debate for many years.  Coleman states that children would learn more from their families than from school (Marshall).  I find this a very bold and idiotic statement to make, considering he himself attended college.  Only after reading more of this document do we find out that Coleman almost refutes his own claim and states that Black children will only benefit from this program if they are integrated into a predominately white class setting.  I believe that his concept of school along with this study may have been influenced by the "white fight" events that were taking place and thus an accurate study may not have been conducted.

  In trying to gather some ground that may not have been tainted with racial discrimination, I turned to Edward Zigler's book for answers.  He states that within the first year of the Head Start program Students were testing higher than non Head Start students, but after about a month in public school together, the non Head Start students were scoring about the same as the head Start children (56).  This leaves the program in danger of becoming decommissioned as a hope for children.  This leads me back to my initial question of how Head Start has evolved into this program of salvation that is offered.

  It wasn't until meeting with Head Start representatives and reading Edward Zigler's book that I understood the total embodiment that is Head Start.  This program is not just a summer school where parents stick children to prepare them for the next school year, although that is an important part, but it furthers children comprehension of basic skills.  Head Start provides children with basic health and dental care and nutritious meals daily that they might not otherwise have ever experienced (Zigler 28).  Zigler dives into the reasons why this program is such a success.  He will stand by Head Start till death do they part as the best way for a young child to further their education and have a chance to succeed in life.  Children learn basic life and social skills while interacting with children of similar circumstances.  Tawnia of the Boise Head Start center said that children come to her school from all over the world with all different backgrounds because of their circumstances.  The children that she watches are from impoverish families that couldn't otherwise educate their young.  Also parents are welcomed to join in helping their kids while at the school.

  Head Start may have started off as just a program where children from poor families could be taught to read, write, and count.  It may have been a scapegoat for officials to pawn concerns to, but it has now grown into a safe haven for children all over the world.  Parents now have a place where their children can not only learn to read, write, but to gain the social skills and abilities they need to start their life in this world.  Many children now know what it's like to paint a picture, to have a friend, or to have a real nutritious meal to eat.  Now children, who's parents just watch TV during meals or are never around, can have the attention and love they deserve.  They can gain the self-esteem and motivation to change the world.  Head Start has improved dramatically from its primordial state in the 60's from just a low income school to a house of learning.  Finally, impoverish children have a new hope, a head start.

WHAT IS HEAD START AND HOW DOES IT HELP?


Promising Practices Network. Head Start, March 2010. Web. 30 Jan. 2011


Wikipedia. Head Start Program. 21 Jan. 2011. Web. 30 Jan. 2011.




  Head Start is a federally funded program that dates back to the 1960's.  Wikipedia states that this organization was formed and implicated by President Lyndon B. Johnson as a part of his "War on Poverty" plan.  During which time it was designed to be a program that helped bridge the gaps between years in school.  Children would attend a Head Start program to help prepare them for the new school year, or help children to catch up on education they should know before starting school.  This program has now become a saving grace for those who have a low income budget and may not be able to afford school otherwise.

  Promising Practices Network has said, "The mission of the Head Start program is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families".  There are now five different Head Start programs that have been incorporated to further education for all children.

  A study has been conducted by congress to find the effectiveness of Head Start.  Wikipedia tells us that this study consisted of a target population of 5000 3 to 4 year old children. The study began in 2002 where these selected children were implemented into the Head Start program or other parent-selected community programs for one year.  With the children being dispersed to various programs, including Head Start, we were able to see how effective the Head Start program really was.  We are told by Wikipedia that of the control group, 60% were placed in school programs other than head Start.  Further more, we have concluded that those children who were implemented into the Head Start program began to have an advantage over those who were in other programs.  These results were released in 2005 by the Health and Human Services and conclude that Head Start truly lives up to its name.

  As I was pondering about children and their education, I reflected on my past years in school.  I look to this program and its benefits for a possible idea for my future children.  I first turned to the "all knowing" Wikipedia site on the internet to find further insight on what exactly Head Start is.  I didn't know that this program had been around as long as it had.

   After finding more information about Head Start, I have just a few questions.  I wonder how many students there are now compared to when this program started in the 60's.  I am also curious to find out what educational methods have changed since it was first implemented.  I also wonder what teaching methods have changed and what new methods have been introduced since the 60's.




 A LITTLE ABOUT JOSH
Well I probably should start my page off by telling you a little about myself. I was adopted and have grown up predominantly in meridian, Idaho. I graduated from Mountain View High School. After graduating from high school, I moved down to Ogden, Utah and attended Weber State University. Then, after a semester there, I left on a mission for the LDS church as a missionary to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I performed community service and preached about Jesus Christ for two straight years, after which time I returned to Meridian. I then moved to Rexburg, Idaho to attend BYU-Idaho. I met my wife in the fall of 2009. We were married a year later. My wife and I have recently moved back to Boise to attend BSU. So that's basically my life's story.

So some of my hobbies/activities include playing lacrosse, snowboarding, wake boarding, paintballing, Sky Diving, drawing, and gymnastics. I have been on the cheer team and like to teach people how to do standing back flips, wall flips, and toss people up into their hands. I also play the drums and like to jam with my bro who plays the guitar. Other than that I love the outdoors. I love to go mountain biking and hiking. In the summer, if I'm not at work or in school, you can probably find me biking on the hills or on the lake.

I am attending BSU to become a Civil Engineer. I have always loved architecture and building things. I used to build buildings and bridges out of legos when I was younger and it had stuck with me ever since.