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No Preschool For Middle-Class
Topics: LIFE, school, bakersfield, preschool
Posted by jenstvns Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:16:12 PDT
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0 responses 2 comments

  I am a working mother of 2 and recently my husband was laid off work. I do make a fairly decent income, but now being the sole provider it has become tough! Especially house payments, electricity and not to mention the ever rising gas prices. I have now taken as much overtime that is offered to make ends meet.

Well recently I tried to enroll my son in preschool, it did wonders for my daughter years back and I wanted him to be prepared for kindergarten. To my surprised I was told my income was too high, and therefore wouldn't qualify for state funded programs, fine my only alternative would be to pay for preschool. This is not a child care issue for me, with my husband now being home there's no problem there, and even if he wasn't my mother has always been a huge help and willing to watch both my kids anytime!

This was purely for his education and readiness for kindergarten, so if I have to pay for it, then I have to pay for it. Well as I called around to numerous preschools I found that they were all upwards of $300-$400 a month for HALF days! There is no way on earth that I can afford this with only one income. The more and more I think of this the angrier I get!

When I was turned down because my income was too high, I saw several parents enrolling multiple kids ranging from ages 2-4 with multiple other kids in tow and some with more on the way! But because I don't have a large family OR live off assistance, my son doesn't get a chance at an early start on his education? I feel that alot of these other families are using this system as "day care" I'm not! I was reading on the "First 5" website and it has a section on the "Power of Preschool" and in this section it states, "One of First 5 California's priorities is making quality preschool available to every 4 year-old in California."

Does this not include middle class? Obviously low income is covered, and upperclass can afford to pay for preschool, meanwhile, my son and other middle-class kids are not receiving any benefits!! I am sure you have plenty of other readers that would agree with me, that something needs to be done about this! 

 

 

  

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Comment From: amlynam

yes something needs to be done, but in the meantime, have you considered a part time 2 or 3 1/2 day a week program? My son went to Victory VIllage at Valley Baptist and started Kindergarten yesterday able to read. He went 2 1/2 days a week and I think we paid 120 or 140 a month plus book fees at the beginning of the year. We couldn't afford regular full time preschool either and this was a cheaper alternative. They teach ABEKA curriculum. Also, as a former preschool teacher myself - it is the social skills they learn that are far more important then letters and numbers (Johnny took my toy, what do I do? type of thing) You would be amazed how many kids and adults are smart, learned everything they need to except have no social skills whatsoever. When one of my other kids needed preschool, we commuted across town to the Preschool at University Baptist Church, it was about 200- 300 cheaper than our side of town. Good luck Comment From: kindra79

I completely agree! I'm a single mother and do not receive child support from the absent father. I work my tail off to barely make ends meet, affording a small home, compact car, and the bare bone necessities. I also pay a portion for my daughter and I's employer paid health benefits. This summer the choice for us was either A - she could sit home alone while I worked (she is 10), or B - go to the Boys & Girls Club which states that no child will be denied entrance due to financial status. Once taxes, required retirement, and insurance is taken out of my check I bring home less than $2000 a month. - but when you fill out the assistance form they don't take in consideration that you pay for your healthcare or are required to pay into a retirement fund. So her share of cost was $80 a week! Even after taking a 2nd job at night I still can't afford that! Fortunately my father agreed to pay the fee this summer - but not everyone has a family member who is capible of doing this. Pre-school is so important, and it is a complete shame the income bar isn't raised a bit to include middle income families who work their tails off instead of relying on assistance.