Has the time arrived for universal preschool? Education Essay

Running head: HAS THE TIME ARRIVED FOR UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL?1
Has the Time Arrived for Universal Preschool?
Student Name
College/University Affiliation
HAS THE TIME ARRIVED FOR UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL?

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Has the Time Arrived for Universal Preschool? Week X: Has the Time Arrived for Universal Preschool? Assignment: Identifying Fallacious Arguments and Rhetorical Ploys Educational Issue: Has the Time Arrived for Universal Preschool?
Educational Expert Position
Yes: David L. Kirp
No: Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call
Summary of Author’s Position:
Kirp argues for a universal pre-K system for 3-4 years old (Kirp, 2012). In “The Kids-First Agenda,” Kirp emphasizes educational, development and economic benefits of a universal, federally-funded pre-K system where working parents, particularly, single mothers, can have optimum choice to place kids in care while at work. The universality of a pre-K system, argues Kirp, provided quality (at more cost) is ensured, is apt to provide for a safer and stabler growing environment for 0-5 kids, particularly kids coming from low-income backgrounds and minority families consistently labeled “at risk” federally and at state level. The US Government should, urges Kirp, move on to embrace a universal pre-K system.
Rhetorical Fallacies and Ploys Used by the Author:
Quotations and Rhetorical Ploys
Part 1: Quotations
HAS THE TIME ARRIVED FOR UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL?

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“To say that, when it comes to children's issues, Washington has been asleep at the switch, is much too kind” (Kirp, p. 191).
“Federal policy-makers have ignored such evidence – the rationale for funding child care is not helping kids but expanding the workforce. Child care, as conceived in Washington, is simply a cheap way to park infants and toddlers while their mothers are on the job. There is no Abecedarian – and precious few slots in the considerably less expensive Early Head Start program, despite solid evidence of its success. What is available, whether at child care centers from the kindly lady down the block, is usually mediocre – and one out of every eight licensed child care centers has been rated as “unsafe.” Kids do benefit from the sense of self-sufficiency that their parents gain when they are working. But these ill-conceived, on-the-cheap ventures do not help kids. In fact, the worst of them can do harm. Some youngsters who spend long days in ...