Connecticut
Coalition for Child Development Education
May
1, 2007
Dr.
Mark McQuillan
Commissioner of Education
165 Capitol Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106
Dear
Dr. McQuillan:
I
am writing to ask you to take action on a very important issue--making
sure all or children get information on how to care for children
from birth to school age to help insure their healthy social and
emotional development and school readiness. Such education should
include child development, child safety, and parenting skills.
No
matter how well a person was raised, they cannot remember how they
were cared for in the crucial years from birth to four. If they
have had no younger siblings, they may know absolutely nothing about
caring for a child during these years. Yet these are the years when
the way a child is raised determines what neural pathways in the
brain become predominant and whether the child will develop the
ability to love and trust, emotional stability, and readiness for
school or become a person who lacks empathy, is out of control,
has psychological problems, or even becomes a criminal.. It is irresponsible
of our schools not to provide information on child development and
safety and effective parenting skills to all our young people because
studies have shown such knowledge can help prevent child abuse and
neglect, and decrease behavioral and psychological problems, violence
and delinquency in the next generation of children.
In
1997 the State Department of Education in its comprehensive plan
"Blueprint for Action: Implementing the Early Childhood Agenda
in Connecticut" said that schools should review all curricula
"to ensure that a program of responsible parenting is offered
in a manner that reaches all students at different periods in their
school career…Curriculum should include such issues as early
childhood development, health needs of children, healthy pregnancies,
identifying and choosing quality child care, financial obligations
of parenting and the long-term responsibilities of parenting."
(p.56) It is ten years later, and still nothing has been done about
this.
An
organization called The Connecticut Coalition for Child Development
Education has been trying for nine years to get such information
provided to all our students, but its proposed bills have died in
committee. Former Education Commissioner Betty Sternberg and former
Acting Commissioner George Coleman were in favor of child development
education for all students, but took no action on the issue. We
hope that you as the new commissioner can bring this important area
of instruction to all our students. It is vital not only for their
future as parents and for the welfare of their children, but also
for the future of our society.
Sincerely
yours,
The
Connecticut Coalition for Child Development Education,
formerly the Connecticut Coalition for Parenting Education is comprised
of approximately 40 people and organizations dedicated to bringing
education in child safety, child development and parenting skills
to all Connecticut students sometime before they graduate from high
school. Members include Yale psychology professor Edward Zigler,
who helped launch Head Start, Yale child psychiatrists Kyle Pruett
and James Comer, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families,
the Mental Health Association of Connecticut; the Connecticut Child
Advocate, pediatricians, psychologists, social workers, parents,
and other state residents.
Nine years of coalition experience with the legislature and Commissioners
of Education indicate the need for a groundswell of public support
to bring about action. For more information and to get involved,
contact Joan Barbuto, Coordinator of the Coalition, at joanbstone@aol.com
or 203/269-1946.
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