It was a heartening scene last Wednesday when children and parents from across North Carolina came to remind N.C. legislators about the children. I agree with the statement, “When we fail to invest in our children, we fail to invest in our future.” Without us and those children coming after us, we cannot continue to function as a successful society. It is alarming to think Smart Start, N.C. Health Choice and child care subsidies are even coming under consideration by the legislature. These programs, whether they are education or health programs, are an investment in us and our children’s future.
Smart Start aids young children with skills to help them begin developing learning skills before they start school. A ten-year evaluation found child care quality increased, Smart Start-funded activities were positively related to classroom quality and children’s outcomes were positive. Even Nobel-prize winning economist James Heckman has vouched that investments in early childhood development produce the highest return per dollar. Teaching our pre-schoolers their ABC’s early shouldn’t even be on the chopping block.
While universal health care is coming under fire these days, N.C. Health Choice is free or reduced health insurance for uninsured children in the state who do not qualify for Medicaid. This program reduces the need for families to choose between food and health care. Children have access to family doctors, dentists, vision care and mental health services. Legislatures, do not deny a child the right to health and vision. You have the opportunity to make sure these children have a healthy start to their lives.
Child care subsidies may seem like a superfluous use of public funds, but there are so many benefits for helping families pay for daycare. Most low income families can’t pay for the expensive rates for child care, but need it most. Most low income families live in areas where crime is high and having healthy, social interaction is the best way to counteract negative social pressure associated with poverty. It also allows parents to not have to choose between going to work and taking care of their child. Legislators, your goal is to create jobs and workers, but if they have children and are going to choose, they are going to choose their children.
These children will one day be our own and will come to our University to continue the traditions and excellence we have prepared them for. They cannot do that when North Carolina ranks 37th in the nation in child well-being according to The Annie E. Casey 2010 Kids County Data Book. Public school is the first step in coming to college, yet North Carolina ranks 42nd nationally in per pupil expenditures in public school. We can’t honestly say we are preparing our children for excellence.
I cannot imagine myself even being at N.C. State without the help of these and other programs that support children. I have made it here because of these programs, but there are millions of children following me and you whose futures are in jeopardy. Though we are in college, we need to make sure that our representatives know how we feel about education and children’s health programs. For the sake of our future peers and our future children, defend education and children’s health. We can help them build our future.