Aimee Thiessen: Is Your Preschooler Ready For The Work Force?

Is your preschooler ready for the workforce?

Doubtful.

Are you concerned about your preschooler’s prospects in life because he/she isn’t ready for the workforce at age 5?

[mks_pullquote align=”right” width=”300″ size=”24″ bg_color=”#000000″ txt_color=”#ffffff”]”I’m sorry, but my child isn’t a sponge for the state government or the business community or the teacher’s associations.”[/mks_pullquote]

Again, doubtful. Preschool children should be interacting with other preschool age children; playing, pretending, coloring, building things out of blocks, learning about the world around them, etc.

You may be surprised to learn that Andy Peterson of the Greater North Dakota Chamber is concerned about your preschooler’s lack of workforce preparedness. He mentioned it over and over in his testimony in favor of SB2151, the bill for government-funded pre-K in North Dakota. Yes indeed, the Chamber testifying alongside the state’s public employee unions. Strange bedfellows, to be sure.

Why is the Chamber taking such an interest? Could it be the $1.4M grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation “to lead the effort to engage and educate state and local chambers to support Common Core State Standards”?

Peterson will likely deny it and then call me some nasty names for daring to challenge the authority of the “experts”.

There is a philosophical battle emerging over public education in the state and country. The politicians, government bureaucrats, business leaders, union bosses, and philanthropic billionaires would have us believe they all have our kids’ best interests at heart. Parents need to pause and consider that maybe some of these people have ulterior motives such as money, power, or control.

“During the hearing, Senator Flakoll stated these young minds are like sponges.”

I’m sorry, but my child isn’t a sponge for the state government or the business community or the teacher’s associations.

So please help make a difference for the education of our children, who are the future of North Dakota, by contacting your local legislators and speaking out against pre-k funding bill and Common Core.