Posted on 01/03/2007 9:56:20 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Despite heightened attention to children's health and education issues, a greater investment needs to be made in California's 9.7 million youngsters so they're prepared to compete as adults, a study released Tuesday says.
The annual California Report Card, released by Children Now, says the state has made progress in reducing drug and alcohol use, decreasing teen pregnancies and lowering mortality rates.
However, the percentage of children covered by their parents' work-based health insurance is declining; while the rates of smoking, obesity, asthma and autism are on the rise, the report said.
"Despite some progress, when you measure that against the big picture of how kids are faring, we still have a long ways to go," said Ted Lempert, president of Children Now, a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization.
"We felt progress was made. But while important, it was not bold enough given what the needs are facing kids today in terms of their health and education."
School board member David Tokofsky noted that Los Angeles Unified has taken the lead in banning soda and junk food on its campuses while initiating full-day kindergarten classes.
"L.A. Unified on health issues and on early education is ahead of the state in general," he said. "I think it's time for the state and mayors and school boards to pursue more revenue for children and more efficiency in terms of what we're teaching." In recommending the promotion of healthier food choices and improved access to dental care, the report noted that one in every three school-age children in California is overweight or obese.
The report also recommended voluntary, high-quality preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds and a comprehensive overhaul of the state's public schools to ensure quality and equitable access.
In addition, it recommended the continued expansion of after-school programs.
Tokofsky noted that Children Now released its annual report just before the governor's State of the State address, when he will lay out his plans for the upcoming year.
"I think this report by Children Now is telling us that before we spend all of our new revenues on roads, buildings and other physical structures, that any state or nation depends upon how you invest in the children themselves," Tokofsky said.
Lempert said he hopes the report's findings offer a reality check to the state's leaders.
"You can't say you're for the kids unless you're aggressively addressing these issues and working to improve the overall health and education of the state's kids," Lempert said.
"We can make some major change in the state, but there needs to be that commitment."
2006-07 California Report Card: The State of the State's Children http://www.childrennow.org/newsroom/press_releases/pr_070103.html
About Children Now
Children Now is a national organization for people who care about children and want to ensure that they are the top public policy priority.
http://www.childrennow.org/about_us/index.html
It takes PARENTS, not more government spending.
Did I miss the cause and effect here? Or, in what way would a greater investment needs to be made solve this?
Maybe the authors of the California Report Card need a better education.
The single most effective strategy to improve public schools in California would be to stop illegal immigration into the state.
Among the board of directors of "Children Now" (located here:
http://www.childrennow.org/about_us/board.html), former members of the Brown and Carter administrations, and Cruz Reynoso, frequent appointee of Democrat administrations, voted off the California Supreme Court at the same time Rose Bird was, and well known around here for his work on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.
Oh, yeah... they're nonpartisan, all right.
School board member David Tokofsky noted that Los Angeles Unified has taken the lead in banning soda and junk food on its campuses while initiating full-day kindergarten classes.
"L.A. Unified on health issues and on early education is ahead of the state in general," he said. "I think it's time for the state and mayors and school boards to pursue more revenue for children and more efficiency in terms of what we're teaching." In recommending the promotion of healthier food choices and improved access to dental care, the report noted that one in every three school-age children in California is overweight or obese.
The report also recommended voluntary, high-quality preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds and a comprehensive overhaul of the state's public schools to ensure quality and equitable access.
In addition, it recommended the continued expansion of after-school programs.
I see by your comments, you have seen this play before. ;-)
I raised 4 perfectly normal and currently successful kids without any help from anybody. I thought it was my responsibility. I had to take care of all their health needs, extra ciricular activity, moral teachings.... I even paid taxes to send other kids thru public school while I scraped to put mine thru private school. And I did all this as a single dad.
No more programs. Make the parents step up to the plate and do what I did.
They've done such a great job with the kiddos thus far. It only makes since to give them more control.
There......done.
Correctomundo! One local critic calls these scams cries for more "midnight basketball courts" so the childrens don't get into trouble. Heaven forbid los padres should actually be required to raise their spawn.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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