Pre schools-plank

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* Pre schools must be part of the plan of 2006 by new Superintendent of Pgh Public Schools, Mark Roosevelt. 
** The 33 pre schools around the city are getting bumped out of existing locations due to the Right Sizing Plans. That isn't right. We can't re-size for the smallest sizes at any old site.
** For example, the pre school that has operated at Roosevelt School is getting displaced. Roosevelt is to stay open, however it must absorb more students. The new students that attend Bon Air are to be moved to Roosevelt by the 2006-2007 school year. So, Roosevelt needs to open the space for new classrooms and in turn the pre school ages are not welcomed at that school any longer.
* Long-term, the school on the South Side known as Phillips Elementary, should be re-located to the building now empty that was formerly South Vo Tech High School. Then Phillips can be turned into a school to house grades 1-8 with one K class for siblings of others already in the building. Then, the school that now holds Phillips on Sarah Street can be turned into a Pre-school and K.
* Invest in kids when the investment is most needed, at the upper levels.
** Generally, in my humble opinion, I think it is better for government resources to make investments into the studies and grades of the older students: middle school and high school. A parent can do a great job and most do a very good job, in helping the students who are in pre-school and at the youngest ages. Parents should do a good job with their own children. However, not many parents can do even a below average job at teaching their sons and daughters algebra, physics, auto-body, and other upper grade studies. Parents need to rely upon teachers, coaches and the schools to challenge their children at the uppper grades.
** Parents need parenting help. We are not born with innate skills to parent, like other animals. Both moms and dads need some assitance, opportunities to interact with other parents, and from time time, more formal systems in place to support parenting efforts and to share insights. 
As usual, the smallest ones in our community are getting the worst deal. 
Category: Platform_Planks_from_Mark_Rauterkus