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U.S. Sen. Patty Murray was interviewed on the PBS program, "Washington Women" in September for nearly one hour. There were no dull moments in a time of enlightenment.
Murray claims to be the only elected official with a background in early childhood education. From personal experience, she knows of the correlation between children who did not have preschool education and incarceration. She did not have to mention that our nation spends much more in training soldiers for war than educating children to cope with future challenges.
Twice during the program, Murray spoke of a stunning discovery regarding children and books. While they might know how to use a smartphone, it was discovered that more than 80 percent of small children had not been instructed how to properly open up a book. If parents can spend money and time to buy smartphones, then instruct children how to use them, how is it possible that early literacy is not passed on to children with small books in their hands? Why will parents not take time to read to children? Maybe they cannot read, themselves?
From a pragmatic viewpoint, social scientists might investigate how many of two million who now crowd U.S. jails had some form of early childhood education.
In September, it was discovered hours spent in our use of smartphones and the social media surpassed television viewing. That transition is not necessarily conducive to critical thinking.
Robert Hutchins, Mortimer Adler and other educators introduced The Great Book Reading Program in the University of Chicago in the 1920s. Studying 100 of the best books in history brought students a liberal education degree prior to the electronic/digital age.
Before retiring in the 1920s, Adler left all of us with a profound comment on meaningful education. "If a student, upon graduation from formal education, does not have a desire to read and study for the remainder of her/his life, then their education has been a failure."
Education might begin with loving parents holding their children, turning off televisions, cellphones and reading peacefully, explaining every new word clearly to those whose greatest gift is curiosity.