Preschool doesn’t need to be funded by state

Since Gov. Terry Branstad's proposal to limit the state's preschool to (providing assistance) to those who cannot afford to pay for it, there has been a lot of hype over the importance of government-funded preschool. Left out of these pronouncements is the fact that there are many preschools throughout the state including Headstart, Montessori and a variety of church-sponsored and privately operated venues (as pointed out by Lowell Rutz in his Jan. 23 op-ed). For many years there have been preschools available in Iowa. Therefore, I fail to understand the demand for free preschools, when we need to cut state funding in many areas.

The downside of promoting free preschools is that it undermines the current system, takes away jobs and for-profit businesses. It provides a new entitlement. While state universities are raising tuition costs and K-12 schools must do with less, some members of the public are insisting that preschool be fully funded for all. The proponents refer to studies that preschool can be life changing. Perhaps it can but it does not have to be run and financed by the state.

Curran Rosser

Cedar Rapids