May 21, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - As a parent you try to give your child the best future possible. A group of 50 Tennessee church leaders are trying to help you do just that.
The group, "Shepherding the Next Generation" is urging state policy makers to continue to support high-quality early education programs.
They say these programs play a critical role in your child's development.
"Proverbs 22:6, one of my favorite proverbs, "train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.," says Mark Brackney, the Minister at the Arlington Church of Christ.
He's fighting to give children a brighter future. Brackney is one of four Knoxville area church leaders who are members of the non-profit, "Shepherding the Next Generation."
"What we're trying to do is let the state legislator know in Nashville, that pre-k programs are extremely important in giving children an early start."
To urge state policy makers to fund voluntary pre-kindergarten programs, they're using research based on a study in Michigan on the Perry Preschool program. In the 40 year study, children were interviewed every 10 years, to see where they stood socially and economically.
The study showed high-quality early education strengthens families, increases the number of men and women who marry, reduce births outside of marriage and increase the percentage of father who raise their children.
"The studies are conclusive, if we give these kids an early start, their chances of making it, their chances of being productive citizens, goes way up," says Brackney.
The Tennessee Department of Education says Tennessee's state-funded pre-k program has gone from 3,000 students in 2004 to about 18,000 in the 2008-2009 school year. Leaving almost 4,000 children on waiting lists.
"We believe this is one area that does not need to be cut. 09:53 These kids are too important, their future is too important."
The group has sent letters to every state legislator and will release the report tomorrow at 1:00 at the Child and Family Care Campus. It's located at 3006 Lake Brooke Boulevard.
For more information about "Shepherding the Next Generation", click on the link below.
