Pres. Bush may support war but he doesn't support our children!!!!!

[jinydale]

My daughter is enrolled in our local Head Start program. I am a substitute teacher there also. Well the teachers and the family service worker had to be certified for a new type of screening that has to been done on the children at the start of the school year and the end of the school year. I asked why the new screening, and what she told me just appalled me. If I remember right, during his campaigning, one of Bushes big concerns was the Head Start. He said making it available for all children not just low income children. That was the sole reason I voted for him. Well, now I learn that he wants to close the Head Start program because it is government funded and is costing too much. He wanted to close it last year, but so many people were outraged that he only agreed to fund it for the next five years, so the screenings can be done during these five years. Then the results of these screenings will determine wether he agrees to allow the Head Start program to exist. I am so outraged at this. He promised one thing and now is doing something different. The way he sees things are, fork over billions for this war,(not against the war, i believe he accomplished something great) but not for our children. Head Start is not just for low income kids. My income is to high for it, but my daughter has a communication disorder and developemental delays, she got into the program because she needed it. She needed something to help her before Kindergarten but we don't make enough to afford tuition for the local preschool. What will happen to children like her if they take away this program.
To anyone who reads this, he is talking about all Head Starts nation wide. If you feel the same as I do or even close, please email,write, or call your state rep. or congressman and let him or her know how you feel. They only way we can do any thing about it is to let our voices and opinions be heard. The people on this board are wonderful about this, when she told me what was going on and what needed to be done, you all were the first thing I thought of. Please help us with this. Tell your friends and family to do the same. Don't let this man get away with lieing to us and taking something very valueable from our children.
I will get off my soap box now, this is getting extremely long. But aaarrrrggg I was so mad.
Thanx,
Jinydale.

[schsa]

He's a Republician, and that should answer your question. Republicians do not care about programs that help children. They could care less about social problems. They are all about big business. So if you want Head Start to be funded, vote him out of office.

[luceones]

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: And Clinton cared so much more about our kids? He was too busy diddling his intern with a high priced cigar:rolleyes: :rolleyes: I too think headstart is a good progam, but why is it just for the lower income? I pay taxes too and we don't qualify for it. I think it should be replaced by a progam that benefits all children, not just some. Maybe that is what he plans to implement, who knows? His family is very active in literacy progams so I don't see him just dropping the whole progam without an alternative.

[Legion600]

Originally posted by luceones
I too think headstart is a good progam, but why is it just for the lower income? I pay taxes too and we don't qualify for it.

From: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/about/history.htm

HEAD START HISTORY

In 1964, the Federal Government asked a panel of child development experts to draw up a program to help communities meet the needs of disadvantaged preschool children.. The panel report became the blueprint for Project Head Start.

Project Head Start, launched as an eight-week summer program by the Office of Economic Opportunity in 1965, was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs. Recruiting children age three to school entry age, Head Start was enthusiastically received by education, child development specialists, community leaders, and parents across the Nation. Head Start serves children and their families each year in urban and rural areas in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories, including many American Indians and migrant children.

In 1969, Head Start was transferred from the Office of Economic Opportunity to the Office of Child Development in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and has now become a program within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services. A well-established, though still an innovative program, Head Start has had a strong impact on communities and early childhood program across the country.

The program is locally administered by community-based non-profit organizations and school systems. Grants are awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services Regional offices, except for the American Indian and Migrant programs, which are administered in Washington, D.C.




Your taxes pay for a lot of things you don't get to use. That's just the way it goes.

[Maeryn]

Originally posted by luceones
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: And Clinton cared so much more about our kids? He was too busy diddling his intern with a high priced cigar:rolleyes: :rolleyes: I too think headstart is a good progam, but why is it just for the lower income? I pay taxes too and we don't qualify for it. I think it should be replaced by a progam that benefits all children, not just some. Maybe that is what he plans to implement, who knows? His family is very active in literacy progams so I don't see him just dropping the whole progam without an alternative.

May be true about Clinton, but I don't think the $$ for the cigar came out of the Head Start budget. :p

Anyway, Bush is already trying to undermine the Head Start funding by "experimenting" with a block grant to some of the states. In other words, the feds give the Head Start money to the states, and the states get to do whatever they want with it.

I know it's frustrating seeing low-income families get free services, but unfortunately it's more important to line the pockets of our nation's CEO's than to make sure all kids get the education and services that they need.

I don't even get into the Democrat vs Republican debate...both parties are whores for big business anymore. I vote alternative every chance I get!

[Maeryn]

Speaking of...just got this in my email:

Just For Parents

A Newsletter from NHSA’s Government Affairs Division
September 2003

Please circulate this document to all Head Start parents

The Senate is now drafting legislation for Head Start reauthorization. Please continue your advocacy efforts to ensure Head Start’s survival and adequate funding.
Some senators would like to see a bi-partisan effort (both parties working together) go into drafting the future of Head Start. Suggestions are to fully fund Head Start within the next five years and to provide double funding for Early Head Start.
On September 10, 2003, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) offered an amendment to increase Head Start funding by $350 million. This would have allowed 36,000 additional children to enter Head Start, but the amendment failed by a vote of 47 to 47. Six senators were recorded as absent during time of the vote. NHSA commends Sen. Dodd and his colleagues for their efforts to increase Head Start funding from the $148 million increase proposed by the Bush administration. The proposed $148 million does not allow any additional children to enter Head Start.
It is important that the Head Start community do their part to ensure that Head Start remains intact and adequately funded. Please contact your senators and thank them for their support. Urge your senator to:
· Introduce legislation that will improve Head Start.
· Maintain the federal-to-local funding structure of Head.
· Provide adequate funding for Head Start.
A recent poll conducted by PAX World Funds (a socially responsible mutual fund family) shows a broad bipartisan support for Head Start as it is operated today. Most who were surveyed support expanding Head Start services to more eligible children. View results of the poll at www.saveheadstart.org
There is still time to register for the October 1-4, 2003, Leadership Conference at the Gateway Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. Visit www.nhsa.org for more information and registration details.
Don’t forget our monthly parent conference calls the third Wednesday of each month at 8:30 p.m. eastern time. The number for the call is (888) 457-6338, and the pass code is 5722#.
We look forward to having parents take part in these important leadership events.

[Victorious]

Originally posted by schsa
He's a Republician, and that should answer your question.Republicians do not care about programs that help children. They could care less about social problems. They are all about big business. So if you want Head Start to be funded, vote him out of office.

I think this is an unfair statement. Not all Republicians are/feel this way.

[Maeryn]

Just one piece of info to add on...even if a family is "over-income", if the child has some type of learning problem or a disability, they may still qualify for Head Start services.

[DAVESBABYDOLL]

Originally posted by Fireball
uh, yes, he did.
IF all you know about the 8 years of the Clinton presidency is "the cigar story" you've been in the dark for a long time.
Clinton inproved the standard of living for all people, rich and poor.
Our standard of living was never higher (and has since gone DOWN under Bush II).
Clinton cares very deeply about kids, his vision included improving nutrition, health care and education for children.

It would be hard to read anything about Bill Clinton and not know how much he cares about kids.

The whole point of Head Start is that kids from disadvantaged families need a little head start to catch up with the kids from middle class families when they get in school. Your kids don't need it 'cause they come from homes that can afford books, etc. Head Start is for families that can't afford books, etc., which keeps the kids behind when they get to school. Head Start doesn't give them an advantage over your kids--your kids already have that advantage by virtue of your middle-class life. Head Start just helps the kids try to catch up with your kids so they don't keep getting left behind.

The funny thing is the BIGGEST subsidies in this nation are for businesses. Sure it does good (encourages investment) as does Head Start, but you never hear anyone complaining that they pay taxes for it and don't get to benefit.

No one ever complains about the millions in subsidies for General Dynamics but would greedily snatch a 50-cent cup of milk out of the hands of a starving child.

sad

I agree totally with Fireball on this issue
I voted for him (Clinton),if he would have been able to run for a third term,I would have voted for him again. He really improved health care and education for children,this is only one of the reasons why I voted for him.As for the cigar,he was our president yes, but he was also human,he did have faults,his faults made him more likeable to alot of people.He can also play a mean sax :)

[Willow]

Clinton may have cheated on his wife but so have a lot of other men but because they aren't in the public eye no one makes a big deal out of it. I don't care what Clinton did with his intern, he made a pretty good president. He did a better job than the buffoon who is president now will ever do.

[Dolly<3]

Originally posted by Fireball

The whole point of Head Start is that kids from disadvantaged families need a little head start to catch up with the kids from middle class families when they get in school. Your kids don't need it 'cause they come from homes that can afford books, etc. Head Start is for families that can't afford books, etc., which keeps the kids behind when they get to school. Head Start doesn't give them an advantage over your kids--your kids already have that advantage by virtue of your middle-class life. Head Start just helps the kids try to catch up with your kids so they don't keep getting left behind.

The funny thing is the BIGGEST subsidies in this nation are for businesses. Sure it does good (encourages investment) as does Head Start, but you never hear anyone complaining that they pay taxes for it and don't get to benefit.

No one ever complains about the millions in subsidies for General Dynamics but would greedily snatch a 50-cent cup of milk out of the hands of a starving child.

sad

Woohoo!

[zitra]

Originally posted by Patchouli
Clinton may have cheated on his wife but so have a lot of other men but because they aren't in the public eye no one makes a big deal out of it. I don't care what Clinton did with his intern, he made a pretty good president. He did a better job than the buffoon who is president now will ever do.

I agree, and remember even JFK cheated on his wife.

[momfromTN]

I don't believe Head Start is going to close up. No way. And I totally disagree with all of this Bush Bashing, but you all are entitled to your opinion. The man is not perfect and will not do everything the way you all want it, or how I want it. I don't see how Clinton did much for our country, except closing needed military bases and paring down our Intelligence agencies and FBI, which, in my opinion, contributed greatly to the 9/11 tragedy. No, I am not totally blaming Clinton for 9/11. That would be stupid. But, I feel he did, even if unintentionally, have a hand in it.

And BTW, I am a registered Republican and I am in NO WAY rich. To make such generalizations about Republicans is like saying ALL democrats or liberals are tree-hugging, anti-family, and immoral.(which is in no way true)
Oh and even though it might not have been much, did any of you who hate Bush so much, donate your tax rebate from last year, or your additional child tax credit check to a charity or give it back to the government? Just wondering. But hey, you all can say what you want and I will say what I want. I refuse to get into a big hairy argument. No time for crap like that. :)

I will vote for him again, should he run. Unless another candidate is better, IMO. I vote the person, not the party.

[Azriel_LittleHawk]

most of you seem SURPRISED that he's trying to can HS?



"May be true about Clinton, but I don't think the $$ for the cigar came out of the Head Start budget."

**giggling and pointing to this quote* dats a good un...mind if i borrow that? *ROTFL*


as for Clinton...i don't care if he was doing the dallas cowgirl cheerleeding squad or a herd of Llama's...as long as he did a good job as prez.


as for "DUBYA"? i have been trying DESPERATELY NOT to get into how i feel bout him...so...i shall not commnet ANY further.

HEADSTRT is an AWESOME program...

as for this "WAR" *sneer noted in voice* i DO support the TROOPS..i just don't support the TRUE underlying reasons why "we" are doing what we are doing where-ever our troops currently are.. **i stopped watching tv when the war started except for BTVS..because of all the propaganda flying so thick. so as far as i know..we could've invaded timbucktoo!!*L* and have just as little reason to do so as we did in iraq...everything and i mean EVERYTHING boils down to power & $$.


and dammit..i wsn't going there..oh well..smack me later for being true to my own convictions.

TAKE CARE!!
Az

[ladybreaker]

"Oh and even though it might not have been much, did any of you who hate Bush so much, donate your tax rebate from last year, or your additional child tax credit check to a charity or give it back to the government? Just wondering. But hey, you all can say what you want and I will say what I want. I refuse to get into a big hairy argument. No time for crap like that."


I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE ABOVE STATEMENT!!

i always thought the head start programs were mostly funded by the local gov.??that is how it is here in louisiana.yes,they get help from the federal gov. but not 100%.

JMHO

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by Azriel_LittleHawk
most of you seem SURPRISED that he's trying to can HS?



"May be true about Clinton, but I don't think the $$ for the cigar came out of the Head Start budget."

**giggling and pointing to this quote* dats a good un...mind if i borrow that? *ROTFL*


as for Clinton...i don't care if he was doing the dallas cowgirl cheerleeding squad or a herd of Llama's...as long as he did a good job as prez.


as for "DUBYA"? i have been trying DESPERATELY NOT to get into how i feel bout him...so...i shall not commnet ANY further.

HEADSTRT is an AWESOME program...

as for this "WAR" *sneer noted in voice* i DO support the TROOPS..i just don't support the TRUE underlying reasons why "we" are doing what we are doing where-ever our troops currently are.. **i stopped watching tv when the war started except for BTVS..because of all the propaganda flying so thick. so as far as i know..we could've invaded timbucktoo!!*L* and have just as little reason to do so as we did in iraq...everything and i mean EVERYTHING boils down to power & $$.


and dammit..i wsn't going there..oh well..smack me later for being true to my own convictions.

TAKE CARE!!
Az


Thats OK AZ, I will still send ol' Dubya over to give you a big wet sloppy one!!! SSSSMMMMOOOOOOCCCCHHHH!~!!!! LOL! :D

[Azriel_LittleHawk]

please don't....i would like to be able to at some future point mate with a male again..and that would *shiver* make me swear off men for the rest of my days!! don't do this to me!! please!!! i'm begging...i'll be good i PROMISE!!!!


*ROTFL*

*the above is what my mind comes up with due to lack of sleep..please laugh and don tke it to seriously...all in good fun...*

momfromTN you bust me up...**make me laugh*

[Willow]

As I said before in another thread I didn't not receive a tax rebate, so no, this Bush "hater" as you like to call us did not have anything to send back. lol

[zitra]

"Oh and even though it might not have been much, did any of you who hate Bush so much, donate your tax rebate from last year, or your additional child tax credit check to a charity or give it back to the government? Just wondering. But hey, you all can say what you want and I will say what I want. I refuse to get into a big hairy argument. No time for crap like that."

Just FYI there was no ADDITIONAL tax credit...it was an advance tax credit (came out of your income tax refund for the next year)..when it comes time to get your income tax refunds next year there will be NO child tax credit. So of course I would not donate it, becuase it was already MINE..it was taken from MY income tax refund..yes may have been early but was still mine!!

[zitra]

as for this "WAR" *sneer noted in voice* i DO support the TROOPS..i just don't support the TRUE underlying reasons why "we" are doing what we are doing where-ever our troops currently are.. **i stopped watching tv when the war started except for BTVS..because of all the propaganda flying so thick. so as far as i know..we could've invaded timbucktoo!!*L* and have just as little reason to do so as we did in iraq...everything and i mean EVERYTHING boils down to power & $$.



Couldn't agree with you more on that AZ!1

[Willow]

Didn't Bush just recently apoligize by admitting on National television that Saddam had nothing to do with the September 11th attacks. Don't anyone quote me because I'm not sure of the exact story but I just read something that was posted at a Yahoo group I belong to pertaining to it.

[miccit]

Head Start is a federally funded preschool. Most of them do receive funding from local organizations also. Head Starts are usually funded through another organization like United Way, that is how they receive their federal grants. Head Start is a predominately low income preschool (we're talking way below the poverty level), but they are required to accept any child on an IEP and 15% of their classroom population is to be over income (this includes kids on IEP's)

I am involved with Head Start as a volunteer and employee. Yes, Bush is trying to do away with Head Start. Due to budget cuts last year, our council had to close 2 Head Start locations. We also had to cut staff and have less money for our classrooms.

Bush is cutting social programs left and right. Last year he cut all funding to energy assistance programs. So they no longer get federal funds only what can be raised locally.

I think it is awful. We are billions of dollars in debt and now they are saying by the end of the war it will be almost $500 billion dollars in debt. That is just wrong. We have people starving on the streets here, people without medical insurance, homeless families, but we can give tax breaks to the rich and support a war.

:rolleyes:

[Willow]

It's very unfortunate that the "elected" president isn't serving this country. Yes, I'm talking about Mr. Gore.

[momfromTN]

Sorry, I meant "addtional" tax credit. AND I NEVER said everyone who disagrees with Bush is a "hater". That goes along with the more liberal minded view of "intolerant", which I loathe.

BTW, I didn't get the advance credit either. Didn't bother me in the least.

[momfromTN]

Gore wasn't elected. There was a recount, done by democrats that showed Bush won. So get over it.

[Willow]

Bush didn't win anything and I won't get over it. I thought you didn't have time to argue this crap. lol

[jaimethepooh]

since i'm from florida i would just like to say
my county did their count right
so it wasn't my fault.

nothing more to add
staying out of thread

[momfromTN]

:rolleyes:

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by Patchouli
Bush didn't win anything and I won't get over it. I thought you didn't have time to argue this crap. lol

LOL! You are right, guess I am addicted, but I am really gone now. Thanks!:D

[Willow]

Originally posted by jpooh
since i'm from florida i would just like to say
my county did their count right
so it wasn't my fault.

nothing more to add
staying out of thread

jpooh it's okay. My parents live in Florida and they say it wasn't their fault either. lol

[girlwithsoul]

A friend sent this to me. It's what President Busy SHOULD say and it was written by Greg Palast. It's pretty good if you ask me.

I come to you tonight with a heavy heart. Two years ago today, thousands of innocent Americans were murdered by terrorist maniacs.

In the script I've been handed, I'm now supposed to tell you that America is safer today, and that the world is kinder and nicer and happier, because of I'm such a brilliant general in the War on Terror.

But who are we kidding? Yesterday, Osama released his new hit video. The terrorists are having a picnic ever since I turned over our foreign policy to Saudi Arabia and Exxon-Mobil.

And here's the point in my speech where my handlers would have me tell you about how I've been praying hard, making it sound like I just got off the phone with the Lord. I don't know about you, but I find it
pretty darn offensive, downright blasphemous, to drag the Lord's name into every cheap campaign speech and chest-pounding war threat. Osama says he talks to God too. Let's leave Him out of the politics from now
on, OK?

Look, in my speech this past Sunday, I used the word "democracy" about 11 times when talking about Iraq. It's democracy Florida-style, I suppose. Except we're not fixing the vote this time … we aren't letting these people vote at all. "Iraqis aren't prepared for democracy." That's what Dick Cheney and Saddam Hussein told me.

So we're blowing 100 billion bucks we don't have to colonize a country we don't want. Rummy tries to explain it to me each morning -- oil this and oil that -- but I just don't see it. And one of our kids dying there every day - where are their parents, anyway? My dad didn't let that happen - he got me out of the service. Didn't I look neat in that fly-boy suit?

And, let me tell you, I just looked at our nation's piggy bank. Uh-oh.

When I arrived, the last guy left me $4 trillion and said, "Be careful with all that cash in this neighborhood." Well, I have to level with you, America: it's all gone. The cupboard's bare and this year alone we blew half a trillion more dollars than we have in our bank account. Man, I can't believe I went through all that dough stone sober.

And what did we get for it? A Fatherland Security Department that's trying to read the labels on everyone's underpants. Think about it, all this Total Information Awareness KGB stuff: two years ago
Americans were the victims - but my government has made Americans the suspects. I don't know about you, but this guy Ashcroft scares the bejeezus out of me.

And today I'm told that over nine million Americans are out of work. That's not so bad: I haven't done much work in my lifetime either. But my mama explained to me that not everyone's daddy can lend them an
oil well to tide them over.

It's like I can't get anything right. The lights are going out in Ohio and the North Pole is melting. I don't get it. I appointed all those regulators that Ken Lay told me to, and I got rid of all the rules that got in the way of patriotic Polluter-Americans …. and what's the upshot? America the Beautiful is looking like she's had a pretty rough night. Won't be long before the whole country smells like Houston.

And now the stock market's floating face down in the swimming pool - despite everything I've done for those guys on Wall Street. Even my plan to give every millionaire an extra million seems to have backfired. Greenspam says I've created "business risk." Says I spook investors. But when I asked Greenspam for a solution, all he did was hand me a bag of pretzels.

Hey, I can take a hint. OK, I'm over my head on this one. I look back over these last years, and what have I got to show you for it: two years of bloodshed, economic devastation, and spreading fear in America
and abroad.

When I ran for this office, I said the issue was, "character." And just look at the characters around me. I've gotten all their resignations today. And while I've got some character left, here's my
own good-bye note too. Let's face it: I have held a title which I did not win, and for which I have proven unqualified. You know it. And I know it.

It's at this point in the speech where I'm supposed to say, "And may God bless America." God better, because Dick Cheney won't. Don't panic: I'm not turning over this sacred office to Mr. Contracts-R-Us.

Instead, I've petitioned the United States Supreme Court to pick a President for us. Those guys picked the last one, why not the next one?

And so, my fellow Americans, you can take this job and …."

[Willow]

That's good girlwithsoul. lol

[zitra]

deleted sorry was already stated..

[Azriel_LittleHawk]

as for the HEADSTRT program? the teachers and bus drivers that work there are the BEST!! my son, as some may know, has ADHD and some other issues...he was unable to attend n actual HS class, so they sent a teacher out once a week to teach him @ home...way above and beyond s far as i am concerned.
and for 2 yrs my lil girl went there...she's now in K, and i feel that without the loving guidence and teaching she received from her HS teachers..she would've had a tough time in K.





*squeeking with the effort NOT to say SOMETHING bout "DUBYA"*



*RUNNING QUICKLY AWAY*

[Willow]

[i]



*squeeking with the effort NOT to say SOMETHING bout "DUBYA"*



*RUNNING QUICKLY AWAY* [/B]


Come on Az you can do it. lmao

[ieatalot]

Originally posted by Maeryn
Speaking of...just got this in my email:

Just For Parents

A Newsletter from NHSA’s Government Affairs Division
September 2003

Please circulate this document to all Head Start parents

The Senate is now drafting legislation for Head Start reauthorization. Please continue your advocacy efforts to ensure Head Start’s survival and adequate funding.
Some senators would like to see a bi-partisan effort (both parties working together) go into drafting the future of Head Start. Suggestions are to fully fund Head Start within the next five years and to provide double funding for Early Head Start.
On September 10, 2003, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) offered an amendment to increase Head Start funding by $350 million. This would have allowed 36,000 additional children to enter Head Start, but the amendment failed by a vote of 47 to 47. Six senators were recorded as absent during time of the vote. NHSA commends Sen. Dodd and his colleagues for their efforts to increase Head Start funding from the $148 million increase proposed by the Bush administration. The proposed $148 million does not allow any additional children to enter Head Start.
It is important that the Head Start community do their part to ensure that Head Start remains intact and adequately funded. Please contact your senators and thank them for their support. Urge your senator to:
· Introduce legislation that will improve Head Start.
· Maintain the federal-to-local funding structure of Head.
· Provide adequate funding for Head Start.
A recent poll conducted by PAX World Funds (a socially responsible mutual fund family) shows a broad bipartisan support for Head Start as it is operated today. Most who were surveyed support expanding Head Start services to more eligible children. View results of the poll at www.saveheadstart.org
There is still time to register for the October 1-4, 2003, Leadership Conference at the Gateway Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. Visit www.nhsa.org for more information and registration details.
Don’t forget our monthly parent conference calls the third Wednesday of each month at 8:30 p.m. eastern time. The number for the call is (888) 457-6338, and the pass code is 5722#.
We look forward to having parents take part in these important leadership events.

It obvious that all these Bush bashers won't even try to comprehent the first sentence in the 3rd paragraph or they would see the words SENATE there & not the words PRESIDENT BUSH. geez, why start another Bush bashing thread when it isn't him who is starting all this crap in the first place, This thread isn't even worth my time reading because none of you are even commenting on the true story.

[Legion600]

Originally posted by ieatalot
It obvious that all these Bush bashers won't even try to comprehent the first sentence in the 3rd paragraph or they would see the words SENATE there & not the words PRESIDENT BUSH. geez, why start another Bush bashing thread when it isn't him who is starting all this crap in the first place, This thread isn't even worth my time reading because none of you are even commenting on the true story.

Okay, a comment on the true story.


NHSA commends Sen. Dodd and his colleagues for their efforts to increase Head Start funding from the $148 million increase proposed by the Bush administration. The proposed $148 million does not allow any additional children to enter Head Start.

The SENATE is not cutting the funding, they are trying to increase it. Read the whole story. The Bush administration does not want to increase funding which would allow 36,000 children to enter Head Start.

There is your comment on the true story. And for the record, the people who come in here just to thread crap bother me too.

[Willow]

Thank you Legion600!!!!!!

[ieatalot]

since when is it NOT the responsiblitiy of the parents to teach their children the basic needs of the things they will have to learn? By the time my daughter was 3, she knew most colors & a few letters of the alphabet & could count up to 10 etc. Before she had her test for going into kindergarden she was reading on a 1st grade level. She knew the whole start up of how the letters are placed on a key board. They even tested her catching ability & if she knew how to use a sissors. She needed to know her full name, how to spell it, her address, how to write it & if all the help she got from me, she could do all that plus more then what was asked of her back in 1988 when she started plus the fact that she also had a slight attention decifit problem that never prevented her from learning.

I have never been a SAHM so these are the things that we spent time together learning. I made learning fun ( btw, I never graduated high school but I do have my GED) sh emade it easy to teach because of the technics I used. It's not that hard to teach a child anything as long as you spend as much time trying to teach as you do with anything in todays world. It can be done, why should anything that a person needs to learn have to be taught by teachers? People need to start taking actions & doing what is expected of themselves as parents too.

[Willow]

Originally posted by ieatalot
since when is it NOT the responsiblitiy of the parents to teach their children the basic needs of the things they will have to learn? By the time my daughter was 3, she knew most colors & a few letters of the alphabet & could count up to 10 etc. Before she had her test for going into kindergarden she was reading on a 1st grade level. She knew the whole start up of how the letters are placed on a key board. They even tested her catching ability & if she knew how to use a sissors. She needed to know her full name, how to spell it, her address, how to write it & if all the help she got from me, she could do all that plus more then what was asked of her back in 1988 when she started plus the fact that she also had a slight attention decifit problem that never prevented her from learning.

I have never been a SAHM so these are the things that we spent time together learning. I made learning fun ( btw, I never graduated high school but I do have my GED) sh emade it easy to teach because of the technics I used. It's not that hard to teach a child anything as long as you spend as much time trying to teach as you do with anything in todays world. It can be done, why should anything that a person needs to learn have to be taught by teachers? People need to start taking actions & doing what is expected of themselves as parents too.


Just my opinion but I think you're way out of line here.

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by Fireball
Not all kids are as lucky as yours.
You're lucky that you can't even conceive of how needy their lives are.

Your children are lucky that you have the ability to teach them.
Many Head Start children come from accutely poverty stricken homes where a parent is absent or suffering from serious substance abuse problems.

You sound so angry at those poor little innocent kids.
Sure, the parents have made their own choices, and I can get angry at them for neglecting a child,
but I for one will not sentence a child to suffering because his mother is a jerk.

I can not walk by a suffering child and not help him.
I will try to help him pull himself up from poverty so he stops the cycle of poverty and makes something of himself.

It's an investment in the future.


Ok, I just had to comment here in defense of Ieatalot. How is she angry with kids? How is she out of line? Being poor does NOT make one stupid. There are lots of people who are poor but teach their children things. The first "school" is the home. There is nothing wrong with Head Start, or teachers, but Ieatalot is CORRECT in saying that parents need to take responsibility for their child's education and basic learning. I get tired of people acting like the government owes them or that the government is the one who should be raising the kids. That is what a PARENT is for. Now, I will agree that there are the poor kids whose parents are not fit to raise cats; on dope, drunkards, abusive, etc. Those kids do need a hand up and in a lot of cases, need to be put into a decent home, even if temporarily. But your average family should be able to teach their kids basic things. I have a friend who works and is a single mother and she taught her son colors, numbers, letters, how to write his name, etc, before kindergarten.
Having an opinion contrary to the popular is not being "out of line". She is entitled to her opinion. JMHO.
I have put on my flame retardant pants. Let the flaming begin.:D

[Willow]

I think that Headstart is a good way for kids to socialize and get used to a classroom setting. My son went to Headstart when he was 3 years old. I'm a single parent and I was going back to work so I needed to find a place for him to go during the day. I could not afford a regular preschool so Headstart was an alternative. I thought that enrolling him in Headstart would also help prepare him for kindergarten. I did not enroll him because I didn't want to bother teaching him things at home. He was tested before he actually started going and he did very well with the test. I don't think it's fair to assume that people enroll their children in Headstart because they don't want to teach them at home.

[momfromTN]

BTW, for my 4 yr old, Headstart was wonderful.

[Willow]

ieatealot made it sound like people were enrolling their children in Headstart because they didn't want to teach them things at home. That to me is out of line. No one has said that Headstart is a program to replace what kids should be taught at home. There are a lot of kids with learning disabilities that actually need a trained educator to work with them.

[momfromTN]

I guess interpretation is in the eye of the beholder.

[Donnagg123]

Originally posted by momfromTN
Being poor does NOT make one stupid. There are lots of people who are poor but teach their children things. The first "school" is the home. There is nothing wrong with Head Start, or teachers, but Ieatalot is CORRECT in saying that parents need to take responsibility for their child's education and basic learning. I get tired of people acting like the government owes them or that the government is the one who should be raising the kids. That is what a PARENT is for. Now, I will agree that there are the poor kids whose parents are not fit to raise cats; on dope, drunkards, abusive, etc. Those kids do need a hand up and in a lot of cases, need to be put into a decent home, even if temporarily. But your average family should be able to teach their kids basic things. I have a friend who works and is a single mother and she taught her son colors, numbers, letters, how to write his name, etc, before kindergarten.

I think that most people here would agree that the parent is the best teacher. BUT what if these parent's are NOT teaching them like they should? Should the child suffer because the parent maybe does not have the skills to teach their child certain things? Or maybe the parent works so many hours that all they can do is provide a home or what have you for the child and just does not have the time to spend with the child like they should? Should the child suffer then? If you have money you USUALLY have more oportunities for certain things that you would not otherwise have had access to.

I think the reason it is offered to lower income families is because they do not have the luxury of being a SAHM or a SAHD or even there are two parents but both have to work horrendous hours just to make ends meet. Or maybe the skills just are not there because their parents could not afford to teach them like they should. This does NOT apply to every one. There are ALWAYS exceptions to the rule. There are always going to be people who do NOT qualify financially for Head Start but they are not able to make ends meet as well. Or the families who are poor, but have the skills and time to teach their children things. However, when you are dealing with the public you have to look at the whole picture and not just the few you see everyday.

Also, you are correct in that being poor does not automatically make someone stupid just as being rich or being above poverty level does not always make someone smart. However, again, you have to look in general at the poor population, and in general either most do not have the skills or the time to teach their children basic things that people who are more affluent do. JMHO

[girlwithsoul]

I get tired of people acting like the government owes them or that the government is the one who should be raising the kids.

This to me is hilarious!!!!! Are you kidding???? Of COURSE the government owes us.....WE put them in power and WE keep them there. Without our tax dollars they wouldn't have a salary. The government needs to give back to its own people in every way possible, if you ask me, and what better way to start than to help the children of our country since, after all, they are our future and will someday run our country.

[momfromTN]

Thats not what I meant, girlwithsoul. The ones I am referring to are the ones who don't work, pay nothing in, and then expect a handout. I don't know about you, but I do NOT want the government telling me how to raise my kids, nor would I want THEM to raise my kids.

Besides, I said HeadStart is a good program.

[Azriel_LittleHawk]

"Also, you are correct in that being poor does not automatically make someone stupid just as being rich or being above poverty level does not always make someone smart."

umm...case in point? "DUBYA!!!!!!!!"

[Willow]

Originally posted by Azriel_LittleHawk
"Also, you are correct in that being poor does not automatically make someone stupid just as being rich or being above poverty level does not always make someone smart."

umm...case in point? "DUBYA!!!!!!!!"


lmao :D

[Azriel_LittleHawk]

*giggle* we are all so opinionated and passionate bout this!!

i do love vcoming here...makes me THINK!!

and RARELY..actualy change my mind...

take care y'all!

[heartlvrs]

And Clinton cared so much more about our kids? He was too busy diddling his intern with a high priced cigar I too think headstart is a good progam, but why is it just for the lower income? I pay taxes too and we don't qualify for it. I think it should be replaced by a progam that benefits all children, not just some. Maybe that is what he plans to implement, who knows? His family is very active in literacy progams so I don't see him just dropping the whole progam without an alternative

AMEN!!!! Why should it just be for lower income..we could all use help AND we ALL pay taxes...I so happen really like Bush and personally didnt like Clinton or Gore(y)

[mom2cvam]

My youngest just started Headstart this week and loves it. I think it is a wonderful program. Not only do they offer the program for the kids but they offer help to the parents to better their lives and provide something positive for the family. My daughter knows all her colors, her numbers to 15, can right her name, everything that she should know for kindergarten. I send her so that she can be better prepared for next year when she starts all day kindergarten and so that she can get the socialization with other kids. All my kids have been in the Head Start program and it has been a blessing. I don't depend on them to teach my kids, they help with areas that I may not be as able to teach as they can. I'm not a perfect parent but I try my hardest to be a good one. I teach my kids at home and I send them to school to learn also. I don't think thats wrong.

[miccit]

Head Start is not only a program to teach kids their colors, numbers, etc. It is a program to help the entire family. Head Start offers Nutrition training, literacy help, health assistance, help parents enroll in classes to better themselves, offer assistance with applying for assistance if needed, they also offer help finding housing if necessary, and a lot more I don't have room to write.

Head Start is predominately for extremely low income people because they are usually the ones who need the most help breaking out of the cycle of poverty. Most of these people grew up in poverty and just don't know how to get out. I am not saying all of the people are extremely poor, just most of them.

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by Azriel_LittleHawk
"Also, you are correct in that being poor does not automatically make someone stupid just as being rich or being above poverty level does not always make someone smart."

umm...case in point? "DUBYA!!!!!!!!"


There! Now ya happy??? Now I HAVE to find a pic of Bush blowing a big ol' sloppy wet one your way!:p

[Azriel_LittleHawk]

ok...darn pc!! the fans in it re tost..so when it gets to hot? it goes loopy...so..methinks i shall get off this beast and go watch ER premier!! YAY!!

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by Azriel_LittleHawk
ok...darn pc!! the fans in it re tost..so when it gets to hot? it goes loopy...so..methinks i shall get off this beast and go watch ER premier!! YAY!! http://www.apoplecticpress.org/bushhumpdeluxeversionthumb.gif

There you are AZ, Just what you wanted!!! LOL LOL LOL!!!:D

[Legion600]

Originally posted by heartlvrs
AMEN!!!! Why should it just be for lower income..we could all use help AND we ALL pay taxes...

Yep, everybody pays taxes. Guess what? You probably don't use or don't get to use 99.9% of what your taxes pay for. That's the way it works.

Why do people have such a problem with trying to improve things for those that need it most?

[ieatalot]

Okay, people think I am picking on their children because they are poor, let me tell you about poor. I quit school at 15 years old because of my drug habit. Got pregnant at 18, went totally straight so I wouldn't harm my baby. After she was born I went straight back to drugs & work but I didn't neglect my child. I worked at a crappy job, didn't have a pot to piss in yet I was still able to keep my wits enough to raise the child, teach my child, go to work, asked for no government assistant. The father ran out when he found out I was 'knocked up' & only after they found him, he only had to ever give me 15.00 a freaking week for support. I never missed a days work, never made my child go without anything before my drug habit. I put her first & foremost in everything. I finally went & cleaned myself up (again with no help from anyone buy myself)& have been straight everyday for close to 10 years now.I was qualified for any kind of assistant out there & took nothing because I made my bed so I slept in it.

Since my child is now a grown woman who made me a granny this summer & I see her going through any agency she can for help, that ticks me off to no end. She's a high school grad, doesn't do drugs, doesn't drink yet she thinks us tax payers should hand her everything on a silver plater because she was STUPID enough not to use a rubber because they (bf & her) were together over a year. This isn't how she was raised at all. She's bright & could do anything she wanted to do, we have plenty of jobs in this area that are hiring at the moment yet she wants a hand out. If she doesn't do the proper thing & raise that grand child of mine properly, I will cause her trouble & take the child legally from her. If I could raise a child with no help & all the addictions I had, she can do it too.

Thank you momfromtn for seeing what i said & the way it was meant to be heard.

I still am not considered rich by any means but I know how to budget my funds properly & I learned that all on my own.

[ieatalot]

oh btw way, my daughter & I have a great relationship. We always did but I won't allow her to learn how to live off of assistance when I know she is prefectly capable of doing things for herself. But I am still tough on her, I will never stop trying to teach her the proper way to do things for herself.

[Legion600]

Originally posted by ieatalot
But I am still tough on her, I will never stop trying to teach her the proper way to do things for herself.

The proper way...?
I can't even respond to your last two missives without getting banned.

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by Legion600
The proper way...?
I can't even respond to your last two missives without getting banned.

Ok, I am not trying to pick at you,Legion, but can you please tell me what is wrong with her post? I truly want to know. Is is NOT proper to teach someone to be self-sufficient? Is it bad to teach someone to fish, instead of giving them fish? Please elaborate, because I really want to know. :)

[Donnagg123]

I think that is great ieatalot that you did that for your child. I think what you are saying is that you have your childs best interest at heart and you do not want her to go thru the bad things you had to and to learn to "pull herself up by her bootstraps" so to speak. I also believe that the people who DO ask for assistance are usually trying to do the same thing for their children too.

They have their childs best interest at heart and do not want to see their children go thru the same bad things they had to and want them to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" too. It is just that they do it in a different way than you. Not a better or worse way, just a different way. And I say MOST who ask for assistance because I know inevitably that someone on here will say "well, I know so-and-so and they never worked a day in their life...." That is beside the point. I am talking about the majority of people who ask for assistance.

[Legion600]

Originally posted by ieatalot

...Got pregnant at 18, went totally straight so I wouldn't harm my baby. After she was born I went straight back to drugs & work but I didn't neglect my child...
...Since my child is now a grown woman who made me a granny this summer & I see her going through any agency she can for help, that ticks me off to no end. She's a high school grad, doesn't do drugs, doesn't drink yet she thinks us tax payers should hand her everything on a silver plater because she was STUPID enough not to use a rubber because they (bf & her) were together over a year. This isn't how she was raised at all. She's bright & could do anything she wanted to do, we have plenty of jobs in this area that are hiring at the moment yet she wants a hand out. If she doesn't do the proper thing & raise that grand child of mine properly, I will cause her trouble & take the child legally from her.
...I won't allow her to learn how to live off of assistance when I know she is prefectly capable of doing things for herself.

Exposing a child to an addiction is not putting a child first, and can be just as damaging psychologically as exposing them to drugs in the womb is physically.

So it's proper to take a child away from a person who feels that they need public assistance but you don't?
It isn't for you to decide. I'm curious as to what state you live in that allows people on public assistance to just sit around. After the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, States had to comply with new rules if they wanted Federal Grants for assistance programs. Among these rules is the provision that a person receiving assistance be either working at least part-time or attending some type of schooling in order to improve their ability to get a job and get off public assistance.
In other words momfromTN, teaching them to fish.

Once again let me point this out. YOU DON'T GET TO USE EVERYTHING YOUR TAXES PAY FOR. IF YOU DID I WOULD DRIVE A TANK AROUND.

Oh and ieatalot, I'm still waiting for your response on my comment on the article.

[momfromTN]

Thank you Legion. I didn't see that part you highlighted. The only time I could see calling social services, is if the child is being truly abused. And I do agree with the exposure to drug abuse thing too.

[ieatalot]

The proper way to me is not neglecting her child, making sure the child is well attended to. Any form of abuse to that child is not proper perenting at all. She never once knew I was on drugs. I never exposed my baby to it. She only recently knows the whole story behind my so call double life. There is absolutlel no reason in the world for her to have to go on any assistance at all. Had she wanted to go to college & better herself she knew I would have paid for her. I wouldn't have been able to afford to send her up a state college but I could have paid for a community college.


Exposing a child to an addiction is not putting a child first, and can be just as damaging psychologically as exposing them to drugs in the womb is physically. Maybe you should read the part where I went STRAIGHT for the nine months I was pregnant with her & comprehend what I wrote.

But now that my little baby is grown up, out of the house.......I am able to work 2 jobs instead of one so off I go to work a 14 hour shift today & won't be around to reply until very late this evening. There is special circumstances where a person really does need the assistance (IE not jobs in the area, too mant mouths to feed on a PT job, no way of getting to a job that is what of their area etc.) but that doesn't include my daughter. Sh elives near (within a ten mile vincinity) of a lot of jobs that are hiring now, H@ll I am even considering driving to that same area to look for another job myself but I hate to drive 20 miles for a job but will do so if it means I can better myself.

As for the parents who don't have any education to teach their child themselves then maybe they should pick up a book & atleast try to start learning something themselves so they have something, no matter how small but something to teach their child/children.

[zitra]

Originally posted by ieatalot
The proper way to me is not neglecting her child, making sure the child is well attended to. Any form of abuse to that child is not proper perenting at all. She never once knew I was on drugs. I never exposed my baby to it. She only recently knows the whole story behind my so call double life. There is absolutlel no reason in the world for her to have to go on any assistance at all. Had she wanted to go to college & better herself she knew I would have paid for her. I wouldn't have been able to afford to send her up a state college but I could have paid for a community college.

Maybe you should read the part where I went STRAIGHT for the nine months I was pregnant with her & comprehend what I wrote.

But now that my little baby is grown up, out of the house.......I am able to work 2 jobs instead of one so off I go to work a 14 hour shift today & won't be around to reply until very late this evening. There is special circumstances where a person really does need the assistance (IE not jobs in the area, too mant mouths to feed on a PT job, no way of getting to a job that is what of their area etc.) but that doesn't include my daughter. Sh elives near (within a ten mile vincinity) of a lot of jobs that are hiring now, H@ll I am even considering driving to that same area to look for another job myself but I hate to drive 20 miles for a job but will do so if it means I can better myself.

As for the parents who don't have any education to teach their child themselves then maybe they should pick up a book & atleast try to start learning something themselves so they have something, no matter how small but something to teach their child/children.

I think Legion meant that doing drugs while you have a child (not while pregnant with a child) is not putting the child fist. I would have to say I agree. The ONLY reason in my book for removing a child from a home is for physical, sexual or mental abuse. I do think however that doing drugs (even while you are not prgnant) can be pschycologicaly (sp) damaging to a child...people act differently on drugs than they would normally, and to see that can mess a chidl up..not saying it did yours, but it does happen.

You said if your daughter did not raise her daughter properly you would do what you coudl to take the child from her..Is it your right to judge what is proper for your DD or DGD? Living on public assitance is not a reason to take a child from their parent. Unless your DD is physically or mentally abusing your DGD you would not have a leg to stand on in court.

[Willow]

ieatalot I think you're making an awful lot of assumptions about people being poor and uneducated. Just because someone chooses to enroll their child in Headstart does not mean that they are poor or uneducated. I also don't think it's your place to decide who gets public assistance or why they get it. Considering you were once a drug user I don't think you have any room to judge others.

[Njean31]

there is no way a judge will take custody away from a parent just because they are on public assistance. i do believe though that the program needs some more serious changes. I get sick of seeing "poor" people at the grocery store using the food stamp card buying steaks, wearing diamonds, and getting into their lincoln and driving away. i like the concept of the head start program, just wish it was done a little differently. i think the income limits are very low, but just like wic and reduced lunches at school i guess everything has to have a cap.

[Katt]

It's weird. All the preschool's I checked into, when we lived in Ark charged tuition. We moved back here when my daughter was 4. I checked into headstart, and could have gotten her in, because firefighters wages still fall under the poverty level here. But, all the schools offer pre-k, so we got her in there. The school she used to go to, even has 3 year old classes now. It doesn't go by income, you just enroll them. All 3 of my children have been in pre-k and I have never once even questioned taking them out and using head start. (My SIL used head start, and while it was good for her daughter, they concentrated more on washing their hands between meals, than they did on teaching her to spell her name) I don't see why all schools in all area's don't do this. Almost all of them around here have pre-k for 4 year olds. *shrug*

[harloo]

Originally posted by Njean31
. I get sick of seeing "poor" people at the grocery store using the food stamp card buying steaks, wearing diamonds, and getting into their lincoln and driving away. i like the concept of the head start program, just wish it was done a little differently. i think the income limits are very low, but just like wic and reduced lunches at school i guess everything has to have a cap.

What type of poor people are you talking about, because the "POOR PEOPLE" I have worked with in the past does not drive a lincoln or wear diamonds. They get on the "BUS", and wear silver maybe. LOL.

I guess you may be encountering a different type of "POOR" where you live. However, I have worked with mothers who were trying to get their life together for their childen. Most of them were recovering drug addicts who needed public assistance to get themselves together. Never did I see any of them driving fancy cars or wearing diamonds.

I will say that their is some abuse in the system, however their is abuse in every system in America. Where their is money, their is always corruption involved.

Futhermore the Headstart program provides mothers assistance especially when they are low income and working and cannot find a suitable place for their child to go without being bankrupt.

I would rather contribute my tax dollars to a program that helps children, than rebuilding Iraq, and aligning the pockets of Bush's friends who create nuclear weapons.

As much money as this country spends on coporate welfare, and perks for the elected why is it so hard for them to give a child a sandwich and a apple. Is Bush that sick? I mean it's not that serious.

Bush is very afraid to ax Head Start because he knows the political fallout, and I suspect he won't touch it. However, it's pretty sad the way some people's mentality is concerning issues like this.

[Njean31]

the people i am talking about are here in fayetteville, nc. i do admit though every since that done those major changes in the system, that i don't see those type of people as much as i used to. i am all for public assistance, i'm just saying they need to change some things, especially fraud of the system and the income limits are low (IMO) for some programs.