Pre-K education key to area's future

Tom Chewning, the chairman of Virginia Early Childhood Education, said when he was growing up his mother read to him, took him to the zoo and gave him a bit of home-school education before he entered a classroom.

When he got to first grade he realized he was ahead of a lot of other children. Over time he realized that while his own mother was able to interact with him and teach him a great deal before he began school — a lot of people do not.

“The reasons our lives turned out well is because of our beginnings,” said Chewning at the Wednesday Club in Danville.

Chewning and Ann Stratton of Smart Beginnings Danville Pittsylvania County visited the club to discuss the importance of early childhood education in the community.

Chewning said that the earlier investments are made in education the greater the return. In a graphic he showed that there is potentially $16 of return for every $1 spent on early childhood education. He said that when children are being developed in their earliest years, what they are learning is long-lasting.

“Statistics show if children start out behind, then they stay that way,” said Chewning. There are massive statistics linking poverty, crime and poor education. Money spent now on children is less expensive and more effective than money spent much later when they are adults without an education, he pointed out.

According to statistics from Smart Beginnings, in Dan River Region, almost 20 percent of women give birth without a 12th grade education. More than 20 percent of women will not receive prenatal care in their first trimester and 60-70 babies are born to teens ages 15-17.

These statistics are one of the reasons Smart Beginnings is raising awareness for childhood reading, school readiness and general healthcare. Every preschool in Danville and Pittsylvania County has joined forces with Smart Beginnings to tackle the problem by increasing quality of child care centers and getting more people involved.

As the baby boomers eventually retire and companies look to the Dan River Region to locate their businesses, the area will need an educated workforce. Chewning points out that reaching children when they are young delivers some of the best results and a lifelong habit.

Stratton has been out in the community partnering up with local organizations for the cause, including the Danville Regional Foundation which awarded the largest donation — $5.4 million — to boost school readiness. Stratton hopes that people will see the positive impact of the cause, especially women.

“I really believe women are some of the most powerful advocates,” said Stratton, since many of them know the importance of early childhood development from raising their own children.

Stratton said one of the things people can do is talk to local legislators about the importance of early childhood education and encourage more state level funding which North Carolina spends five times more money on.

People can volunteer and visit http://www.smartbeginningsdp.org/ for more information.

Holland reports for the Danville Register & Bee.