For those who don't know, Phil Bredesen is the Governor of the state of Tennessee. This is a subject I feel strong about, so I decided to write to him, the rest should explain itself.
Dear Sir,My name is Sarah Strasser and I am the mother of 2 beautiful boys. Adam Robert is 5 and Charlie Moss is 3. I am writing to you in response to my own disgust at the cuts in our school system, particularly the Pre K program. My oldest boy had the privilege to attend Pre K this year at College Grove Elementary for about 2 and a half months. In just that short amount of time, the benefits I saw, the changes in him, were astounding. I do credit this to a wonderful teacher (Ms. Rebecca Smith) and an even better school, but he wouldn't be where he is now without it. His drawings went from scribbles to taking shape: showing actual people, colors, objects. His letters became legible and he is even able to write his name and other words. He can read small words and sit, listening quietly to an entire story, maintaining interest the whole time. That is just a few of the academic changes. His self esteem shot through the roof. His personality exploded. It's like he just bloomed right before my eyes, in just 2 and a half months! Imagine the benefits to a child attending for the whole year! With the stiffening curriculum in kindergarten, I'm afraid he would've been lost when he began school a week ago. I've been keeping up with the news releases on all the happenings with Pre K cuts, but the most disturbing, and ultimately why I'm writing you, was what I read today. I read that testing was being done on kids that had gone through Pre K on completion of kindergarten and 1st grade. It said that there are benefits in the first 2 years but that by 2nd grade, the benefits had disappeared. Even if this is true, don't you think that:
A. The benefits to those first 2 years is well worth Pre K, and
B. The social, emotional, and self esteem benefits are just as important, and
C. That if the benefits fade by 2nd grade, that maybe we should take a look at what happens in that time to possibly continue those benefits?
I am devastated that Pre K may be gone by the time my youngest would enter, but I'm even more troubled that the government continues to steal our tax dollars are most needed: our schools. I do the best I can as a stay at home mother but I fight a disease called Lupus that, unfortunately, takes me away from my boys at times. After nearly losing my life several times in the last 3 years, I now realize how important these things are. I want to be sure my boys are well educated, even if I'm not here to oversee it.
Mr. Bredesen, I am a voter. I am a voter who has been in your corner if for nothing else, your stance and efforts in this issue. Please don't make me regret this fact.
I am 100% willing to volunteer my time and efforts to anything to help these things I've discussed. In fact, I volunteer almost daily at my son's school. Please notify me of anything I can do to help.
On one final note, I'd like to reiterate how fantastic I think College Grove Elementary is, as well as the rest of Williamson County schools. I'm amazed at how they care for my kids and do the best they can with what they have. They should be highly praised.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sarah Strasser
Mom to Adam and Charlie
