RICHMOND -
Governor Tim Kaine says he hopes Governor-elect Bob McDonnell does not cut funding to early childhood education initiatives and pre-kindergarten programs he has introduced to the Commonwealth.
The governor addressed members of the Virginia Board of Education during its monthly meeting Tuesday morning.
While acknowledging Virginia's budget deficit, the governor said if there is one education program he hopes the next administration spares it would be the early childhood education programs Governor Kaine helped launch.
"I never hear them arguing about kindergarten, so I don't know what the difference is between pre-K and kindergarten. We did kindergarten because it was demonstrated that kids can really absorb and learn greatly if you teach them earlier in life. So we didn't used to have kindergarten, but we do, everyone accepts it. The brain research in the last 10 years has shown that that brain development occurs so much earlier so it strikes me that any griping about pre-K may be a little bit more political about who advances it rather than the merits, " said Governor Kaine.
The governor addressed members of the Virginia Board of Education during its monthly meeting Tuesday morning.
While acknowledging Virginia's budget deficit, the governor said if there is one education program he hopes the next administration spares it would be the early childhood education programs Governor Kaine helped launch.
"I never hear them arguing about kindergarten, so I don't know what the difference is between pre-K and kindergarten. We did kindergarten because it was demonstrated that kids can really absorb and learn greatly if you teach them earlier in life. So we didn't used to have kindergarten, but we do, everyone accepts it. The brain research in the last 10 years has shown that that brain development occurs so much earlier so it strikes me that any griping about pre-K may be a little bit more political about who advances it rather than the merits, " said Governor Kaine.
