Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Is pot a GMO plant? 'Girl power': Women ran farms in early-day Southern Oregon Emergency services, May 10 Art in Bloom in downtown Medford Emergency services, May 9 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, May 10 Emergency services, May 9 Jackson County deputies searching for wanted man after pursuit Medford man sentenced in machete attack Suspect in OSP meth stop will face federal charges Politics and Elections Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Education Medford schools still filling admin roles Appeals court rules against Central Point schools on bus outsourcing Hedrick principal to take helm at North Medford High School More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Elementary students honor local police officers Environment Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford State News Remains of soldier killed in 1951 to be buried in Roseburg Obama makes pitch on trade deal at Nike: 'Just do it' Forecast for 2015 predicts busy wildfire season Cheers and protest signs greet President Obama in Oregon Oregon Senate OKs bill banning 'conversion therapy' Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Dorothy Evans Helen Nadine Sankey Dickie Miles Hayes Nita Day Layne Alan Battenfield Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Braaten races to win at Speedway Johnson stays long, wins late at Kansas South settles for SWC split with GP North sweeps GP, remains tied atop SWC OSU tosses second straight shutout Varsity 541 College Sports OSU tosses second straight shutout Maguin steals the show Trio of Raiders shine as CC meet opens Beavers' Moore shuts out Utah, 3-0 Oregon clinches share of Pac-12 title Pro Sports Braaten races to win at Speedway Grizzlies take series lead over Warriors Borchers, Valeri score, Timbers beat Impact Pierce's buzzer-beater lifts Wiz past Hawks Kirk nudges in front at Players Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories People in Business Business briefs: Avista, Mcintosh, BOLI Blog: 1-800-Flowers.com SEC filing provides peek into Harry & David revenue and cost figures Blog: Mom is Our Hero! Ride & Drive: 2015 BMW 428i Gran Coupe Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority Letters to the Editor, May 10 Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers George Will: The gospel according to Huckabee Dana Milbank: A performance by Lindsey and the Jets Editorials Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority Other Views: Court ruling means PERS reform is dead Our View: Could self-serve ban be on the way out? Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Set firm deadlines on blighted houses Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 10 Letters to the Editor, May 8 Letters to the Editor, May 7 Letters to the Editor, May 6 Letters to the Editor, May 5 Columns Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers George Will: The gospel according to Huckabee Dana Milbank: A performance by Lindsey and the Jets Charles Krauthammer: Free Willy! Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s important election – in royal political context Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan Lifestyle Latest stories Sorcerer-historians and hunted boats New Arrivals Adopt a pet: Meet Edna One-derful once-blooming roses Mom's lemon meringue pie still feeds me Food Community blog: Sorry, Mom, there's more than one beef stroganoff Community blog: Teatime is anytime when recipes brew new dishes Eat your greens (tea, that is) Season Stepp: Make some cheesecake mousse-filled strawberries Page H. Onorato: Baked potato soup is comfort in a bowl Home and Garden One-derful once-blooming roses Breathe easier with whole-house air purification Dear Monty: Water rights of property owners Paul Rogers: ‘Living’ mulches a healthy alternative to bark Heirloom tomatoes bring ageless flavor Health Community blog: Don't Fall for This Part 2 Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day New cardiac rehab center opens at Asante RRMC Community blog: You and Me at 83... Search on for new medical provider for Butte Falls, Prospect clinics Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Milestones and Achievements Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest Dancing People Company presents 'Salon Series' Theater REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Music Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Earthquake benefit for Nepal Community Events 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Movies Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Tom Hardy adapts to life as Mad Max Victor D. Infante: ‘Avengers’ begs the questions, ‘Why superheroes, and why now?’ Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Dining Restaurant inspections: May 10, 2015 Wood-fired pies at Peace of Pizza Trium is a classic example of a boutique winery Restaurant inspections, May 3, 2015 Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Sorcerer-historians and hunted boats ... Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority ... Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers ... Sorcerer-historians and hunted boats ... Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority ... Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children's Center By Richard P.F. Holt MailTribune.com By Richard P.F. Holt Posted May. 8, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Richard P.F. Holt Posted May. 8, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The recent news that the Schneider Children’s Center at Southern Oregon University will be closing should be a concern for everyone in the Rogue Valley. Instead of this center closing, we should be opening others like it. My prediction is that sooner or later we will recognize the importance of high-quality preschool education for all children in America, particularly in light of recent events in Baltimore, Md., as the best way to fight poverty and racial discrimination. Poverty, like teen births, is often attributed to family and culture. But children often face the same economic, political and social barriers their parents faced. This can explain much about intergenerational poverty. This cycle needs to be broken. As other countries have shown, the best place to start is with preschool education. Since the 1970s, child poverty rates in the United States have consistently been much higher than the poverty rates for other age groups and far exceed those in other developed countries. Oregon follows that trend, but unfortunately our numbers are worse. In 2014 the child poverty rate in Oregon was 23 percent, while the national average was 22.6 percent. The proportion of single-parent families with children below the poverty level was 39 percent, and more children enter foster care homes in Oregon than in any other state and stay longer. The statistics are especially disconcerting when we consider children 5 years of age or less. These children are the most vulnerable to poverty and suffer most from its effects. Child poverty has long-term costs to Oregon and to the United States. These costs have been well documented, with economists calculating the economic losses associated with child poverty to be nearly 4 percent of gross domestic product. To put this number in perspective, the total amount the federal government spends on poverty outside of Medicaid is less than 2 percent of GDP. Needless to say, there are also more important costs that go beyond GDP. These involve children’s development as independent and happy people, able to be part of and contribute to their community for life. What can we do about this? The evidence is pretty clear. There are two primary factors that have significantly reduced child poverty in other countries: high-quality early childhood programs and paid parental leave. According to Nobel-Prize winning economist James Heckman, the benefit from investments in early childhood education is found not only in school and workplace performance, but also in developing non-cognitive skills, which appears to lead to less criminal activity and better integration into the societal mainstream for these children. These studies are based on data from children who attended a variety of early childhood programs. Some of these programs did not yield much return at all, so it is important to stress that the investments must be in the right kind of programs. The most successful have been universal prekindergarten education; the Abecedarian program; and the Nurse-Family Partnership program, involving home visits to first-time mothers from disadvantaged backgrounds. Expanding participation of low-income children to quality preschool education should be a top priority for all Oregonians — I want to emphasize quality! The question now is how do we pay for it. In 2013, Oregon lawmakers added $7 million in funding for employment-related day care, to help low-income working families with child care costs. But this program is targeted to the needs of working parents, not to early childhood development. While these subsidies undoubtedly raise the number of children of all ages in child-care programs, the focus is not on enrollment in the high-quality preschool programs that have been successful in altering the life paths of many children. Also, many of the returns (better health and less crime) do not end up as cost savings to school districts but savings for other local or state government agencies such as law enforcement and health care. Without cost sharing from these groups, treating preschool as an investment with a high return does not make financial sense for schools and higher education alone. Finally, studies in local economic development show investment in preschool programs is a better investment of taxpayers' dollars than providing costly tax subsidies to businesses. Though business incentives pay off more quickly than early childhood programs, they are less effective at raising earnings of the lowest income groups or creating employment. We know how to lower the rate of poverty, but do we have the commitment at SOU and in the state to do so? Richard P.F. Holt is a prize-winning author and Professor of Economics at Southern Oregon University.       By Richard P.F. Holt MailTribune.com By Richard P.F. Holt Posted May. 8, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501