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There are various terms used for preschool, both in America and other countries. Kindergarten for 5-year olds used to to be a pre-school, but now is increasingly part of the public school system. In the United States, the term K-12 is increasingly being used to describe the public school system. There are various terms used to describe preschool. The nursery level is quite varied, primarily because most of the schools are privately operated. While many states promote Kindergarten for 5 year olds, as far as we know, no state provide nursery schools for younger children. As a result quality pre-schools have been primarily available to affluent families. Here there have been efforts to assist working families. The New Deal during the Depression set up Works Progress Administration pre-schools. Some companies like Kaiser Industries during World War II set up pre-schools for workers. One of the innovations of President Johnson's Great Society was Head Start to provide nursery schools for low-income families. But nothing significant except Kindergarten had been dome to deal with pre-school education. And this became a real problem as more women entered the work force. Child care for working mothers except for Head Start is provided by the private sector and can be very expensive. The need for publicly funded pre-schools is obvious. Pre-school in America is mostly provided by the private sector. Many mothers and in some cases dads decide they can not work, because day care and other expenses mean family disposable income will actually fall if they go to work outside the home. Importunately, Progressives in America have not made in a priority, preferring a range of welfare or other programs like climate change and wealth distribution that have rung up unprecedented debt in America.
We are not sure about the chronology of day cares in America. Surely some were established during the 19th century, but we have not yet found photographs of 19th century day cares. Some of them may have been informal efforts in the homes of neighbors. Here factors such as demographics (large rural popularions) and the limited percentage of working mothers were all factors. This changed after the turn-of-the 20th century when we begin to see day cares. Here the early day cares seem to be in working-class neighborhoods. Many more affluent mothers did not work and could often afford help in the home. As more and more mothers worked, the need for day care grew. This was especially the case during World war I and World War II. Many women worked outside the home for the first time during World War II. After World war II the increasing involvement of women in the work force greatly expanded the need for day care.
There are various terms used for preschool, both in America and other countries. Kindergarden for 5-year olds used to to be a pre-school, but now is increasingly part of the public school system. In the United States, the term K-12 is increasingly being used to describe the public school system. The various ternms used to describe preschool include day care, nursery school, play school, and pre-primary school. Creche is another common term, but mostly in other countries. These terms all describe the same thing, a facility offering both day care and educational experiences preparing for primary school. The actual term privides insights as to wether simople day care as opposed to education sre importnt. Age makes a big difference. For the very young children it is primarily child care. For the somewhat older children actual education can begin.
As far as we know, states did not set up day schools as part pf the public school system. We think many were private. Many churches today sponsor low-cost day cares, but we are not sure when this began. Some of the settlement houses seem to have sponsored day care. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Depressuion sponsored day cares. And many companies during World War II set up day cares for all the mothers who got jobs in war industries. The Federal Goveernment got involved with Head Start (1960s).
American public education began with the 1st grade, generally with children 6 years of age. This continued into the early-20th century. Some schools began adding kindergardens to the systemin the late=20th century, but even in the mod-20th century, Kinderf=gardend were highly iniversal. As part of President Johnson's ar on Poverty, Head Start programs were launched (1960s) which were basically pre-schools. For most Americvasns, however, pre-school children were cared for at home, often with the help of grandparents or other family members. This was not a srious problem when most mothers were hime keepers. There were experimnts with nursery, often provided by employers, during the World War I and II emergencies. There wee also experients during the Depression with the New Deals's Works Progress Administration. But nothing siugnificant except Kindergarten had been dome to deal with pre-school education. And this became a real problem as more women entered the work force. Child care for working mothers exceopt for Head Start is provided by the private sector and can be very expensive.
Facilities for these schools varied widely. Some were very basic. Others had surprisingly elaborate facilities for the children. This included both indoor and outdoor facilities. Of course this varied ober time, but it is something we can follow closely with the photographic record. It offers details not only on the physical facilities, but what is going on at these schools. . Here we see a charming photo taken in 1934 of three nursery-school age children (about 4 years old) in their communal bathroom (figure 1). It is certainly a well-appointed schhool for the little ones. All seem to be boys because they all wear short pants, although the longer hair style of the middle child might indicate that this is a girl. Two of the boys wear button-on suits with matching tops and short trousers, ankle socks and low cut shoes. The child in the center wears a longish jacket over shorts, long tan stockings with supporters, and highshoes. The precise location of the school isn't clear, but this nursery school seems to be located somewhere near Ithaca, New York. It may have had a connection with the School of Ecology and Human Development at Cornell University which sponsored various experimental schools as part of its research program. This may explain the rather elsborate facilities. The clothing seems to be very typical of four-year-olds in the eastern part of the country--upper New York state, 1934.
The need for publicly funded pre-schools is obvious. Pre-school in America is mostly provided by the private sector. Many mothers and in some cases dads decide they can not work, because day care and other expenses mean family disposable income will actually fall if they go to work outside the home. Importunately, Progressives in America have not made in a priority, preferring a range of welfare or other programs like climate change and wealth distribution that have rung up unprecedented debt in America. As a result, few states are in a fiscal position to launch publicly funded pre-schools. Nor does the debt-ridden Federal Government have the funds needed to assist them. Added to this, public education, once the jewel of American democracy, has come under increasing criticism. American schools despite unprecedented funding, or failing at teaching even the most basic core subjects like reading and math. Many students, especially minority students graduate with extremely poor reading and math skills. Extraordinarily, rather than demand the schools do a better job of teaching, the civil Rights community once claimed that the English language was racist (promoting Black English) and now actually claim that 'math is racist'. This is a tragic development because in our modern age, math skills are essential to get a decent paying job. Added to all of this is the increasing Progressive polarization of the public schools led by the teachers unions. Rather than focusing on reading and math skills, the schools increasingly teach patently erroneous ideas like America is an evil racist country and sexual identity matters to which many parents object. And increasingly, Progressives are now pushing the the idea that parents should not interfere with what is being taught their children (2022). Progressives insist that they know best and education should be left to the professionals. w. President Biden's FBI under Attorney General Garland's orders actually began 'interviewing' parents who were complaining about what their children were being taught. Because of this, the prospect for any major action on pre-school education is doubtful for the foreseeable future.
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