Laura Crumpler: Invest in early education

Michael Walden’s July 12 Point of View “A plan with no downside” about supporting infrastructure was spot on and equally as apropos with respect to our other infrastructure: our children and their health and education.

It is time for our country, like other progressive countries, to invest in universal daycare and pre-K and ensure the health of our youngest residents as well as their readiness to enter kindergarten.

The return on investment will be manifested in the creation of jobs, especially in rural communities; in reduced costs of health care long term; in more children being ready to learn in school; in fewer dropouts; and hopefully a reduced prison population.

When we wait until kids are school-aged to start their educational journey, we wait too long.

They do this in other countries with huge success. We need to catch up to civilization and nurture it.

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Laura Crumpler: Invest in early education."