Wednesday, October 1, 2003

LANSING -- In the coming months, parents of young children will be bombarded with messages to read to their kids, including the advice that "education begins at age zero."

They'll find it printed on grocery bags.

They'll hear it on television public service announcements.

They'll read it in church bulletins.

They'll see videos about it in doctor's waiting rooms.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm Tuesday announced a sweeping plan that will try to use donations in lieu of tax dollars as state coffers continue to run dry. The governor spoke to 1,000 educators, lobbyists and business executives gathered for a summit on early childhood education at the Lansing Center.

She said it's the beginning of a public education campaign similar to ones that taught parents about putting helmets on their bike-riding kids or sleeping babies on their backs to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

"We need to hit this from all directions if we are to create a movement, if we are to change people's minds about when education begins,'' Granholm said.

She said the notion that education begins in kindergarten is wrong. Research is clear that it starts with parents, at birth.

Granholm said the Grand Rapids-based Meijer Inc. has agreed to print messages about early childhood education on grocery bags, and the Michigan Broadcasters Association will air public service announcements about the importance of a "Great Start.''

The state's surgeon general, Kimberlydawn Wisdom, has asked gynecologists and pediatricians around the state to air videos in their waiting rooms on the importance of early childhood education, and 33 local health departments have agreed to run them in waiting rooms.

In addition, churches are being asked to place messages in their bulletins.

Other initiatives include:

Mike Flanagan, executive director of the Michigan Association of School Administrators and a former Granholm education adviser, said in some ways the lack of money is a "blessing in disguise" because it forces the whole community to get involved in improving education.

"In tough budget times, you don't have to just stand still,'' he said. "I think this is the whole concept of 'working in the rain'.''

Paul Shaheen, executive director of the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, said to improve childhood education, the state will have to invest millions for early education of poor children.

But, he said, Granholm's use of the bully pulpit is very effective. He said the governor has been holding brainstorming meetings herself in recent weeks and drawing from a broad range of people in government and business.

"This is a major personal commitment,'' Shaheen said. "She's moving everybody.''

- Contact Judy Putnam at (517) 487-8888 or e-mail her at jputnam@boothnewspapers.com.