This comprehensive history describes policies and programs for the education of three-, four-, and five-year-olds in the United States from the colonial era to the present. It also traces efforts to make preschool education a part of the public school system and shows why these efforts have been rejected, despite increasing evidence that preschools are beneficial for all young children.
Drawing on archival records, alumnae files, interviews, and many other sources, Barbara Beatty provides a portrait of preschool education that includes the experiences of children, parents, and teachers....

This provocative volume takes a critical look at how psychology and the social sciences have been applied to the lives of children, particularly in education, parenting, and child welfare. Contributions by senior scholars and promising new voices offer fresh, balanced perspectives on key questions.