Preparing

children to be socially competent is the key

purpose of preschool education, according to Dawn

Oparah, local education specialist.

She

addressed about 75 preschool teachers and

directors attending the annual Fayette County

Preschool Conference last week at Holy Trinity

Catholic Church.

Oparah

urged teachers to allow children the time to

learn to get along and discover through

interaction that the world does not revolve

around them. This skill supersedes academics, she

said. "They are getting ready to learn, she

said."

Recognizing

the increasing number of parents who want their

children to "be ahead" and be accepted

in gifted programs when they reach elementary

school, Oparah urged directors to head off

unrealistic expectations with parent workshops

prior to school opening.

"Kids

feel pressure imposed by expectations," said

Oparah. "These children are going into

elementary school with problems with depression

and anxiety attacks," she added, referring

to some second and third graders she has

encountered. "Kids are going to learn if you

create an environment for learning take place.

Too much pressure is counterproductive."

Fayette

County school superintendent John DeCotis, Ph.D.,

opened the conference emphasizing in his remarks

the importance of early childhood education.

"Nowadays, there's more emphasis on it. More

and more children are going to school at an

earlier age, and research shows how important it

is. We (the school district) rely on what you do

to prepare our students."

He

advocated a "development" approach to

education as the best way to teach, "taking

into consideration that children learn at

different rates."

"Keep

in mind how important your role is; the job is

much more important than the pay you

receive," DeCotis said, as the audience

laughed in appreciation. He advised the teachers

and directors to take time with their students,

adding, "The small gain that you see can be

a huge gain for that child."

He

also encouraged them to establish good dialogue,

network and "Keep up the hope and not give

up."

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