What is the "Parents as Teachers" (PAT) program offered by the SJSD? According to the PAT's national website: Parents as Teachers is the overarching program philosophy of providing parents with child development knowledge and parenting support. The organizational vehicle for delivering that knowledge and support is Parents as Teachers National Center.
Huh? Okay, so after dissecting all of the propaganda presented on their website, I have ascertained that PAT is a network comprised of parents who are certified in the PAT theories.
1. These individuals then con new parents into signing up for their program in which a PAT representative will visit new parents in their home on a regular basis to provide insight about the expected growth and development of their child.
2. PAT representatives are supposed to identify potential health and developmental problems with children in their visits.
3. These visits are targeted to prevent child abuse and neglect.
4. Somehow, these short visits are supposed to increase school readiness and success.
The PAT website has reports and evaluations that tout the success of the program. My question is how accurate or successful can this program truly be if it is voluntary? My first thought is that those parents who elect to participate are already looking out for the best interest of their child and are parents who are unlikely to beat or ignore their children. Following this argument, it is the parents who choose not to enroll that we should be the most wary of.
I have spoken with parents who are enrolled in the program, and they have said time and again that the PAT representative provides no real insight into the development of their child. Many times, PAT representatives are telling parents about what to expect, while the child has already achieved the milestones! What a waste of time. What a waste of resources.
The program also touts it's ability to provide new parents with community resources. Hmmm... wonder what those community resources are? Literature? The parents that I have talked to are unaware of any benefits of enrollment. They simply have the "PAT lady" coming to visit.
Most of the parents enrolled are working parents who spend very little time with their children anyway. Daycare providers should be the ones educated. So many parents drop their kids off in the morning, pick them up in time for dinner, bath, and bed. In the midwest, it seems many parents spend their weekends at extended family's home, so are unlikely to have direct, uninterrupted interaction with their anyway.
Promoting a solid pre-school program would be more likely to lead to success of our children.
PAT's... pshaw...
