Amanda Dunman 1

PSY 2303
Assignment 8
July 27, 2006

Head Start Programs

Since its establishment during the mid-1960’s, Head Start has been considered the

nation’s leader in early childhood education programs. The Head Start program offers low-

income families wide-ranging services which include health, social, nutrition, mental health, and

child development assistance (Zanden, Crandell, & Crandell, 2003). A child’s early experiences

can have a deep effect on their social, emotional, and cognitive development in later years. The

quality of children’s early experiences and relationships with their care-givers is very important.

Nevertheless, there are momentous inadequacies in the disjointed system of early childhood care

and education in the United States, especially for children that are from low-income families

(Zanden, et al., 2003). Many families at all income levels struggle to obtain child care that is

accessible, affordable, and of high quality. This is particularly true of children who are already

endangered by the conditions of the poverty they experience. As the largest source of federal

funding for early childhood care and education, Head Start programs are paramount in

supporting low-income working families (Zanden, et al., 2003).

Head Start primes disadvantaged children for school both academically and socially.

Children in these programs learn basic subjects and social skills needed to succeed in an

academic environment. Children who live in indigent areas frequently lack access to satisfactory

medical care and as a result, may be unable to thrive in school. To help overcome such a

hindrance, Head Start also integrates health care services in its programs. However, critics wary

of research findings on the effectiveness of Head Start, question whether children really do gain

anything from their participation and whether the effects are persistent (Zanden, et al., 2003).

Immediate effects of Head Start programs include improvement in children’s health, verbal
Amanda Dunman 2
PSY 2303
Assignment 8
July 27, 2006

skills, and social skills, but it is unclear whether these gains are sustained as the improvements

tend to wane after several years (Zanden, et al., 2003).

However, it has been demonstrated that there are lasting impacts on grade repetition,

special education, and high school graduation rates (Zanden, et al., 2003). Over time, children

are less likely to need corrective programs and the help of social support systems as adults. Also,

parental involvement is a key element of Head Start and without it, the benefits may be limited.

Research has shown that if parents become involved with their children’s schoolwork while the

children are young, the children are more likely to remain academically motivated in their later

school years (Zanden, et al., 2003). These programs have positive effects on school readiness,

health status, academic achievement, reduced need for staying back in school, and lessened use

of special education services (Zanden, et al., 2003). These facts convey that early childhood

educational programs offer more than just short-term positives. The monetary amount invested in

Head Start programs pays off in terms of reduced adolescent educational and societal troubles.

Facing Retirement

The emotional and mental reactions to a significant life change such as retirement can

vary depending on the person and their relationship to society (Zanden, et al., 2003). For most,

retirement is the equivalent of starting a new chapter in life that can be incredibly rewarding or

potentially dreary. Today people are retiring earlier and living longer; taking into account the

current life expectancy, you will probably be retired as long as or longer than you were working.

But many people simply can't afford a much longer life in retirement. Besides financial worries,

many people have no idea what life might be like once they aren’t tied to a job. Working
Amanda Dunman 3
PSY 2303
Assignment 8
July 27, 2006

contributes to people’s identity and gives people a sense of fulfillment and purpose (Zanden, et

al., 2003).

How people learn to adjust to retirement depends on their own circumstances, such as

whether retirement was taken voluntarily or involuntarily, their health, gender, or how they feel

about past life experiences (Zanden, et al., 2003). For most people, the emotional and mental

experience of retirement comes in stages, beginning with a sense of excitement and relief. The

reality of the situation can become quite apparent, however, when someone finds that everything

has been washed, rearranged, dusted, and repaired. There is nothing else on TV and all the books

around the house have been read. After years of living with a regulated schedule, many are

suddenly faced with an empty space and find they are not quite as excited about being a senior

citizen as they thought (Zanden, et al., 2003). This is especially true if someone has been

"forced" to take retirement because of “corporate takeovers, layoffs, and downsizing (Zanden, et

al., 2003),” lessened work performance, or deteriorating health.

Most individuals, however, see retirement as a new beginning, with the freedom and

opportunity to travel, take risks, learn new things, and stay active (Zanden, et al., 2003). Many

retirees take the chance to start a second career, return to college, and further pursue their

interests in different ways. Reaching out to the community for clubs or volunteering is a good

way to avoid isolation. My 89-year-old grandfather is a good example of someone who has

utilized his time during his retirement. Having financially prepared himself well for retirement,

he has traveled all over the world, just arriving back from Europe. Already he is leaving for his

annual trip to Oregon to pick blackberries. He is very active socially and physically by being a
Amanda Dunman 4
PSY 2303
Assignment 8
July 27, 2006

member of the Retired Officers Association (ROA), a group for retired members of the armed

forces, and taking daily walks. After all this time he has also begun writing his memoirs.