On Thursday, July 10, the president and administration announced that they will restrict immigrants that do not have legal status from enrolling in Head Start. This is another way for this administration to cruelly penalize and terrorize people that are immigrants. Head Start is a federally funded program that has made life better for young children and their families.

Head Start was developed in 1965. First Lady, Claudia Alta, “Lady Bird” Johnson wanted to launch a program, “Head Start,” which was committed “to enabling children of poor families to share in a comprehensive developmental program of educational, social and health services, and its emphasis on stimulating parents to become partners in the learning experiences of their children.” The program was designed to serve children from birth to five in families that were at or below the poverty level. Currently, any family that receives Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or the Supplemental Nutritional Program (SNAP) and those children in foster care, or are unhoused, also qualify for Head Start regardless of income.

From its inception, Head Start was designed to support children’s growth in language, literacy, cognition, general knowledge, physical development, including health, social emotional development and approaches to the child’s learning. The curriculum was designed to include parents and their input and participation in the classroom was encouraged. Meals and snacks were served “family style” which meant everyone sat down and had their meal or snack together. This encouraged socialization, language and cooperation. Today, the goal of Head Start programs nationwide is to “promote school readiness of children ages birth to 5 from low-income families by supporting the development of the whole child.”

After graduating from the University of Denver with a master’s in early childhood special education I worked as a coordinator for the Longmont Head Start. I had a chance to observe the benefits of Head Start firsthand. I watched young children learn through their play. This was a chance for them to learn how to share and develop a tolerance for differences. I watched in awe as young children sat mesmerized by a police officer that visited the classroom and talked about their job. I witnessed parent’s volunteering in the classroom, working as an assistant and then a teacher at Head Start. Parents and families worked together and felt a sense of community, and knew they had a say in their child’s experiences and education. The emphasis was on family, and included eye, hearing and dental screenings. I knew from my experiences as an educator that if a child has difficulty hearing or seeing or has other health problems, learning could be difficult. This also helped develop trust between parents and professionals. Parents felt that what they were doing was ethically, and culturally best for their child and family.

One of my favorite experiences while working with Head Start was talking to the parents about their child’s transition to kindergarten. The biggest concern that parents expressed was if their child would fit into the kindergarten class. The parents were also concerned about their own role in their child’s continued education. As the parents discussed, Head Start was a place where they felt safe and heard. They wondered if that would be the same in kindergarten. I spent several hours talking to the kindergarten teachers and parents and tried to make sure all the concerns were discussed. This process and the families’ experiences at Head Start allowed for a smooth transition. The parents had learned how to speak up and were a positive influence on their child’s success in the new classroom.

It seems to me that Head Start is important for every child and family that qualify. It should not matter what their immigration status is. This is a time in our country when we need to stand up for the rights of everyone. For if we do, in the long run this will be a better country, with opportunities in health, education and freedom for all, no matter who they are.

Sue Winthrop is a longtime resident of Longmont. Sue has a bachelor’s in elementary education and a master’s in early childhood special education.