o I Pre-school v . Prj on ichigan faces off l410dean s. . Capilal News Servic« lANSING - Effectiveearly childhood education now, or correctional services later: That's the crisis confronting the futures of Michigan's young dis­ advantaged children. Pre-school vs. Prison is the dilemma, agreed Gumecindo Salas, a State Board of Educa­ tion member. The board and many Michigan educators and legislators agree that to insure Michigan's future, steps must be taken. A 1960s study in Ypsilanti concluded that children who en­ roll in quality pre-school programs tend to do mcuh bet­ ter latter in life that those who had minimal or no school ex­ perience. The successful children were self-confident, oompetitve and college bound, said Salas, an East Lansing Democrat who is the director of minority programs at Michigan State University. These children set a positive precedent and proved that disadvantaged children could be equally as competent as other children. These children became more self-as­ sured about themselves and ac­ quired higher aspirations, the study concluded "How people feel about themselves is how people will set goals for themselves," Sales said As a result, the state had to try. to deal with these individuals' problems ater through social services or cor­ rectional facilities and programs, he said. The Ypsflanti study also found that trying to shape a child's outlood during the elementary school stage was al­ ready "too late," Salas said "You really have to impact on the child at an earlier level," he said. Getting parents more in­ volved in the actual education process of their children also helps the child's develpment a great deal, he said. Parent invol­ vement will be the extra effort that will achieve the goal set by the board and the legislators, he said. Parental involvement will. help the program to set priorities on the local Ievcl, Moreover, 4-year-old children are very impressionable and will follow their parents' positive State rep. says Blanchard . ignores ho sing crisis I I Stat� Representativ,: Charl!e mend specific government ac- J. �arnson,Jr. (D-Pon�ac) said tion to increase this housing; this ek that the growmg hous- - Establish a state fund to ing crisis in Michigan w� not support local homelessness adequately addressed In the prevention and assistance Sta�e of the State message programs; dehvered by Gov. James J. - Improve public notifica- Blanchard. tion re uirements for property "I'm disappointed nd dis- sales; turbed that the Governor did - Require that a greater not m�ke a strong and active proportion of federal com­ com'!utmcnt t