(With pre-kindergarten in jeopardy, more Tennessee children may be learning at home)

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen had the best of intentions when he laid out ambitious plans to expand pre-kindergarten in the state, but the $25 million program has come to a halt. His plan would have created 250 more classrooms and serve another 5,000 children, according to The Tennessean .

The article quotes disappointed educators and pre-kindergarten advocates, but it's also filled with angry commentary from readers that once again bring home a real obstacle to pre-kindergarten: a public that doesn't trust such programs or understand why pre-kindergarten should be paid for with government funds.

The remarks at the end of Natalia Mielczarek's article show what a long way there is to go toward gaining public understanding and support for quality early childhood education in some areas.

One posting actually suggested with sarcasm that children be taken from their parents after birth and turned back over at 22; another boasted about doing "everything in my power to keep my daughter out of any school or education program that is ran and funded by the government,'' while still another noted that the reason children are falling behind is because "our parents are waiting for someone else to teach their children.''