The Concord Monitor – Scott Hilliard
“It’s no secret that there is now a surge of opiate use here in the Granite State, and with that, a growing presence of criminal activity, including violent crimes. As sheriff of Merrimack County, I know that New Hampshire law enforcement agencies are doing everything possible to rein in this troubling new threat. But we are well aware that we need longer-term solutions, too. That’s why we are urging public officials at the state and federal levels to support policies that will give every American child access to high-quality early education. It’s a message I have brought – and will continue to bring – personally to our congressional delegation in Washington, to state government leaders and even to the presidential candidates who appear on WMUR’s “Conversation with the Candidate,” a series sponsored by Save the Children Action Network, which advocates for expanding early childhood education here in New Hampshire and across the nation. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush just did the latest taping, on Thursday in Manchester, and I told him what I have told the other candidates: There is a tower of definitive evidence showing that early learning programs are critical to kids’ success in school and life. If we invest today in setting a strong intellectual, cognitive and emotional foundation for children before they reach age 5, we can significantly raise the odds they will stay in and perform well in school, avoid teenage pregnancy, keep away from drug-related and violent crimes and, more generally, contribute to making our communities more livable and prosperous.”(more)