Squandering America’s Future

Ochshorn’s writing will outrage the reader. U.S. policymakers need to start taking children’s needs seriously. Recommended for parents, politicians, and anyone who has worked in education.

Susan Ochshorn’s book is a must-read, skillfully weaving science, theory, and passion. Her voice—on the dynamic and ecological nature of development—comes through loud and clear, setting the direction for policy and practice.

Beyond the talking/selling points of investing in early childhood education, Ochshorn’s Squandering America’s Future strives to ask critical questions about our current world while marveling at the potential of all children.

Thank you for being the voice of the voiceless and for continuing to fight for many of us who choose to do quality work with children and families but who are too tired to speak out.

Susan Ochshorn has written an ambitious book, unlike any other in early childhood policy. With a broad canvas, strong moral compass, and pragmatism, she connects the dots between the diverse influences on the lives of children, her passion for their well-being shining through. It’s a must-read for all who care about kids.

In this eye-opening book, Susan Ochshorn reveals the enormous gap between the policies we need to support our youngest children and the aggressive neglect so many currently experience. An urgent call to action that could change the course of the nation’s future.

I was riveted by Squandering America’s Future. Susan Ochshorn offers a sweeping, and hopeful, vision of human capital creation, one that respects children, and values the work of those who nurture their formidable capabilities. Indispensable for policy makers, educators, and all who care about our future.

This remarkable book manages to pinpoint the critical issues in the care and education of young children with up-to-date research, and all of this in a pleasurable and lively style. This needs to be read widely, and right away.

Susan Ochshorn paints a picture of children and families in America exposed to risks and circumstances that threaten their lives, happiness, and future. Fortunately, she doesn’t leave us in despair, but shows us how a few dedicated people, schools, agencies, and institutions have made a difference in children’s lives.

In Squandering America’s Future, Susan Ochshorn introduces her readers to a vast community of innovative and indefatigable individuals, all converging around an urgent cry for more effective and more egalitarian investments in our young children. This unconventional book is sharp-eyed, warm, lively, and a delightful read.

Susan Ochshorn has created a kaleidoscope of stories and statistics to illustrate the profound injustices we are visiting on our children and the corresponding injuries we are inflicting on ourselves. We can only hope that Squandering America’s Future will help to turn the tide.