1 Division of Health Policy Research and Education, Harvard University, Boston
The commentary by Besharov and Hartle1 concludes that disadvantaged children deserve better than what they are getting. Indeed, it is our viewalong with virtually all Americansthat all of our children deserve better. The improvement of the health, education, and welfare of all children is a never ending quest.
Perhaps the frustration with the Head Start program that permeates the Besharov and Hartle commentary is due to a fundamental misconception of the goals of the Head Start program. From its inception, Head Start has been a comprehensive child development program and not a program focused solely on long-term cognitive gains.