Posted on 09/13/2007 1:07:26 PM PDT by bs9021
No Kindergarten Left Behind
by: Malcolm A. Kline, September 06, 2007
Once again, Republican officials have helped to pave the way for a pet project of the overwhelmingly left-wing educational establishment—all-day kindergarten. Although the research on its benefits may be scant, several large Virginia counties are going full-speed, or as completely as they can, ahead with it.
“For the first time, all kindergarten students in Prince William County will have as much class time as older students,” staff writer Maria Glod reported in The Washington Post on September 4, 2007. “ Fairfax County is adding full-day kindergarten in 21 schools, a shift that makes the program available in about 70 percent of county elementary schools.”
(Excerpt) Read more at campusreportonline.net ...
Why don’t we just call this what it really is...
NO PARENTAL INFLUENCE LEFT AT ALL
What did we do when there wasn’t a kindergarten? “Kindergarten” is an idea of the 60s and the idea became an institution.
Taxpayer funded daycare, except it is labelled “education”.
When I was 5, I went to Kindergarten all day but that was Special Education. I don’t support all day Kindergarten because 6 hours of school is a long day for a 5 year old who is just starting school for the first time. A full day of school for a 5 year old seems like forever.
All day kindergarten is beneficial to young 5-year olds, in helping them get a jump on reading, writing, and 'rithmatic.
For one thing, kids today are so much more evolved technically, due to computers, TV education shows, blanket advertising, etc.
(My kids were so much more advanced and aware of the outside world than I was, and my grandkids are so much more advanced than my kids.)
Secondly, if run correctly (with firm love and devotion), kindergarten can be very beneficial to getting a young child acclimated toward behaving civilly in a sometimes uncivil world.
Not that a full day should be mandated by the federal govt, or even state govt. for that matter.
But if a community (local school board) feels it beneficial to their youngsters, what the heck is wrong with full day?
All day kindergarten is okay for some kids, but not every kid.
My twin daughters still took naps after school in kindergarten. They were tired with just a 1/2 day of school.
My son went to an all day kindergarten. It was great for our whole family. He gave up naps when he was around 3, and he was at school while his younger sisters were napping. It also gave me a chance to take his sisters to speech therapy. I’d take his sisters to speech and then they’d come home for a nap. My son didn’t have to go to speech or be quiet during nap time.
I also think that 5 year olds don’t need 6 hours of reading and writing. At my son’s all day kindergarten, the afternoons were for art, music, and other fun activities.
It should be up to the parents to decide what is best for each kid.
According to this study.......
http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/62/41/6241.pdf
69% of children attend a center based pre-school prior to kindergarten. Kindergarten is no longer an entry point for full-time formal schooling. In 1999, over 60% of children attended full day kindergarten. It’s not going away. Parents love full day kindergarten....they don’t have to pay for day care any longer.
Count me one of the ones that doesn’t think it is great for every kid. I also wouldn’t want my tax dollars to pay for it.
From the article you posted:
“Today, full-day kindergarten offers
several potential benefits. It provides continuity for children accustomed to full-day experiences outside of the home”
It doesn’t talk about the impact on children who have not been in daycare and are not used to being in school all day long.
Most of the parents that I know of that love all day kindergarten are working parents. I think most stay at home moms like having their kids at home more often.
“Taxpayer funded daycare, except it is labelled “education”.”
That is exactly what it is plus job creation for teachers. Pre-K education is more of the same.
I was trying to explain to a teacher why I didn’t want my daughter in full day kindergarten.
“But she’ll miss art and naptime!”
“She can do those things at home-with her mother.”
Blank stare.
Nate's ready for the challenge, after being in a very good pre-school (Primrose Academy), where they taught him phonics and loads of other great things.
He's in class from 8-3, then he heads to the after school program in the gym, run by the local YMCA.
In the evenings, we'll generally let him relax, but that does include reading with him at least every other day. Additionally, I enjoy teaching him German a few minutes each day.
My biggest concern is that he'll get bored, as many of the other kids don't have the strength in English skills that Nate has. Even though it's an upscale school district, 50+ languages are spoken, due to the multinational corporations that are in the D/FW Metroplex.
I've been looking forward to this day for at least several years: my weekly outlay for Nathan's daycare/school dropped from $200 to $60. Unfortunately, the two college kids are sucking that extra cash up, and then some.
The State, in its quest for perfection, needs to identify and condition all superior talents.
It dares not allow any budding geniuses to elude detection.
Thus, all-day kindergarten, another lovely German idea.
To paraphrase Mao, the State’s goal is Communism, with American characteristics.
I didn’t realize it was distric by district in VA. I only found out that kindergarten in this district was full day when I sought to transfer my daughter to the elementary school near where she was attending a homeschool pre-school program, that also did after school programs.
I never did transfer her and she absolutely loved kindergarten.......
I do agree it is not for every child, and I think parents should have the option of only half day if they wish.
With as rigorous as the curriculums have become, full day seems to be needed to meet the benchmarks.
Our first grade wasn't but half-day, and we still managed to learn to read, write, and do basic math.
I agree that all day is a very long time for a 5 year old...when my youngest was that age, he still needed more naptime than school provided.
the city where our kids attend school has offered full day
alot longer than most of the surrounding counties. it may
have been among the first to offer it even. last year our
youngest had no problems with full day. even though i was
not teaching when she was 4 yrs, we enrolled her in a part
time preschool program (4 mornings a week). it really
helped her transition.
we currently have 4 full day kindergarten classrooms at the
school where i teach. they do follow an academic curriculum
but it is certainly not the same as the upper grades. the
children spend over half the day on core subjects. the rest
of the day is lunch, recess, rest, centers and work stations.
when i taught in michigan we had both full day and half day
classes. parents were able to choose the option that best
fit their family’s needs and their child’s abilities.
That's also why many parents are in favor of taxpayer funded preschools.
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