CA: Republican plan would limit kindergarten to 5 year olds

Sac Bee ^ | 7/7/03 | Jennifer Coleman - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Because higher learning standards have made kindergarten more complicated than naps and playtime, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner has proposed delaying the time when some younger five-year-olds will be able to enter school.

But the proposal by the Republican from Lancaster has left the realm of policy discussions and rammed into the ongoing budget battle.

[NormsRevenge]

Higher learning standards? Is kindergarden really necessary or is it a way to get rid of the little ones for a few hours a day?

I don't know. We don't have kids. But we pay for the results along with everyone else. Are we getting our money's worth?

[Support Free Republic]

Lighten Up, Francis!

Fundraising posts only happen quarterly, and are gone as soon as we meet the goal. Help make it happen.

[NormsRevenge]

Ping

Wait until next year's budget process when some really tough choices have to be made. That's if folks reject the Recall and leave Davi$ and the demRats in control.

[spokeshave]

Well they can all go back to Mehiko

[Gritty]

These dopes still don't get it!

But, they will. They will.

[L.N. Smithee]

For parent Laura Valdez, the delay would mean her son could lose a year of learning and much-needed speech therapy at the school. Ronaldo Valdez turns 5 just days after the proposed cutoff date of Sept. 1. His mother said she had considered delaying his enrollment for a year, but school officials encouraged her to start him now.

The Demos that run CA have for a couple of years been quietly campaigning via public-service TV spots (paid for with the Meathead Tax on tobacco) that encourage parents to send their children to pre-school.

IMHO, this is all a setup to get the electorate repeating their mantra when a proposition is placed on a future ballot mandating pre-school as young as four, or preparation for a bill rammed thru the Demo-dominated legislature that GOPpers will have to make a lot of noise to scale back.

I had never thought of myself as being especially intelligent until my first day of kindergarten, when I presented a greeting card to my first teacher. She was amazed that I had written it myself.

[.38sw]

It's the end of the world if 4-year-olds can't go to kindergarten? When I was that age, kindergarten was rare. In fact, I don't think I knew anybody that went to kindergarten, and yet, and yet, we did well, survived, and even went on to college, and led successful lives. What's the big deal here? Those evil Republicans again - denying free day care kindergarten to the children.

[backhoe]

Higher learning standards? Is kindergarden really necessary or is it a way to get rid of the little ones for a few hours a day? I don't know. We don't have kids.

Same here... but I believe you are right- children that young need to be among family- not in a herd of other children.

[squidly]

Yep. I didn't go to K-garten 'til I was 5, and back then neither did anybody else. The majority of the kids turned 6 during their year in K-garten. And this wasn't so long ago, mid-70s.

[TheSpottedOwl]

On Monday, Gov. Gray Davis said any budget plan including Runner's proposal would be "dead on arrival."

DOA. Just like your political career, Grayout.

I remember the first day of kindergarten for my 23 yr old. I cried my eyes out. I remember the first day of kindergarten for my 8yr old, clicking my heels and feeling giddy because I could get a couple of hours of peace and quiet :)

[conservative cat]

WA state already has this cut-off. I agree with it. My little brother started kindergarten at 4 (his b-day is Sept. 5th, though) when he was going to a DOD (Department of Defense) school in Germany. He ended up staying back a year in the 2nd grade and it made a HUGE difference for him.

My daughter has an Aug. birthday and made the cut-off. She does well academically, but she is always the youngest in her class and is sometimes prone to peer pressure from the older girls.

[NormsRevenge]

Heck, I was in 1st grade when I was 5. I remember the day the local school superintendent lady drove up and saw me playing in the dirt. She asked me if I was ready to go to school. Being the adventurous type, I said , "Sure!".

That set me up as being one of the youngest in my senior class and 17 when I went into Marine boot camp straight out of high school.

Maybe we do expect too much of our kids today and the system that seems to think they know what is best for them.

[Am I Blue?]

Good first step to getting rid of public education entirely. Leave all children behind--unless their parents can pay for it.

[John Jorsett]

The short time between now and the beginning of the school year gives no warning to families who may expect their children to start school in six weeks, said California Teachers Association President Barbara Kerr.

For parent Laura Valdez, the delay would mean her son could lose a year of learning and much-needed speech therapy at the school.

I just heard Ray Haynes on Los Angeles' John and Ken show (KFI AM 640). He said the Republican proposal would allow parents to enroll their children at their option. Meaning, if you want to put your kids in kindergarten as young as 4 years 9 months, as it is now, that's your option. All this griping then, is just a bunch of BS.

[NormsRevenge]

Too bad the media hasn't reported that side of things. But not unexpected.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Higher learning standards? Is kindergarden really necessary or is it a way to get rid of the little ones for a few hours a day?

Everybody knows finger-painting cannot begin at too early an age...leads to better federal arts grants down the road. ;-)

[sarasmom]

Depends.
Kindergarten nowadays is not elementary "school prep": basic socialisation to non family group, learning colors and numbers,the alphabet and how to tie shoelaces.
Kindergarten today is what second grade was in the early 60s.With the extra added twist of teaching a love of nature vs what bad evil humans do, and, gasp,math homework.
The cut-off should be the cut-off.5 in September is reasonable, and standard.
I can see how the transition year may disrupt childcare plans, but I dont think that a reason not to change start times.
If it means that much to a parent that their child starts kindergarten at 4 years old, there are tons of alternatives, in the private sector.
Its just, gasp, not free!
I chose not to take advantage of those options,personally, and the extra time has been very beneficial for my child.
She had the luxury of a mother who looks upon her as a child, not a miniature mentally deficient adult in training, or a parent who needs a break from the high costs of superior daycare.
In very young children, a few months makes a world of difference in ability.
Rush them, and you put them perpetually behind the eight ball.They spend the rest of their lives trying to catch up to their putative peers.
No thanks.

[Eva]

This is news to me, when we lived in CA the cut off was Sept. My daughter started school in NJ and was usually the youngest in her class with a Sept. 21 birthday. Maybe different school districts set different standards in CA.

[George W. Bush]

The nasty GOP suggested cutting off some free day-care?

Hang 'em from the lamp posts.

[reformed_dem]

I thought it was a standard cut-off. I could be wrong. In our area, it's December 2.