2.5 Hour Kindergarten

Here's a brief article that claims half day kindergarten holds back children.

Perhaps the problem doesn't start with kindergarten but with day cares that refuse to teach.

There is quite a conflict going on right now in early childhood.

A letter from Bob Mills in the paper a few weeks ago stated that more money should be given to early education, and at the same time a nasty gram was sent to WFIE about a column I wrote about the failure of day cares to teach very young children.

Apparently more money should be given to early education but at the same time they shouldn't have the responsibility of teaching because teaching is not age appropriate.

So what do they need more money to do? Keeping qualified staff who are gagged from teaching is not a solution.

Bob mentioned the Reggio Emilia program. That's a teaching scheme and according to the "beings that know everything" not age appropriate.

So it's Solomon's plight. Two mothers wanting the same child. One wants to teach and the other wants to - I can't quite figure that one out.

Kindergarten works in a 2.5 hour scheme when there has been a good introduction to learning in preschool and 4K.

But we'll let them fight that one out while we teach our guys. Today is swimming. We'll touch on our animal study today. I expect the kids to know where at least 40 animals come from. Let's see if they can combine their knowledge of geography with zoology. Let's see what they remember.

Half Day Kindergarten Holds Back Children

Teachers say children who attend only a half day of kindergarten are less prepared for first grade.

The Evansville-Vanderburgh School system, which had offered full day kindergarten for 17 years, eliminated the program during a 2003 budget crisis.

Now, educators say students aren't as academically prepared and are slower to adjust to a full day schedule.

Restoring full day kindergarten at all schools will cost up to $3 million.