Deseret News | Reader comments: Extended-day kindergarten classes hot commodity

Reader comments
Extended-day kindergarten classes hot commodity

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Jake | 12:17 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Sounds to me like this is too hard on small children. You don't suppose that this is nothing more than free babysitting?? Not kindergarten school.

Bob | 12:21 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Everything I need to know I learned in a half day of kindergarten.

Colin | 12:35 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I agree with Jake. I am sure it is real positive from households that were paying for before or after school care previously.

Comments continue below

Randy | 12:40 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Yup, free babysitting. Poor kids.

Mama | 12:56 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I have to disagree here. I currently have a daughter in an all day kindergarten class. I am a stay at home mom, so no day care here! She is actually a more advanced student and this gives her more opportunities than a two hour block. Heck, most preschool classes are longer than a normal kindergarten class. I have loved seeing her progression and excitement about school and feel lucky that my child was able to get into an all day class!

Choice | 1:14 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I think they should allow parents to choose whether their kids go a full day or half. Some kids need it who are behind, but there are others who only need a half day. I would prefer to do a half day, but in my district it is a full day. They will not even allow the option of a half.

Jo | 1:15 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I had the opportunity to teach full-day kindergarten for two years in Utah County. It is a wonderful program. By the end of the year my students succeded and were at the top of the class -ready to enter 1st grade head on. These children were tested at the beginning of the year and qualified for the program. They were from various family situations -from low to med. to high income. Without the program, these students would have struggled through 1st grade and perhaps through more grade years before catching up. Yes, I did have one parent excited that she would not have to hire a babysitter for half the day, however, I was quick to remind her that the program was not intended for that purpose.

Heather | 1:31 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I live in Wisconsin where full-day kindergarten is the rule, not the exception. My daughter started kindergarten this fall. For the first 3 months all the kids her age were MONSTERS because they were so wiped out after such long hours. It's just too much for the 5-year old kids. I've looked into the research and the only thing I can find is that full-day kindergarten is beneficial for catching kids up who have had NOTHING done at home...no reading to them, NOTHING. Mama's comment was interesting to me because my daughter is quite bright also. In fact they just moved her up to 1st grade at the semester break. But regardless of intelligence, their little bodies are just not ready for that kind of schedule. I say let the kids be kids as long as they can. It doesn't last long, does it?

SMH | 1:44 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I am a Utah native, transplant to Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has all full day Kindergarten here, AS WELL as being the first State to have Pre-K provided in Public Schools (1/2 day)!
IT IS WONDERFUL.
I too am a stay at home Mom, so daycare cost is not an issue with me.
My son has developed faster socially and academically. These programs are great b/c kids this age are such sponges! They learn eagerly.

And parents do have the option of having their child only attend 1/2 day in Kindergarten. They simply come pick them up from school, when the rest of the class is going to lunch. These children miss Music, PE, and Art. But not any of the 'core' curriculum such as Math, Language, Science.

These programs have been incredibly successful here, and our Governor, who instituted them, has been heralded nationally for his efforts in early childhood education.

I would love to see Utah have similar programs, as we plan to move back someday.

High School | 1:44 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I think they should have half day high school for those who are smart enough.

Tarheel Traveler | 1:49 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Oh finally catching up to the Southeast US school systems. It has been around here in Raleigh NC for at least 30 years. That is one thing that bothered me about UT and CO school system when I lived out there. Another reason why I moved back to NC.

mom | 2:01 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

My son attended all-day kindergaten last year, he is ahead of the majority of his first grade class this year! Not everyone that qualified for all day was chosen, I am grateful my son was one of the few. I think all day is beneficial for all students, for one they learn to be at school longer so they won't have such a hard time adjusting to being gone longer in first grade. Plus being at school longer they get more one-on-opne time with the teacher.

Anonymous | 2:03 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I BELIEVE THAT HAVING CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN FOR A FULL DAY WOULD BE GREAT. CHILDREN AT THAT AGE LEARN SO MANY THINGS IT WOULD DEFFINATELY BOOST UP THEIR I.Q.'S, BESIDES IN KINDERGARTEN IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE TEACHING YOU ALGEBRA I DON'T SEE HOW IT WOULD BE TIRING. PARENTS JUST NEED TO LEARN TO LET GO SOMETIMES, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S LITTLE KIDS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUT KINDERGARTEN ISN'T HARD AND THEY COULD LEARN SO MUCH. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT HAVING THE 1/2 DAY OPTION WOULD BE GREAT AS WELL BECAUSE SOME LITTLE KIDS DON'T NEED A FULL DAY OF LEARNING, IT WOULDN'T HURT BUT THEY DON'T NEED IT

Pac 10 Alumnus | 2:11 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

5 year olds don't have the mental focus to sit through a full day of school.

This is nothing more than extended day care!

Bountiful Mom | 2:12 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I enjoyed raising 5 bright kids. I agree, what's the hurry for their young bodies to be pushed into a structured day. Where is naptime, free-time, imagine-time, cuddle-time? Do they really need math and science classes? Doesn't counting chocolate chips while making cookies count for anything? My kids were sponges, too, who got all they needed to be tops in first grade with reading, playing, field trips, library trips, talking and exploring. And at this age, who better to do it with than Mom?

utahguy | 2:16 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

There is something that many of you are overlooking. There isn't space for these kids to attend all-day kindergarten in every school. The classrooms are used by two different classes - one morning and one afternoon. The classrooms don't sit empty. In a typical year-round elementary with eight sessions of Kindergarten will require four additional classrooms - as well as additional teachers to staff them. This is a HUGE expense for a grade that isn't even required by state law for children to attend.

no such thing as free babysittin | 2:32 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

The problem with this program is that it is paid for by the taxpayers. Some families sacrifice so that one parent can stay home with small children. But their tax money still goes to pay for all-day kindergarten (free babysitting) for other families.

an idea | 2:32 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

My cousin in California attended a kindergarten that got progressively longer as the year progressed. At the beginning of the year they went half day and then by the end of the year they were going the full day but the move was gradual. I thought this was a good idea. He was in kindergarten three years ago and it was really beneficial for him. I have a second grader and a kindergartener and I think they would have benefitted from such a program. The real adjustment for my son was the move to first grade and going to school for the full day after less than 3 hours a day in kindergarten.

I'm for it | 2:37 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I used to think this was an awful idea. Until I had a child in kindergarten. Like most other 5 year olds that I know, mine does not take a nap, so that isn't an issue. I didn't want to give that time up that I have with him. But I now see that he LOVES school. As they get older they need more interaction. They need more structure. Most of them are ready to learn. I wish I had my little boy in all day. And not for the day care. He does so much better at home when he is on track. I think they could do so many wonderful things in a full day of school that wouldn't just tire them out. Music, dance and art. Even to introduce them to subjects like this would be great. Our little 5 year olds are little in some aspects, but in others, they are growing up.

T-Rex | 2:42 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

My third child entered kindergarten this year. I had hoped my school would be one of the schools offering full-day kindergarten. They aren't, and I'm relieved. He tested very well at the beginning of the year. Kindergarten has become kind of boring for him. I still believe in full-day kindergarten, for the right kids. My son could use a smaller class and/or more teachers. I doubt he would be as bored if he were receiving more one-on-one time from the teacher and less time waiting for the teacher to catch some of the other kids up. Hopefully next year full-day will be an option for the kids that need catching up and they can all enter 1st grade on roughly the same level.

Sigurdgirl | 2:43 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

That's right. In Utah, kindergarten is not a mandatory grade...it is still optional. Of course, they keep that a secret and hope nobody finds out that you may keep your child home an additional year before turning him/her over to the pressures of government schools.

From Austin | 2:49 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

When I first found out my daughter would be going to all full day Kindergarten I was quite annoyed--it is just state funded babysitting, I don't need that. Then she started. Yes at the beginning of the year it was a bit hard on her, not the long day, just the early hour. Once we got bed time settled she did great. There was a social aspect I couldn't give her at home. She excelled in a way I never imagined. The way they had the day set up it wasn't babysitting at all. The kids were learning in all aspects and having a fun time while they did it. She was so far ahead of her pears in Utah by the end of the year I couldn't believe it. She and I cried on the last day of school because we didn't want it to end. Of course having a good school and great teacher helped tremendously but I think it is a great advantage to all kids, no matter what there home life is like.

Brad | 3:22 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Let kid's be kids for heaven's sake. Kindergarten is there to help kids adjust to school every day. My daughter in kindergarten is very smart, but I don't think she is ready to go all day.
Half day kindergarten worked for years and years. Why does it need to change now? Kids have to grow up fast enough without being forced into all day school in kindergarten.
At the very least I think the parents should have the right to choose between half day and all day kindergarten.
If they implement this program, the class sizes would be larger because they wouldn't fit in the school without combining classes. That is less one on one attention that your child gets.
They are already on a year round schedule to accomodate all the students. How would this be handled?

I see no possitive's with this. I think it is a very poor idea.

state sponsored daycare | 3:25 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Randy is right most parents support it becuse it is free day care, take care of your kids stop having the state and the schools do all the work and I think you will find that public education is actually a pretty good deal, If you ever want to know what is wrong with school its the parents

Good model | 3:29 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I believe state law requires schools to offer both options to parents. Or perhaps that's just how Granite District oeprates. Studies have shown that at-risk children outperform their peers who only attend a half day. It is way more than glorified baby-sitting, yet not a lot of pressure on the kids. It has proven a real boon for some families --and not because of reduced day care costs. Children learn much more quickly at an early age when the instruction is developmentally appropriate. I hope the legislature makes it an option -- but not a requirement -- for all children.

rsb | 3:39 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

One issue I have with many comments is that it seems that many people are basing their opinion of this program based on their child's experience. While the article stated that it helps kids catch up who have next to no educational experience.
I think as parents, we have the responsibility to look at our own education, our beliefs, our teaching abilities, our time pressures, and our familial educational standards along with our financial situations. Weigh these abilities with the needs of our children and then make a decision as to whether or not to send our kids to all-day kindergarten. It is also important to know that the best help a parent can do for their child's education is to be constantly interested in your own education. If you feel all-day kindergarten is right for your child then be my guest. It is a program designed to help those who are "behind" through no fault of their own or possibly their families.

Lazy Parents | 3:41 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Warning, I will be passing judgment here... I too think it is too early to put these little ones in all day school. True hardships aside, anyone who would wish their kid away for free day care (working moms) or mother's day off (stay at home moms) is cruel. Don't place too much stock in how advanced your full day Kindergarten child is. Studies in both academics and athletics show advancement curves are not linear. So your advanced child today could be tomorrowï¿½s high school dropout despite your best efforts and full day kindergarten. Mothers should stop working outside the home! The most significant contribution anyone will ever make is to raise a child to be a good and decent adult. Mothers are our best hope for a better society; donï¿½t squander that for a few extra bucks per month. Cancel your cable bill, your 2nd cell phone, drive an old car, live in a modest home, and love you kids instead. Half day is all they need.

sanevoice | 3:45 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Full day Kindergarten is optional at my school here in Utah. At first 75% of the parents signed their kids up. It is now up to 90%. It seemed to be dificult for the kids for the first few weeks but the kids quickly adjusted. It has been nothing but a huge success. One mother whose daughter is still going home told me that it would only be good for working mothers and mexicans. Apparently she and many others feel they are some how superior to both groups. The problem is that her daughter is being passed up by children from both of those terrible groups. They have 5 children 5 and under. You honestly think she is progressing in any way more at home then she would at school? I hate to break it to some but most mothers will never be mother of the year. For those who are against full day Kindergarten what do your kids do in those 2 ot 3 hours after leave school? Watch T.V.? Play video games? Get sent to a friends house for a play date? Children will amaze us with what they can accomplish if we quit holding them back!

Dan | 3:48 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

News Flash

You can keep your child home for first grade too ... and second grade and third grade, and so on through high school. It is called homeschooling. You can even have half-day high school with dual-enrollment.

By the way, every family should homeschool, no matter how much time their child spends in public school.

Ut Mom | 3:58 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

My 5-year-old would benefit from full day kindergarten. He is in 2 hour a day 3 day per week preschool (he missed the school deadline because his birthday is in November) and is bored to death! He would thrive in full day school as long as there were breaks for recess and lunch and other activities. I think it is a great idea and not for the "free daycare" reason- for the advanced education it would provide. Heaven knows the U.S. is lacking.

Eric | 4:00 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL when my oldest son began kindergarten - full-day. I was very skeptical about the program, having many of the same thoughts stated above; that he didn't have the atention span to sit still that long, et al.

Boy was I wrong.

He loved it. It really came down to his teacher; she was fantastic and you could tell that she loved teaching a room full of five-year-olds. He thrived in that environment, and I found that I had been selling him short based my thinking that my own experience (half-days 25 years ago) was the best there was.

We were transferred to Colorado Springs in the middle of that year, and went to traditional half-day kindergarten, and all the progress he'd made in Florida was lost; he stagnated and regressed.

I attribute this principally to his teachers. The first was enthusiastic and excited about her job (and she'd been doing it for 30 years); the second was only lukewarm.

Secondarily however, the first teacher had plenty of time to stimulate his brain, wheras the second wished she had that kind of time to work with her kids.

Back to basics | 4:08 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Brad sees "no possitive's [sic] with this": I see someone who needs to go back to school and learn about spelling and apostrophe [ab]use. Full-day kindergarten might have benefitted him.

Bottom line, don't knock it till ya try it.

Tony | 4:10 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

We had full day Kindergarten in TX. Our oldest boy who was first to do it, is very bright, but it was still excessive for the first 2-4 months. It would be way to much for our other children.

Let's allow children to be children for at least another year, before they goto school for the next 20 years, followed by another 40yrs of employment.

Each is different | 4:12 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

It seems to me that options are the best at this point. Why not let the parents/kids that benefit go for it while those that want to stick with half day do that? Seems pretty simple. I have two kids (older now), one I think would have really enjoyed full-day kindergarten, the other I don't think would have really benefited much.

Some parents do just want the free day care, but they're getting it next year; I wouldn't discount the program just for that.

DougS | 4:16 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Wasn't it Plato in "The Republic" who hatched a scheme whereby the State would take children away from their parents at birth, or shortly thereafter?

Why is it... | 4:21 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

...that most of the detractors are dudes, and most of the supporters are moms? Could it be that all these dudes are just a bit out of touch with their kids and that the moms know best?

Sanevoice, you're right on the money. Let 'em fly!

My child is gifted! | 4:36 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

If all parents claim that their child is gifted, where do you suppose the 'average' kids are hiding out? Seems to me that everyone thinks their child is just a little smarter than the other kids at school.

jD | 4:39 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I am a stay at home mom and my daughter is in all day kindergarten and she does just fine! My thinking with half day kindergarten is at the age of 5 by the time they are starting to get in the groove of the day it is time to go home. When I learned that our school was going to offer all day kindergarten to those that qualified I was excited and hoped that maybe she just might get in. She did and I was thrilled to know that she would be getting a better education at her level than I felt I could give to her. She has excelled wonderfully and is already reading..small words and LOVES it! I also think that she is having a great childhood and I let her be a kid. I don't think of it as a daycare and I find that a bit insulting! Sure there are a few days when I think...phew it will be nice to not hear the fighting over things for a little while. But for the most part I think I am having a harder time letting her go each morning.

Put the money where it is needed | 5:22 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Why don't we put the money into paying the qualified and caring teachers more money, especially in the middle schools, junior highs, and high schools? How ironic that we want our kindergarten students to spend more time in school. Once they get to high school, we are trying to find ways for them to spend less time in school (early college, jobs, internships, home schooing, etc)

Oh, for Heaven's Sake.... | 5:36 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

"Back to Basics".... if you're going to criticize punctuation usage, you should know that you misused a colon and a comma. Just sayin'....

As for the article, my mom is an all-day kindergarten teacher in an underprivileged school where a significant number of kids don't even speak English upon arrival to her class. From what I gather in talking with her, the program is definitely doing what it was intended to do (and what the article stated)--that is, full-day kindergarten helps to bridge a gap for children who don't have access to the same sorts of in-home opportunities as others. But.... it is exhausting for her to try to wrangle 30 five- and six-year-olds all day long.

Jake | 6:47 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

To Austin, I'm so glad that your child is so far ahead of her"pears", mine is way ahead of apples!! Maybe you didn't go to kindergarten??

Jake | 6:55 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

To From Austin. I am so glad that your chikd is so far ahead of her "pears". Mine is wayahead of her apples and peaches!! Maybe you didn't attend kindergarten ??

RRE | 7:19 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

We have been working with all day Kindergarten for over 15 years. We have seen tremendous success with our program as indicated by the fact that our school ranks in the top 5% of schools in Idaho.
We have over a 70% poverty level indicated by the Free and Reduced program. We have over a 20% hispanic population.
Our Mission Statement is "High Expectations - Higher Achievement"
It takes parent and community effort to make this program work but it has shown consistently to work.
I for one support all day Kindergarten - IT WORKS!

Well | 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I believe that kindergarten for half day should be made mandatory first. Then...work toward all day K.
It just makes more sense to me.

Mother/Teacher | 7:54 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I taught All-Day Kindergarten for 2 years and saw the good and bad of 4-6-year-olds in school all day. Some thrived, others wilted. I believe some parents were not tuned into the strain of the long days on their children. They were more concerned about achievement. My hope is that I will have the choice for my children. The answer is not the same for every 5-year-old. I am quite certain that my children will need half-day. I just hope that option will be there for all of my children.

ab | 8:02 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

As with most educational changes over the last century, there is little evidence initially to "back up" educators' claims that the new approach is in any way better. The research to date on full-day kindergarten does show it benefits the at-risk student population, but does not indicate any benefit to the not-at-risk population. In fact, at least one study published in the last year found full-day programs detrimental to students who were not otherwise at risk. Research also clearly demonstrates that by third grade, most students read at the same level regardless of whether they learned in kindergarten, first or second grade. In other words, most not-at-risk kids end up in the same place anyway. Emphasis on early literacy for not-at-risk kids is simply not warranted by existing evidence and leads me to wonder why it has become such a cri de coeur of so many parents of not-at-risk students. I don't think it's free babysitting that parents are looking for, but rather any competitive advantage they can gain for their kids. Meanwhile, the all-day kindergarten system is creating a whole new group of "remedial" kids who never would have existed under the old system.

alpine teacher | 8:22 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I currently teach all day kindergarten. I would agree that for some students it is too long. But many students handle it quite well. It is incredible to see how much improvement they have made. The argument about free babysitting is lame, quite honestly. I would rather have my students with me because I know they will be learning and using their time productively, than have them in a day care center. I also went to all day kindergarten in Louisiana and loved it. That is all that is offered there. For those of you who do not have a half-day option, I am pretty sure that that is not in line with the law. You might want to check on that.

Also a teacher | 8:45 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

SMH---Don't move back.....I'ts like going back in time. If you have a good school system, stay there. Raise your kids with diversity in both thought and practice. Visit if you want, but don't put your kids in a classroom with 30 kids and underpaid teachers. I'm sure they deserve more than that!

Ali May | 11:18 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

Uh, no. Every family should NOT homeschool. We've been at it for about 13 years & it is a commitment that some people would be ill prepared to attempt. Some kids do best in public school, so I have no place judging what families choose.
I don't have a cat/dog because I don't want the commitment right now, but I hope that no one judges me to be a bad person because of it.
To each his own. We all do what we believe to be best for our families.

joe | 12:03 a.m. Jan. 17, 2008

Utah...behind the times, but might catch up in the 22nd Century!

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