Reader comments
Full-day kindergarten program proving popular

Another educational reform idea that's been around for over a quarter of a century. The slow progress of improvements in education is bewildering and somewhat depressing as the changes in our society and technology seems to outpace the ability of our schools to keep up. No wonder so many parents are demanding something different from our publics schools and they almost succeeded in creating a major educational alternative in this state last year. The public schools aren't off the hook yet.

This should only be an alternative for the lower income or English language kids.
Any middle or upper income child enrolled all day in kindergarten is a product of lazy parent once again looking to push off parental responsibility. Why they have multiple children is a mystery as they just can't wait to put then in pre-school at age two and out of the house as much as possible at an early age. State sponsored baby sitting.
Kids who don't have the advantages of a home that can and should provide preparatory education should again be the only ones going to full day kindergarten.

I think it could be an affective way for the "struggling" kids to gain an advantage. Though I am nervous this could become the norm for all students to attend full day kindergarten. It frightens me to listen to parents say how they would love to have their kids out of the house all day for kindergarten.
A full day program could never compensate for the time a child spends in a home with a caring parent. Though there are kids who don't have that kind of home and could possible benefit from a full day program. Lets not let this be full day for all.

I have three daughters. My first daughter went to the half day kindergarten. When my second daughter became kindergarten age, full-day was available at the school. The aide at her church play group suggested that she would benefit from the full day program so I enrolled her. Her achievement in that year was amazing. My husband and I read to the girls and we do educational activities but I can't duplicate what she gained from this opportunity. When my youngest became school age, I enrolled her full day. This isn't baby-sitting. They learned so much. The younger girls are so much more confident in school. I attribute this to fullday kindergarten.

Where is all the tax money going in education? This article hit the nail on the head. Illegal immigrants, I wish the public would insist on finding out how much is spent on such programs. I know it would blow the public away. All the ESl trainning, extra teachers, the support staff for ESl students is unbeleivable.

Many don't even make it through high school, but is because they are disadvantaged? I don't buy what is being sold, by those making the disadvantaged argument.

When education is valued and the learning is important, the 6 week winter break to Mexico will not be an option. Students will actual show up and do the work. I know it is possible because I see many ESl students that do take advantage and do remarkable. But, as a whole this is only a few.

Full day kindergarten has become manditory here in Maryland. I'm just glad that my kids are no longer that age. For the child who is developmentally ready for school , its great. For the child who isn't, I believe it creates more problems than it solves. Are children who go to school earlier, and or day care more confidant? Many times, but studies show they are more aggressive too.
There also have been many studies in many countries that show that introducing academics at an earlier age doesn't help the students down the road (read as: improve test scores) Why is this? Because the school system ignores child development- Children learn through play! That is a developmental fact, yet when they make kindergarten full day it goes away from having lots of imaginative play (something that helps develop their brains and abstract thinking) They start trying to get 4 and 5 year olds who may or may not be developmentally ready to read etc. The result? Well how would it work to strap a 7th month old who isn't ready for walking into leg braces to make them walk?

Children should be developmentally ready to read at age five. My five year old sister taught me to read when I was four and I have enjoyed reading ever since. But many lawmakers and pundits believe that reading shouldn't be tackled till age six. I digress.

This whole day kindergarten thing is very good for any child lucky enough to have it available. But what would be better is having class sizes of fifteen.

Every child is developmentally ready to learn on their own unique schedule. Sweeping generalizations: "Children should be developmentally ready to read at age five," (Anonymous) are inaccurate. Kindergarten through third grade are the most important years of a child's education (I have taught grades 1-9 and am a mother of 2 adult sons). K-3 curriculum establishes the foundation for learning that will occur in grades 4-12+. What would be most beneficial is if we quit allowing social advancement, and used these first four years of school to actually prepare these children for the rest of their education. No child should advance to 1st grade if they do not know their colors. No child should leave 1st grade if they cannot read. Not being prepared for the next grade level just sets children up for failure. We should be working towards helping children become productive, contributing, confident members of society.

"Not for all" comment. I have multiple children and have never sent my child off to be state babysitted. I do preschool for my own children at home. Just because we have multiple children does not mean we pass the buck and get "rid" of them as soon as we can.I love my children and actually chose to keep them with me as long as they can. All my children have entered kindergarten above level and continue to thrive because they have a stable nurturing home life. If a parent needs all day kindergarten because of language issues or any others reason, leave it up to the parent. Don't back lash against any family because of their size, that would be called discrimation and biais.

Full day kidergarden should be funded! Students should then be required to attend school daily for 5.5 hours a day, when they are 4 years old. All children need the extra edge to start out their formal education.

Who pays for doubling the incoming kidergarden population within a window of 3 years? How many more class rooms, teachers, lunches, buses, and the list goes on? Money talks and walks!

Some comments from one in the trenches with the kindergarten children:

There is a misconception that all day kindergarten benefits only ELL or low-income children. Actually the some of the children who come to kindergarten with low screening assessments are the "working poor". Those who do not qualify for headstart and cannot afford private preschools.

As for our ELL children-the majority of these children were born in the US. Whether you like it or not they are American citizens. They will probably never go back to where their parents came from-and they are not all from Mexico. Our choice is to educate them well so that they will be productive, contributing members of our society.

Kindergarten is not mandatory in Utah so why would all day be mandatory, however Utah has one of the highest kindergarten attendance rates in the nation, showing that we value the kindergarten experience.

One of the biggest problems in our education system in Utah is the pupil-teacher ratio. When will parents and teachers become radical enough to say enough is enough and demand legislative mandated pupil-teacher ratios. 25-35 in a kindergarten class is too many. Don't believe those who say it doesn't make a difference.