The Governor is pushing for full day kindergarten. I’m pretty sure this is a good idea, but would certainly entertain alternate views. My only real direct experience is with my own kids. I know that my 3 year old doesn’t really have the attention span to last a full day in school, but 2 years is a lot of time for some pretty dramatic developmental changes. Presumably studies have been done to show kids, by and large, are up to going to school for a full day at age 5 and that it does them good?
The linked article says that Gov. Daniels proposes to require all schools to offer the full day program but to leave attendance up to the discretion of the parents.
Studies have been done, and all show that all-day kindergarten is absolutely terrific for all kids, regardless of ability, prior experience, etc. To me, this is a no-brainer – far better than the child be learning in a classroom (be it numbers, letters of just plain old-fashioned social skills) than sitting at home with a TV.
I keep hearing that all-day kindergarten is just “state-subsidized day care” at which I sneer. Indiana has so many problems iwth its educational system; lets do something strong and good and right for a change.
I agree with Lemming. My Mother taught kindergarten for over 30 years and the last 10 with full-day. But as long as Kindergarten is NOT mandatory– we will still have many children starting first grade without basic skills and they will NEVER catch up.
Let’s think about that one.
I like Lemming’s thoughts on this.
I found this site a helpful overview on full-day kindergarten outcomes / merits: http://www.temple.edu/Lss/htmlpublications/spotlights/200/spot210.htm
As a Hamilton County homeowner, some 90% or ~2k of our yearly (below average, btw) property tax goes to funding HC public schools. Predictably, HC schools maintain outstanding educational stats. Predictably, because it is known that whether a child lives in poverty or not is the biggest determinant of their educational success or failure.
If Daniels really wanted success for all Indiana students, he’d acknowledge this reality, mandate full-day kindergarten per population need, work to fund all Indiana k-12 public schools equitably, and make community college free to every Indiana high school graduate.
As HC residents, we would be agreeable to having our paid property taxes shared with all Indiana kids.
I’m not entirely aware of Daniels’ motivation for this, and I don’t much care for him, but this may be one thing he’s getting right. Let me speak from experience…
Down here in Bloomington, some of our elementary schools have been experimenting with full-day kindergarten. There was a lottery, incoming kids’ names were drawn, and my oldest daughter just happened to be one of them.
So far, it’s been fantastic. I have zero complaints. Obviously, since the school day is longer, the kids are able to spend more time learning and interacting. There are plenty of breaks, so they’re not overworked, and after lunch recess, there’s a sort-of rest period, where the lights are dimmed, soothing music is played, and if the kids are tired they can nap briefly, or they can just rest quietly.
My daughter’s teacher seems to be all for it, too. She’s of the opinion that the kids seem able to retain more and have a less difficult time transitioning into “school mode” at the beginning of each day.
The kindergarten age is the end of a really formative period for children, and since most of them are going to spend the next 12+ years in school and the school schedule, catching them at the tail end of this formative stage might make a big difference in the long run.
From the search I have been doing, there is no conclusive evidence that full day kindergarten is better. By this, I mean when you look at five years down the road, there is no difference in test scores. If you want to make first grade test scores higher, FDK will help in this area. However, long term, it does nothing that statistically stands out.
There is a time to learn and a time to play. Creativity is generally developed between the ages of two and six. It takes time to develop creativity or what some say is “imagination.” This is the driving force behind our economy. The US is the leader in creativity, new ideas, concepts that improve our standard of learning.
Keep in mind that the human brain is the same revision that it was 10,000 years ago. We learn process and remember the same way. There may be some little tricks that have been developed, but pretty much memory is dependent on the amount of information being processed and the number of associations attributed with that memory. The more associations, the more that will be remembered.
What is the purpose of Kindergarten? Is it to develop social skills, if so, then full day is not needed? If it is to teach math and reading, then let us eliminate the senior year of high school since all we are doing is pushing forward learning.
Also, keep in mind that not all children are ready for kindergarten. Sending those to school who are daydreamers and forcing them to do what they are unprepared for may cause them to hate school for a long time.
Looking at the distribution of potential students who are age 5 will show a wide variation in skills. Do you honestly think that a “process” can be developed to accomodate 90% of these students at age 5? Just look at grade 2 and how many different types of students there are and the number of programs to help them. All we are doing is moving forward information that many are not ready for. Why not wait a bit until they are ready to learn?
It depends on whether or not the child is ready for full day kindergarten. With many parents holding their child until they are 6 before starting kindergarten it is an advantage as most are developmentally ready for the full day at school. Some kids at age 5 are ready but some are not.
I have often felt an option for an all day kindergarten be available to parents as an option but a half day for most may be best.
A couple of problems with all day kindergartin have been and continues to be funding for staff and space within the current elementry buildings. As it is set up right now kids go half day, morning or afternoon. That is aproximately 50 kids being serviced by one teacher in one classroom. Additional staff and rooms will be needed to implement it fully. Is Indiana ready to pay for this? Will an increase in taxes be made? Or will they take money out of the already stretched education budget for this? If it’s the latter I prefer they not take monies from the high school programs. High schools are the stepping stones for higher education and employment.
My personal experience: Both kids went to half day kindergarten. One is in grad school at an ivy league and the other an undergraduate. Both are in very difficult engineering – science programs. Neither have many memories of kindergarten.