Ontario will start to phase in full-day learning for four-and five-year-olds in 2010, seven years after Premier Dalton McGuinty first promised to introduce full-time junior and senior kindergarten.
But are 4 year olds really ready for full day schooling? Sure you can find studies showing an improvement in some areas but what are the costs (and I don't mean the money)?
Granted, many children that age are now in day care so this is really a different form of funding child care. But is it the best way? What will the curriculum be?
My fear is that in the end this push to start school earlier and more intensively fits in to a larger process of pushing kids to do too much through their school career. Are we asking too much too soon? Or just asking too much period?
Our older son takes after his mother and likes his naps. When he started JK, he could barely get through his lunch before falling asleep. I can't imagine him having a full day of school at that point.
ReplyDeleteHis brother on the other hand, would have been just fine all day.
I still think half days are enough for a four year old.