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News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Opening Arguments

The full-day option

So, is full-day kindergarten an educational necessity? The state is saying as much in its commitment to try to start funding it. But that require it to be free under the state constitution. Or is an option, nice but not necessary? In that case, school systems that offer it could charge extra for it. The case can be made for each side so well that a ruling by the Indiana Supreme Court has the Indiana Department Education sending out conflicting opinions, and school districts don't know quite what to do.

I think this lawyer makes a convincing argument:

Local lawyer Joseph Curosh, who advises the Highland school district, said it would take a “quantum leap” of intelligence to think Rucker's decision forbids fees in full-day kindergarten programs.

For starters, Rucker never mentions kindergarten in his decision. The Evansville fees were for all grades, not just kindergarten, and they paid for amenities such as drama and athletics that should be covered by the tax-fed general fund. Kindergarten isn't a definite general fund expense.

Also, Rucker writes that fees can be charged for optional education programming.

Is full-day optional? Curosh believes it is. It's not required by the state. And Highland does offer half-day to all students for free.

Curosh also makes a point I've thought needs further discussion. The court's opinion could much more logically be used to void fees for textbooks, which are not an option. Charging for them would seem to violate the constitution's requirement for a "free and equal" education.

Posted in: Hoosier lore

Comments

William Larsen
Mon, 05/22/2006 - 10:04pm

Full day kindergarten has no basis for being implemented. Think about how a child develops and learns. I have read many studies where there is substantial evidence that the longer one delays school, the better off the child is and the more creative the child will be.

Some researchers say that interfering with the natural inquisitive nature of a child stifles creativity, but does help a child learn to read sooner. My question is does learning to read sooner translate into a better educated, more resourceful, creative and imaginative individual?

I have five children and everyone is different. I had one child where a teacher told us early on that it was a good thing our child was gifted in art (meaning she was dumb as an ox). However, this very same child gets good grades now. It just took a bit longer to catch up in other subjects where as they were ahead in art.

Another child is like I was, slow in reading, but loves to figure out how things work. They take things apart and their creativity is fantastic. Am I worried about grades at this point, no? I have full confidence that they will catch up in a year or two.

I went to half-day kindergarten. What would a full day have done for me, but make me tired, spend more time at recess and another nap?

However, what I find very disturbing is the trend to try to teach individual skills sooner. For example, I did not have algebra until 9th grade, but now they teach it in 7th and 8th. I still had the same math available in high school as they now have. Instead of spending so much time on computers, maybe they should spend more time writing by hand, making sure they think about what is to be written prior to starting. I see to much cut and paste taking place, poor hand writing in the work place and a lack of ability in expressing one self.

Some German researches a long time ago proved that one forgets not because of the amount time passing, but rather the number of interactions being taken place over a short period of time. Maybe we should slow down the presentation of information so that they have a chance to learn it, practice it and place it into long term memory before presenting more information. If not, maybe we should do away with the Junior and Senior years and have our children graduate at the end of the Sophomore year.

I am not in favor of full day kindergarten. I feel it is un healthy for children and stifles creativity.

Dave
Tue, 05/23/2006 - 11:36am

Without a lengthy reply, it is my belief that full day kindergarten is something that two income parents support, get them out of the house, sans babysitter or day care. Half a day for five year olds is plenty, speaking as one with three children. That is my basic, cut-to-the-chase, belief

Mike Kole
Thu, 05/25/2006 - 3:31am

I agree with Dave. It merely looks like a more complete warehousing of children.

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