Yes, there is another side to the all-day-kindergarten debate:
Like most Hoosiers, I would like to support something that really works and moves Indiana ahead educationally. Yet, when one views the bold claims supporting full-day kindergarten and then looks into the actual research behind this expensive proposal, it is not hard to see why one critic has said, "This is the education establishment's version of a faith-based initiative."In the past 10 years national participation in full-day kindergarten has grown from 10 percent to more than 50 percent, but reading scores have not changed.
I have both written encouraging words about looking into all-day kindergarten and expressed doubts about its benefits, which I guess means I am still listening to the debate. One thing I do do, and recommend to anybody following any discussion of a complex issue: Be very skeptical of any claims that "the debate is over" or "all the evidence is in" or "the experts now agree." That's a sure sign that there is much more to understand and that one side is trying to declare a win in an argument that should still be vigorously pursued.
