Should kindergartners go an entire day of school?

Hi all,

When I was in school, in kindergarten to be precise, it was only a half-day of school and our parents could enroll us in either the morning or the afternoon class. Now, in the school district where I live, kindergartners are going a whole day. I think that's too much for kids that age - they're just babies!

What's your opinion on this?

Too much. Half-day is perfect.

This is a total hot bed of discussion around here because more and more area schools, including the city district, have gone to full days, part time....two day schedule with alternating Fridays.

Personally, I am against it because around here, they began half day 4K. The implementation of that program really makes me pissed. It is glorified daycare, at tax payer's burden. I am all for educating kids, but what is done at 4K here, is nothing but art, and a tad of skills thrown in. Total waste, and truly only benefits the daycares who provide busing and charge as much as if the kids were in full time pre-school at the facility daycare.

There are pros and cons both ways. Some kids are eady for it and others arne't. For those that aren't, it's a REALLY long and difficult day. Here, all kids in kindergarten are 5 by Dec. 31st. We have pre-school - no pre-K.

Not, it should stay at half a day.

I see no problem with whole day classes for kindergartners. I recall going a whole day when I was in kindergarten; my daughter did as well. They are going to have to experience whole day classes once they hit the first grade, I see no point in delaying the inevitable. A half day for pre-schoolers makes more sense, but I think Kindergartners should get the full day just like every other grade level.

I never went to pre-school.

My daughter went full day kindergarten and she was none the worse for it.

Where I grew up, all Kindergarten was full-day. I had never heard of half-day K until moving to the mainland. DS2 was homeschooled for K, but DS1 went to public school and it was full-day K. As long as kids are allowed a rest period, I don't see how it's any harder on them than daycare. Oh, and neither I nor my son attended preschool. I was at home with my mom until I started K. My son was in a home daycare. Neither of us had any trouble transitioning to a full day at school.

2xy wrote:Where I grew up, all Kindergarten was full-day. I had never heard of half-day K until moving to the mainland. DS2 was homeschooled for K, but DS1 went to public school and it was full-day K. As long as kids are allowed a rest period, I don't see how it's any harder on them than daycare. Oh, and neither I nor my son attended preschool. I was at home with my mom until I started K. My son was in a home daycare. Neither of us had any trouble transitioning to a full day at school.

Oh long forgotten memories! When I was in KG, my best friend and I were the "rug monitors". We were in charge of unrolling and rolling up the rug upon which we all laid down on for quiet/nap time.