I took Liam to get his hair cut yesterday, partially in preparation for Pre-K on Monday, and partially because of this:
Of course I was chatting with the stylist, and I was struck when she said to Liam "so, you must be getting all ready for Pre-K." It wasn't a question, but a statement. She didn't say anything wrong, but it brought me back to some ponderings I've been having recently.
I'm not sure if it's just a Georgia thing since the state funds a public Pre-K program or if it is more widespread, but it seems like tacking on that extra year of all-out schooling has become the norm rather than the exception.
We're sending Liam to a half-day Pre-K program where he's previously been in day care because we're able to fund it through scholarships, because he'll be back with all his day care friends, and because GA Pre-K would have cost us a bunch just for meals each week.
We're also sending him to Pre-K because it no longer seems like an added boost in preparation for Kindergarten, but rather a necessity to avoid starting your kid down in the count. It seems like the general assumption is that all kids WILL go to Pre-K, and I don't know many who don't.
It took me and my peers 13 years to make it from K through 12. It'll take our kids 14 years to make it from Pre-K through 12. Perhaps their kids will start their 15-year journey in the Pre-Pre-K program. ;)
I imagine that part of it has to do with more dual-income families resulting in more kids in day care, and with Pre-K being built into the day care curriculum. If I was still working, next week would just be another week of day care for him, but in a new room and in the Pre-K format. I don't know why we are at a point where the school years no longer start with Kindergarten, and I don't know if I am okay with it. If pre-K wasn't the norm, I don't know if we would send Liam or not.
What do you think? Are we burdening our kids with an extra year of schooling? Do you feel like you have to send your child to Pre-K in order to keep him or her from falling behind?
4 comments:
We've decided to homeschool Richard for pre-k. It was a tough decision but the right one for us. The homeschool decision is year to year for us.
I would have considered a half day program if one was offered around here, that seems like a more reasonable program for 4 year olds rather than a longer day. We are pushing a lot of kids too hard too early and their brains are not developed enough to handle it.
We are sending emma to a 3yr old preschool class at our church. Its 2days a week for 3 hrs. I do it for socialization, mommy free time, and a little learning. I do a fair amount of homeschooling already just built into daily play and activities so I don't expect her to learn too much that I don't already teach her but its good to get her doing those new skills with other kids. If I didn't require some "me" time I wouldn't send her.
In my one semester as an Education major, I learned loads. Albeit, I am far from an expert, but with anticipation of starting Pre-K for us, I paid attention and explored more than a typical student.
Studies have shown that pre-k is good for one main reason. So that kids can sit still,listen and for social understanding. Not the just the ABC's or 123's. Seriously. A lot of parents, it seems, have been 'conned' into thinking that if the put their kids in the private pre-k's etc their child will be the smartest and advance further in life. Umm...guess what? True, kids in daycare/pre-k have shown that they are starting out advanced, but by 2nd or 3rd grade everyone has caught up to each other. Think about it. Sure, if you can pay to privately tutor your child to learn faster, awesome. But we're heading to public school. Even in private schools, it is impossible to create a curriculum for each child. Those are developed according to research and what is appropriate to that age. It's awesome that my child can count to 30 right now. whoot! However, in the end that doesn't mean squat because he still will be sitting and waiting for other kids to play catch up. I just hope that it doesn't result in him getting so bored that he acts out.
IN the end, it depends on that child environment both at home and in school. If the kid has a home environment that encourages reading and learning, then it will come to them. If they learn to be little disrespecting punks, then that's what they will be in school.
1st grade wasn't even 1st grade when we all started school. I remember kindergarten was optional, so the school-creep has been ongoing for a while.
We're doing full-time GA Pre-K (the gov't program) because we are almost entirely ready to commit to homeschooling in a year and this is a chance for us to see how he does in a school setting. That's really just about it. We're not even committed to the full year honestly...if October rolls around and our child has picked up a dozen bad habits and attitudes and doesn't seem to be learning a thing, we'll pull him out of it. Otherwise, he'll learn to socialize, share and learn. Not asking for or hoping for anything more than that.
But yes, the assumption is there about being in school. For 4 years, I get people asking why he's not in school if we're out and about during the day. I imagine it's only going to get "better" when he's homeschooling later on. :)
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