Research wrote on May 10, 2008 8:04 PM:
" Stastically, children who attend Pre-K are better prepared for full day Kindergarten; especially the districts who implement more academics to the curriculum. It is a developmental learn through play concept that provides structure and intergration for what is needed at the next level. Many many children come from loving homes but are more isolated through the electronic/media forum rather than learning through socialization. We pay for this now or we pay for it later through other means, drop out issues, jail, etc. Invest in the children not the correctional facilities. Every district I have seen had bus monitors in the routes for full day and for 1/2 day thay had monitors in the morning and their separate route in the afternoon. Full day never had a lot to offer in the afternoon because of lunch, nap, and recess. It amounted to free babysitting but in a very safe and wholesome environment. "
re Chris King the key wrote on May 9, 2008 6:06 AM:
" The key is you would have a panel of folks like you deciding who was or was not doing a good job parenting. That is why I hold you (and your ilk) in such low regard. "
RE Chris King wrote on May 8, 2008 6:40 PM:
" Chris King, how would you go about getting parents to attend "parenting classes"? How would you regualate who is a "good" parent and who is a "bad" one? I don't thing it would be any more cost effective nor do I think people would attend. The only way you can force parents to do this is if you're a horrible parent like Ms. Spears and your children are taken away. Now you've got the courts involves and children seperated from their parents. That's more cost effective? I do agree that if the parents are the problem go to the source but how? "
RE Chris Christ Kings latest proposal wrote on May 8, 2008 4:51 PM:
" There are two problems with your "teach the parents to be better parents like you" theory:
1) You can't expect to give goofballs a minimal amount of training over a short amount of time, and turn them into non-goofballs. You definitely can't expect your newly-minted non-goofballs to go back home and raise another non-goofball. You have to give the kids some outside of the home time with experienced non-goofballs to break the vicious goofball cycle.
2) If such a class was offered, goofballs would elect not to attend. "
Chris King wrote on May 8, 2008 3:43 PM:
" How about providing some education/ incentive/ requirement for the parents? If the true root of the problem is that some parents are not able to do the proper thing and teach their children the basics, then wouldn't it be prudent to enable those same parents to do their jobs. If the parental involvement is the problem, then let's work on solving that problem, rather than the schools trying to take the place of the parent! I think that would be a viable solution, that would cost much less money, and it targets the real problem. The fact is that there may be some parents that don't do the job they should, but I would imagine that it is a small minority. Most parents, given the proper tools, will do right by their children. "
REFacts wrote on May 8, 2008 2:47 PM:
" THose facts might be truth,however it does not help the child at all for the parent have these 3 issues . It is the child that pays the price and suffers. "
facts wrote on May 8, 2008 1:10 PM:
" parents have a hard time teaching discipline and respect for others because of three factors affecting many families.
1. Exhaustion: Parents can't say no because they don't have the energy to do so.
2. Guilt: Not being able to give more of their time, parents often give material gifts instead.
3. A loveless society: Shmuley says "we don't live in a very loving society. People come from broken childhoods; they often have loveless marriages. The only love they get is from their children, so they're afraid to discipline them because they think their children won't love them."
"
speaking of taxes wrote on May 8, 2008 12:06 PM:
" I d oget a bit upset that my husband and I both work ,yet we have to tell our kids "No we can'y afford this or that" and I am ok with that as they do not need everythnig they ask for.However at the same time so and so has computers,cable tv,this that and the o ther and are on every gov't program.I must say its a bit disheartening...whatever happened to working for what is yours?I am not talknig about the families who are 100% giving their all. I am talknig about the ones who do not work are home all day,kids by many fathers yet not married to anyone. "
does it make them smarter wrote on May 8, 2008 12:04 PM:
" Just because a child starts school at age 4 does not mean he will be smarter or it will take care of this issues of being behind. At one time kids could start school at age 4 as long as they turned 5 by December 1.This was reevaluated and the date was move up to Sept.1 because kids were not ready emotionally or otherwise. The drop out rates will not change by starting at age 4. It will not make them "smarter" per say It will just let them catch up to where they need to be as is and the schools will get funds for this.I personally think that education starts at home. Granite some kids have issues that they need extra help but a vast majority of the kids sit in front of TV most days,tell the parents they don't want to take time to learnand "ok"..what I fail to understand is this...they claim most low income kids are lacking educational skills..in 50% or more of the cases low income is where one or both parents are not working but on benifits from the state..so if one or both parents are home all day why can;y they teach the basics? It is not rocket science. I also know that some low income do work with their kids and I applaud you on this...in all truth no one really wins..kids are forced to grow up way to fast...go back even 20 years ago...compair a 4-5-6 year old then to ones of today,they learn so much so fast and I am not talking educationally but street stuff. I think kids grow up to fast as is so at 4 let them stay home and still be kids. "
Voluntary Taxes wrote on May 7, 2008 10:29 PM:
" My taxes for prisons, welfare assistance, food stamps,and medicaid aren't voluntary either. And most of those problems are caused by a lack of education! I'd rather spend less money earlier trying to correct the problems of in-ept parenting. "
Chris King wrote on May 7, 2008 12:32 PM:
" Another thing... At this point in time, the 4K idea is on a volunteer basis. However, will my tax dollars that pay for the program be voluntary? I do not believe so! "
Chris King wrote on May 7, 2008 11:31 AM:
" Wow, another educator...Holy cow, man! I did not say that 4k was mandatory. I did say that I do believe it would eventually become mandatory. I have seen enough of the liberal teacher's unions and other educators that have lost focus on what truly matters in life to know that this program is about money, free babysitting, and "socialization" against the values that made this country great in the first place. As for sitting behind a computer...well, why don't YOU start with your name Mr. enlightened educator! "
Re Messed up wrote on May 7, 2008 7:31 AM:
" By the looks of your sentence structure and use of the English language, maybe YOU should go to 4 year old kindergarten. Maybe you could learn something. "
Another Educator wrote on May 6, 2008 7:39 PM:
" Mr.King....do you have nothing better to do than to post stupid comments on the Tomah Journal website? FACE IT, thanks to the government and the No Child Left Behind law there are certain academic things a student should know before entering Kindergarten (ABC, count to 10, know their colors, identify their name)...very basic academic skills...come on Mr. King, they don't have to enter kindergarten as a genious. There are some children who enter kindergarten that have never seen their name in print before. WWWHHHYYYY should a teacher have to waste other students time (the students whos parents gave a hoot about teaching them these basic things) while they teach these other kids the things that really, every 5 year old should know coming into kindergarten???!!!!! 4-K will never become MANDATORY!! Mr. King, I bet you have NEVER attended a 4-K informational meeting because you would have to show your cowardly face to the public instead of sitting behind a computer (only knowing 1/4 of the information about the 4-K program) with your head up your ....... NOT EVERYONE IS A GREAT PARENT LIKE MOST OF YOU CLAIM YOU ARE!!! Tomah residents, know your facts before spouting off on this forum. Come to the 4-K meeting. It might give you some knowledge/info so you sound smart about what you claim to know everything about! "
fact is wrote on May 6, 2008 4:22 PM:
" The point is if more parents would take time with their kids and be parents instead of expecting the gov't and schhols to do it very few kids would go to school"behind" "
Remessed up wrote on May 6, 2008 1:52 PM:
" What gives you the right to sit in judgemenet of anyone else. We have no idea how good a parent you are just your claims to be so. Many families and kids will benefit from this program.If you don't need it or want it so be it.Others see it differently. To leave kids behind so you can brag about what a good job you did as compared to others is to miss the point. "
messed up wrote on May 6, 2008 12:25 PM:
" MY children have never gone to a preschool or day care. However they have always been above their peers academically.My now 5 year old(not in school yet) knows all her things as well as can read books. It is not the fact this 4 year old schooling is mandatory,but the fact so many paents do not take the time to teach their children. Being "poor" is not a excuse either you can be poor and still take your child to the library to get books to read, or teach them numbers etc.It is the fact that so many parents have kidsyet they do not wnt to take the time to teach them,playwith them and just be good parents.Instead they have to go and keep up with the people next door in material items...In this day so many people have their priorities messed up..then it is the children that pay for it from needing someone else to teach them the basics to ending up pregnant or into drugs at a young age. I am one parent(alogn with others I know) that became parents to be parenrs not to push them off onto another to teach the children. Sad..not just in Tomah but all over this country. "
Chris King wrote on May 6, 2008 12:19 PM:
" Listen to yourselves. Enter kindergarten on an even playing field. Why should the teacher have to spend half the year teaching skills to the children in kindergarten? Are you you serious? It's kindergarten. God forbid a kindergarten teacher has to teach kindergarten skills! The push for 4-year-old kindergarten may be voluntary at first, but given time it will become universal just like typical kindergarten. Then there will be a bunch of hullabaloo about 3-year-old kindergarten so the 4 years olds are on an "even playing field." Then two year olds and so on. The doctor enters the delivery room and immediately places the 15 minute old baby in early intervention programs because that baby should have been in 10 minute old kindergarten. Its ridiculous folks! More money for the schools to indoctrinate our children and get them started at an earlier age, before their parents have an opportunity to instill real values in their children! Education is imperative, but so is the opportunity to be a child. Quit trying to place your own over-inflated expectations on your children, and provide them the opportunity to be children for awhile, because God knows we wouldn't want our children to look back on their lives and have resentment over the fact that we pushed them too hard too soon! "
An Educator wrote on May 5, 2008 7:45 PM:
" How many of you went to the public meeting about the 4-k program? It sounds like not many of you since most of you don't know what you are talking about in regards to the logistics of the 4K program. How many kids in Tomah have a great home life where they can thrive and learn? Having lived all over country I've noticed one thing, Tomah has a lot of kids who live at or below poverty level. Are these kids going to great daycares where they learn? Are these kids going to preschool? Will some/most of these kids enter kindergarten NOT knowing their basic kidergarten skills? Why should the kindergarten teacher spend the better part of the year trying to play catch up for these kids when we can get them in a program where they can enter kindergarten on an even playing field? Giving them that advantage now will make things down the road that much easier for them. Not all kids have a great start to life (and school) and we need to think of ALL of the children's needs and not just our own!!!!! The program in voluntary, you don't have to send your children if you don't feel it is important. However, it will make a HUGE difference for some children who otherwise may struggle for some/most of their elementary days! "
Its not free babysitting -- its an education wrote on May 5, 2008 2:51 PM:
" Anyone who thinks kindergarten is just babysitting has not ever been involved in education. Children learn earlier and earlier -- and many difficulties can be detected while it's still fairly easy to correct the problem. That is why Child Development Day is a wonderful opportunity -- and has been for years. My kids went when they were little and are now high schoolers. Every chance at education needs to be explored. We tried one of the established day cares for a short while. It didn't meet our needs and there weren't many choices at the time. We paid for our kids to attend preschool, and it was well worth it. Parents can opt-out of kindergarten or public education, and if they're qualified to educate their children in a fulfilling manner, then go for it! One should not pass judgment on others wanting their children to have an education. "
right again wrote on May 3, 2008 11:09 PM:
" So the school is the only setting that can develope young people. Why not daycares. My wife has run a daycare for 14 years and the kids that she has cared for have done just fine entering school as a 5 year old. The parents that employ her say they would rather have them learning in the setting at our home than in a school setting. When you look at these 4 yr old scheduals of half day school its only maybe 2 hours of STRUCTURED learning. Long rides on the bus to and from school or daycare and then ride home with mom or dad. Nice day for these youngsters to learn. My youngest child is 5 and all 5 of my children went to this developement days. We live very close to all schools but we have never and will never back 4 year old school. Its just a matter that the schools will demand 3 year olds go to school also and the mighty $$ sign will win again. Tell you what, give me any study that the govt. has conducted or the state on the grades of seniors that conclude the seniors that started school at 4 yrs old do better than 5yrs. Heck its proven that holding your child back one year does not give your child an advantage over younger kids. It would have been nice that the survey, they had, would have asked if it was because of the advancement of their children when it comes to learning or just a convenience for the parent. I guess it wont happen but the school should go to a vote on this. Since it is OUR Tax money they will be spending to do this hopefully they will be polite and ask us first. RIght "
RE Right wrote on May 3, 2008 9:46 AM:
" Let me make critical analysis of the previous statement. If you wanted to know what kind of parent would vote "yes," you should have cared enough to take your child to child development days. That way you would have known that it was just about school as your incorrect statement "tilted school sponsored event," is was about devopment. One conclusion can be drawn, parents who care about proper development and put there children's needs ahead of their's, will vote yes. Unfortunately, so will the paren't who just want "cheap childcare." There is one 3 year-old preschool who went to all day on Mon/Wed, that block filled up before the others. "
REONE MORE REASON wrote on May 2, 2008 6:16 PM:
" I hope you don't teach them spelling. "
right wrote on May 2, 2008 4:03 PM:
" They poll 45 people at this very tilted school sponsored event and then this paper has headlines that parents are in favor. Typical of this paper. What .0001 percent of parent in this town are in favor and you make it seem like everyone is knocking the door down at the admin building for 4yr old kind. Another source for the school to get more funds. I remember when 5 year olds went everyday and they were bussed seperately and went to Oakdale(Kindergarten only). That has changed since we ok'ed that. They are just $ signs to this district. "
one more reason wrote on May 2, 2008 3:30 PM:
" This is one more reason we hoemschool our kids..it is my responsibility not the school or gov't to raise m child. "
Chris King wrote on May 2, 2008 2:21 PM:
" My apologies...my last sentence failed miserably in my attempt to be sarcastic. "
Christian wrote on May 2, 2008 11:48 AM:
" Why just until a child is 5 years old? My children are my responsibility, not the government's. How "free" is all this "free stuff" anyway? It costs someone something doesn't it? We'd just as soon not have our children indoctrinated by the government, so we've chosen to homeschool. "
Chris King wrote on May 2, 2008 11:05 AM:
" The theory is that Democracies do not survive because the citizens just continue to elect representatives that will give the electorate free stuff from the national coffers. Yes, I will typically accept free stuff when it is offered, but that is no way to run a nation. This country is broke because people just want free stuff. This nation is amazingly wealthy, but we can not continue to give everything away. Before long, our whole paychecks will just be given directly to the government, and the government will just ration everything out. Imagine the difficulty of outdoing the Joneses when the government decides which car you will drive, which house you own, which hospital you visit, where you will work, what your wages will be, etc?! People need to learn that government, particularly American government was intended to be small, punish wrong doers, and protect its citizens. Anything beyond that is placing faith in a bureaucracy that was never intended to handle such issues! Those that continue to elect officials based on the freebies they will provide at taxpayer expense are guilty of perpetuating the end of self-reliance and dependence upon the State for all of their needs! (Thank you Mr. Obama, but I for one am not afraid to be "on my own.") I agree, the greatest idea of 4-year-old kindergarten is free babysitting. However, I am willing to take one for the team and watch my own child, that is until the age of 5 when he becomes the government school's responsibility!? "
free baby sitting wrote on May 2, 2008 9:08 AM:
" of course there going to vote yes to 4 year old kindergarten, there all parents with young children and this would be free baby sitting for them. "
All for it wrote on May 2, 2008 8:42 AM:
" I raised eight kids and I am 100% in favor of this program, as long as it is voluntary. "
not in favor wrote on May 2, 2008 7:34 AM:
" most of these people who want it are not intersted in what is best for the child,but want a free babysitter and someoneelse to teach their child instead of them parenting. "
funny wrote on May 2, 2008 5:58 AM:
" So what people are saying this? The ones who want their kids gone and out of the house so they can be the school districts problem? Most parents I know want their children to stay young forever. I think they want it to sound like the perfect solution. All it is is free daycare and more money for us the taxpayers to come up with. "
parent of tomah wrote on May 1, 2008 2:30 PM:
" I am a mother of 2 and i know that i don't want 4 year old kindergarten. I think at the age of 5 or 6 is to young. Honestly i don't even know why we even have kindergarten. "
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