More changes possible for P.E.I. kindergartens TERESA WRIGHT The Guardian
It looks as though more changes could be coming to Island kindergartens, according to some parents and early childhood educators.
The Early Childhood Development Association held an emergency meeting Tuesday night to discuss with early childhood educators the possibility of the province moving kindergarten into the school system.
“They said they strongly believed this was going to be announced soon,” said April Ennis, a parent and member of the ECDA who attended Tuesday’s meeting.
“They said it could be as early as the throne speech.”
They also discussed the strong possibility of the province’s age of entry date being pushed back again to Dec. 31.
Last week, the Department of Education announced the age of entry for Grade 1 had changed from Aug. 31 to Oct. 31.
This sparked confusion among kindergarten teachers who were left wondering why they had not been consulted about the change beforehand.
It left kindergartens scurrying to come up with a readiness program for the 250 children newly eligible for Grade 1 in the fall, because with only three months left in the kindergarten calendar year, these children could not be given a full kindergarten curriculum.
Anne Miller, who works with the ECDA, said her association, which represents early childhood educators in the province, is strongly opposed to kindergartens being moved into public schools.
Despite opposition, several sources told The Guardian that MLAs have indicated to them these changes could potentially be forthcoming as soon as April 4, when the legislature opens for its spring sitting.
Opposition Leader Olive Crane said the suddenness of last week’s announcement regarding the province’s age of entry for Grade 1 and the fact that cabinet was involved in the decision makes her believe there could indeed be big changes coming to the whole system.
“Operational decisions like that usually come out of the department with the minister,” she said. “For cabinet to be involved, that begs the question — maybe they are planning on moving the kindergarten system into the school system.”
And although Premier Robert Ghiz said moving kindergarten into the school system was something he said he’d be willing to explore during one of his election campaign debates, right now he said it’s not a priority.
“One of the recommendations in the last task force report was to look into that. We haven’t addressed that yet.”
But if any changes were brought about, it wouldn’t be overnight, Ghiz added.
“It would have to be a long consultation process where you would have to sit down with the early childhood educators, you’d have to sit down with the school system, you’d have to find a way to really move that in there.”
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What from Now? writes: OK...I've been trying to take this whole thing in stride...but I'm starting to get very frustrated. I think kindergarten in the schools is a wonderful idea however will they be in ALL the schools? We live in a rural area with struggling enrollment. Will we be given the same benefit as larger schools?
Our child is one of the 250 that are affected by the recent change. After the announcement, we tried to get him into the local kindergartens and were told they had no spaces available. So we decided after a great deal of consultation that we would work with him on our own to have him ready for Grade 1 this fall instead of holding him back for a year of kindergarten. Will he be at a disadvantage? We can tell you that in a few years.
We did not arrive at our decision lightly. Can the same be said of our provincial government concerning these issues? Children's futures are on the line!
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DL from PE writes: To What From Now .....I share your concerns......I do not have a problem with the decision to change the age cut-off for entering school. However, I do think that a one-year lead-in would have been the correct (and obvious) course of action....makes one think that the government did this in preparation for something more to come on the horizon.
Equally of concern to me is the unfortunate obstructionist posturing of the ECDA....
Anne Miller, who works with the ECDA, said her association, which represents early childhood educators in the province, is strongly opposed to kindergartens being moved into public schools
I am not sure of all the what ifs associated with moving kindergartens into the public schools, but to come out so strongly opposed at this early stage seems to show the ECDA to be all about themselves first, and the kids second.
Perhaps members of the ECDA can respond on this blog site by elaborating on why they are so strongly opposed to kindergarten in the public schools.
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A W from PE writes: Knee jerk reactions are neither productive nor beneficial to any one involved (they actually tend to be painful)!
We have worked hard to establish the entry date for kindergarten over the past 6 yrs, based on studies of younger children entering school too young and being at a disadvantage socially, academically or both. I agree the age of entry probably could and should be moved back to Oct. 31st.
However, no matter when the cut off is there will always be someone who is ready to go now and their parents will feel that they should be exempt from the rules. It is unfortunate for the children, as well as the teachers that someone felt it necessary to have a knee jerk reaction to such an important issue.
Whether or not kindergarten should be in the school system is a decision that must be based on what is best for the children. Is it better for 5 and 6 yr. olds to spend more time with their same age or younger peers (ie preschool) or do we want them exposed to older students (in consolidated schools this could mean up to grade 8) on a regular basis? Will this improve their education? Do we want them growing up faster? Maybe it would be easier to control or administer the program universally, however what do we say to all the early childhood educators who have chosen this as their life passion. Sorry, we have new teachers to fill your shoes. Not fair or reasonable. Most teachers are not trained to teach younger children and so the education of educators would need to be revamped. This is a big project - huge in fact. Let's think it through and make the best decision for all concerned.
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TLC from PEI writes: I feel the Government should do exactly what is in the paper. Kindergarten does need to be in the school system and the date should be Dec31. It worked in Ontario for years Hooray for Government if they finally see the light. Please do it soon.
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Amanda from PE writes: I think that the reason that the Early Childhood Educators do not want kindergarten in the school system is that it would then be taught by qualified teachers (with their Bachelor of Education) and they would no longer have jobs.
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Just a canuck from PE writes: Very good point from DL
Yes ECDA, whats behind the opposition ?
I myself have two affected by this, one that will be held back ( 6 this November ) and one that will now go ( Sept DOB)
I agree with the changes, K in the school system, or inECD if you have qualified staff ( is that an option ?) and the date changes, although Dec 31st to be consistent with other jurisdictions makes sense. Timing was bad though and probably should have been done during the off months.
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Gone west from AB writes: Get with the times! I have a child entering kindegarten in the Fall in the school system. The kids should be taught by qualified teachers who have their education degree and therefore create more jobs for teachers who need it.
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concerned from Charlottetown writes: I agree that the education degree is an issue. However, my children had kindergarten teachers that were excellent and had much more patience than many teachers in the school system
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SL from PE writes: Sure it would be nice to have kindergarten in the school system, but where are you going to put those classes? The schools in this area are already completely full, some with portables. To put another class or two in each one would require costly renovations.
Also, having a 4-year degree does not necessarily make you a good teacher.
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Not From Here .. from Charlottetown, PEI writes: Kindergarten is in the school system in almost every other province including where I moved from, it should be mandatory. Where im from they have full day kindergarten, its time this province gets up to date, also whats with school being over so early here 2:40??? How do people work around here...lol
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A W from PE writes: Most teachers in the school system (with their B.E.D.) will tell you that they do not receive training or instruction on how to teach, relate to or deal with the pre-school age child ie.. children under 6 yrs. of age. The conflict is not about who will teach the children. The question is what is best for the children themselves?
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Gord McLeod from PEI writes: It is really hard to believe that P.E.I. is thinking of including Kindergarten in the Public Education system. Umm, every other province and Territory offers this to their children and we are now thinking about it!!! Come on folks, it is time to get with the program here. I do believe that the Early Childhood teachers are concerned about their jobs but they can still teach Pre-school
children.
It is time for the government to think about what is best for the children. Our students are behind for a reason and it is now time to fix this.
Take N.B. as an example...same situation where Kindergarten wasn't included in the school system, well the parents demanded that their children be offered the same opportunities that other children across Canada were already getting... the Early Childhood teachers were very upset but the government gave them 7 years to obtain their degrees. Alot of these ECH teachers retired and some went on to finish their education.
It is time to move forward P.E.I., you owe this to your children!
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Liz MacKay from York, PE writes: Kindergarten in the schools:
I think this is a great idea! I grew up in a place where grade primary (same as kindergarten) was in the school system. For the first little bit we didn't go everyday, but every other day until we were use to the schedule. We traveled on the bus and it was not a transition to grade 1. I hope that it will happen shortly. It's hard when you only have one car to transport your child to kindergarten in the morning and pick them up again at noon. It would be much easier if they were transported like other students.
To the individual wondering if their child will be ready for grade one if taught at home, I assure you that if you spend the time with them they will undoubtedly be ready. Our oldest did not attend kindergarten (due to age cut offs for where we were living at the time) and was very ready for grade one. Just take the time and enjoy this wonderful teaching moment you have available to you. There is nothing like it.
With regards to the cut off date being changed yet again, I would love to see a national age limit set so that no matter where a person moves, their child(ren) will be in the appropriate grade. Especially in a day where families have to move where the work is.
Anyway, that's my rant. I hope they implement the kindergarten into the elementary schools and have busing for them.
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LL from PE, PE writes: I think that with the cut off dates there should be a sort of testing to go with it. Some children just aren't ready then to go to school but the parents send them anyway. Others miss out on going because they are past the date, yet are more than capable of going. The same thing goes with keeping children back and pushing them ahead, is it done anymore? From what I can tell it isn't because too many parents complained about their child being kept back from their peers. What about what's best for the student and the classroom? I am not a teacher, but I sure feel bad for them as they end up having to teach a class to several different grade levels as people can't be kept back or pushed a head. What a hard thing that must be to prepare a lesson for different grades and then also for the students that are either behind or a head and aren't getting stimulated properly. I think testing is a great idea for cut offs and for just the regular grading process.
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gord McLeod from PEI writes: This idea is not new! Kindergarten has been in school systems across this country for years. Full day Kindergarten with transportation provided to the students.
My nephew went to Primary(kindergarten) in Halifax. He was in French Immersion, and is now in Grade 2. I would bet that when he came out of Primary French Immersion he was way ahead of the Grade One Immersion students here. He was familiar with the new language, school, teachers, etc. He was also reading books at the end of Primary. There are students going into Grade one here that don't know the alphabet, numbers and how to print their names! It can be a very difficult time for the Grade One teachers because they have students coming into their classrooms totally unprepared. It is reality here on the island. I really hope that the ECH educators understand the importance of having Kindergarten in the school system. Why do tehy think that every other province and territory have Kindergarten in place??? Students at this age BELONG in school, period.
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LL from PE, PE writes: OK Gord,
Are you saying it's just the school system that should be teaching the children their alphabet and name and what not? It's the parents' responsibility to teach first at home. My children new their letters in french and english, could write their own names and read before entering kindergarten. Parents need to take an interest in their children's education at home as well so that they can further it along. Parents need to be more active in their children's education from the moment they are born and all throughout their educational career. This would help to bring our educational scores up with those of the national average.
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Tracey A. from Ottawa/PEI writes: Be careful what you wish for!!! Kindergarten in the schools as a theory/concept is great. Except that a few years down the road, it might end up that you now also have a JUNIOR kindergarten in your school system. The result? You are pretty much forced to send your child to an institutionalized world at the rip age of 3-4 years old! Not forced in the sense that anyone FORCES you to send them, but in the way that to NOT send them puts the fear in you that they will be behind!!!
I am in that position now with my son - he will be eligible to start JK next fall. I personally feel that we need to let our children be children. Why this push to have them know their letters and numbers before they enter school? Why are we FORCING this kind of structure down the necks of our babies? They will be stuck in school for 12 years, plus more if they go onto higher education. children have amazing capacities to learn and they don't need a formal setting to do so. Let kids be kids!!! Reading at a young age has NO predictor on the success of a person over thier lifetime.
I saw another poster talk about full-time kindergarten in other provinces. In any provinces (that I know of) where Kindergarten is in the school system, it is half day for for JK or SK. It might be that the child also spends the other part of theri day in the daycare affiiliated with that school but it is not Kindergarten per se. The parents have to pay for the 1/2 day of care, unless that is they have a subsidy.
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Tracey A. from Ottawa/PEI writes: Gone west from AB writes..yes great solution...create jobs for people woth a B.ED and put ECEs out of a job. Perfect solution. There is NOTHING at a kindergarten level that at B ED can teach a child that a qualified ECE can't. Or for that matter nothing that a parent who decides to invest themselves in thier child's learning can't teach!
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gord McLeod from PEI writes: Tracey A., obviously every other school district in Canada disagrees with you....Kindergarten is part of the school system and is therefore taught by a classroom teacher. And as for your comment about Parents teaching their children...well, that just doesn't happen in most cases. I have a teacher friend that asked a parent to work with their child on some skills and the parents reply was, thats your job. Sorry but the sooner the child is in the school system the greater the chance of detecting learning difficulties early, not when they get into the system and the waiting game starts. I've seen first hand the benefits to the child of having been in the school that they would be going to for Grade One, they far out weigh the opinion that it is O.K. to have them go to a privately run Kindergarten.
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Tracey A. from Ottawa/PEI writes: Gord...if the teachers hired were specifically trained to deal with children of ages 5-6, then I might agree with you. Teaching and dealing with children of age 5 is not the same as dealing with kids at 8, 12 or 18. ECEs are specifically trained and very knowledgeble about children and behaviour at that age. Period.
You issed my main point! Learning takes many more forms than a classroom where a teacher is teaching with a curriculum. Moreover, I am quite sure that the average ECE knows her alphabet, thier numbers and how to print names. There is NOTHING that a child can learn in shcool based Kindergarten that they can't learn from an ECE!
Moving kindergarten (and the development of JK) has more benefits to the parents of kids (free daycare) than to the average child.
And just because someone else says that my child MUST go to school at the tender age of 4, doesn't mean that I have to agree with it. Junior Kindergarten is nothing but glorified free 1/2 day daycare.
It sounds to me as if you are a man without children who likes to make the decisions for OTHER people's children.
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Gord McLeod from PEI writes: Tracey, if you don't want your child to go to JK DON'T send him/her.. I agree with you that 4 is too young to be in the school system. And I am the proud father of three children that all went through Kindergarten in another province. My kids did very well and I'm very thankful that the KIndergarten was provided in the school system and not a daycare. Do you realize that there are 89 Kindergartens here on PEI?? All of these centres are not teaching the curriculum set out by the Dept. of Ed., some are and these kids are very easy to pick out in a grade one class at the beginning of the school year. Our students are finding the early years of school very difficult because they weren't properly prepared and ready to be in school. I guess it will be up to the parents to decide whether they feel it is important for their child to be ready or not, the teachers can only do so much for these kids. I still can't believe that this is such an issue, it is really a no brainer. Like I have said before, if they can offer Kindergarten to the school children in Nunavut, then P.E.I. should have the same.
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