Full day kindergarten in Ontario

[ZS Worotynec]

Hello people.

I'm hoping it's possible to have a discussion about the full day kindergarten program, as proposed by Charles Pascal. See the Ministry of Children and Youth Services website to read the report: http://www.ontario.ca/en/initiatives/early_learning/STEL01_139326

Over the last week or so, there's been some response from both the education sector and the child care sector (con and pro) on the issue of having Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) staffing the program with kindergarten teachers.

I've seen responses from the ETFO, the AECEO (prof assoc of ECEs), advocates (Child Care Coalition of Ontario), but not so much from individual ECEs, kindergarten teachers, and parents and I am wondering how folks feel about a full day kindergarten program for 4 and 5 year olds, staffed with a collaborative team of ECEs and kindergarten teachers.

Thanks.

ZS
http://immigrantchildren.ca
http://www.twitter.ca/immigranttalk
http://www.earlychilddiversity.wordpress.com

[Cathy]

This is absolutely the wrong time in our province's economy to be experimenting with this program, unless it's going to be paid for by the HST.
It's also a process which does not speak to the small and northern communities. It will not play out the same way in those communities in the same way that after-school programs aren't popular and eventually shut down.
Let's also not forget that the program is optional and to be fully effective needs to be full of children. Given that their are fewer children and the we're closing schools because of the predicted continuing declining enrollment...that decline will be felt in the JK, SK years too and also daycares where in towns like mine major manufacturers have closed up shop AND we're losing a school.
Not a recipe for a program that's going to end up costing more for us for the few who choose it.

[Sheila Stewart]

I can relate to Rick's position here. I see the "community" disconnect in my own neighbourhood because of kids going to different schools/programs, and getting on different buses. I have seen "community schools" close, and have continued to wonder how much it had to do with the exercised choice/options to go elsewhere, for reasons that may be diverse. The things you observe on Hallowe'en! Communities may vary in the impact of this, but it may need to be considered in the provision of full day kindergarten programs and how they will be staffed and supported.

[Cathy]

We, as a province simply can't afford it unless the gov't is planning to use the HST money to fund it, BUT, the NDP tried to fly this program many years ago and it fell flat because of the enormity of the costs.

What happens to independent daycares and municipal daycares? Will they be forced to close?

I think that this is pre-election hype designed to impress but provide little in way of practical logistics. Our province is simply too varied and large for one program to work for all regions....because it simply will not.

[ZS Worotynec]

Cathy asks: "What happens to independent daycares and municipal daycares? Will they be forced to close?". WRT "independent daycares", I say, yes, hopefully, if by independent, you mean for-profit. As a publicly funded system, I do not want to see tax dollars going fund individual daycare "owners" and - as shown through 30 years of research - non-profit/publicly run child care is better quality. And, finally child care is recognized as early learning and part of the education system. Those for-profit daycare owners can continue to operate, but not with publicl funds.

WRT Municipally run child care programs, they will, I believe, actually lead the way and serve as a model for community collaboration. Not all of them, but certainly many municipally run child care systems have the history and experience of working with and across many sectors (schools, health care, family resource programs, Ontario Early Years Centres, etc. etc.). See, for example, the Toronto First Duty project:
http://www.toronto.ca/firstduty/

[Rick Collins]

Gay Stephenson said:

Rick, you've raised lots of thoughful points in your post. Do you have any theories on why only a quarter of students are able to walk to your school although it's in an urban setting?

Our school is small, at 281 elementary students. It is Early French Immersion, which is not uncommon in Ottawa. I believe there are enough elementary-aged children within walking distance to fill the school twice. However, with the public/catholic split, and English/French/Early Immersion/Late Immersion splits, we have too many schools. There are 4 school boards for Ottawa. These are not geographic splits, each of the 4 boards covers the entire greater city expanse (Eng Pub / Eng Sep / Fren Pub / Fren Sep) The English boards have overlays as well, because they cater to English, Early French Immersion, and Late French Immersion.

If the province is looking for somewhere to save a lot of money, they can cut the "publicly funded education system" label in half by only funding one (or 2 where there are significant French populations) set of boards, not two (or 4). Cut back on the sets of streams for English boards as well. (we do not need 2 (or 3) entry points for French Immersion.

The elementary-aged children on my crescent (26 houses) go to 5 different "publicly funded education system" schools. I am not counting the home-schooled, private schooled, or those bussed/driven elsewhere due to blended households.