Education critic's concerns find some sympathy here
The Daily News (Kamloops)
August 22, 2008
By: Jason Hewlett

… trustees Gerald Watson and Dick Dickens do share Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald's interest in the Education Ministry's proposed all-day kindergarten.

Macdonald, who was appointed education critic by NDP leader Carole James two weeks ago, was in Kamloops on Thursday to attend a B.C. Teachers' Federation annual summer leadership conference. He has a number of concerns heading into the 2008-2009 school year, but class size and composition are at the top of Macdonald's list….

On the topic of all-day kindergarten, Macdonald said moving to a full-day school program for three- and five-year-olds could be a good thing.

"The test will be in the details. How much will it cost? What is it going to look like?" he said.

Watson and Dickens said they agree with Macdonald.

"Our major concern in this district is, if they go ahead with it, they better give us the funding for it," said Dickens.

Watson said he hopes all-day kindergarten won't become "day care in a cheap fashion. I hope it will be a precursor to public education," he said.