Schools begin process for all-day kindergarten
Victoria News
By Erin Cardone
September 04, 2009

All-day kindergarten might not be the mental burden for children some opponents are predicting.

School District 61 board of education chair Tom Ferris said kindergarten teachers know better than anyone how to manage a classroom of five-year-olds for a full day.

“I think educators recognize what the needs of these children are. They’ll get appropriate downtime so they’re not on the go all day.”

He added teachers would be careful not to put too much strain on five-year-olds, creating a hybrid of the learning aspect of kindergarten with the playtime of day care.

Ferris hopes to see the program implemented sooner rather than later.

“The idea of all-day kindergarten is a positive idea and it’s very doable,” said Ferris. “If there s a fly in the ointment, it would be the funding. One has to assume it would be funded adequately, but you never know.”…

A ministry spokesperson said there are no concrete details as to how that money would be spent.

The ministry also isn’t saying which schools or school districts are equipped to offer all-day kindergarten.

School District 61 is looking at running a $5-million deficit this school year, Ferris said, and wouldn’t be able to pitch in for the cost of extra instruction hours, books and toys needed for all-day kindergarten programs.

Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid … added revenue from the harmonized sales tax would help fund the program.

Ferris believes the new kindergarten plan would make life easier on working parents, eliminating the need for half-day day care. It would also better prepare young children for the social challenges of Grade 1.