The Explosion of 4k
At least they are up front about the primary driving force for districts implementing 4K programs.
“I think there are also some financial benefits that the school district could eventually realize that the superintendent is positive about. He sees that as just another selling aspect.”
You mean the primary driving force is not social/academic?
“There are obvious socio-emotional, academic benefits to families,”
This is not a response to No Child Left Behind?
“Part of this is the pressure from No Child Left Behind,” she said,... “We, along with others, have had to make our kindergarten more academic. And part of what got left behind is the social aspect.”
It’s primarily about the money? Or is the money grubbing public schools angle just the spin that plays well on this blog?
Posted by Mike on December 22, 2008 at 1014 hrs
This is two things - schools who want more money (don’t we all) and parents who don’t want to pay for daycare.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 22, 2008 at 1149 hrs
While I am normally pretty in line with Owen’s views, I do have to say that there is more to 4k than just a bunch of state-paid babysitters. Kids who start getting an actual education and are able to interact with other kids of their age have skills that far exceed those who don’t.
For the record, my 4-year-old goes to a private preschool, so I’m not just saying “yeay 4k” because it would benefit me - it wouldn’t.
Posted by Fuzz on December 22, 2008 at 1242 hrs
I would actually have to respectfully disagree with Fuzz on that statement. I homeschooled all of my kids through 8th grade (they are now upper HS and college age). All have consistently been at the top of their classes since entering 8th grade from the very start. My first homeschooled daughter was reading at age 4. Every side has an angle. Personally, I view 4K as an unjustified means to yank kids away from the home nest and gain tax dollars/government handouts. No thanks.
Posted by GAMazy on December 22, 2008 at 1750 hrs
Kids who start getting an actual education and are able to interact with other kids of their age have skills that far exceed those who don’t.
Studies have consistently shown that these early childhood programs, such as Head Start, actually lose their benefits by about 4th grade.
My kids’ social skills are fine, and we homeschool too.
Posted by hsgbdmama on December 22, 2008 at 1901 hrs
This program is a cash cow for school districts. The state pays most of the cost. Many taxpayers don’t realize they pay state taxes too.
The ones who benefit from the program are kids who don’t have the greatest home environment and economically challenged parent(s) couldn’t home school if their life depended on it. For the rest it is free daycare with educational perks.
True studies have shown that some or much of this is lost later in life, but if the kids learn manners and responsibility at that age that is something they can maintain through their lives.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 23, 2008 at 0926 hrs
Forgot to add. This should be a program that one applies for and is accepted based on lower income levels. Why should we all pay for River Hills day care?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 23, 2008 at 0959 hrs
The ones who benefit from the program are kids who don’t have the greatest home environment and economically challenged parent(s) couldn’t home school if their life depended on it. For the rest it is free daycare with educational perks.
Wow. I am amazed by your incredibly rude and ignorant statement. While I have always supported the home-school crowd’s rights to do as they choose with their children, I cannot stand the pompousness that they seem to sometimes exude. Ignorant comments like yours shed a negative light on the entire home-schooled population. There are more kids that benefit from 4k than just poor, abused children. And parents send their kids to 4k for more reasons than just “free daycare with educational perks.” Understanding that would require a smidgen of an open mind, though.
Posted by Fuzz on December 23, 2008 at 1024 hrs
Wow. I am amazed by your incredibly rude and ignorant statement.
You seem to be easily offended by a lot of things. Is this a perpetual condition from which you suffer?
Ignorant comments like yours shed a negative light on the entire home-schooled population.
???
How so? I am indignant that you would make such an irrational statement. OMG I am offended beyond belief. Stomping my feet over here…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 23, 2008 at 1220 hrs
???
How so? I am indignant that you would make such an irrational statement. OMG I am offended beyond belief. Stomping my feet over here…
When you speak for a community but come off as an ignorant and arrogant douchebag, the entire community ends up sounding like a gaggle of douchebags. Well done.
Posted by Fuzz on December 23, 2008 at 1238 hrs
Wow. I am amazed by your incredibly rude and ignorant statement.
You obviously did not benefit from 4K, but there is still hope.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 23, 2008 at 1553 hrs
I don’t homeschool, but I did teach my kids the alphabet and socialized them (the fancy word for play dates, I guess,
) before they entered school. I also worked with them to teach patience, taking turns, manners, etc. These are basically things preschools teach, and in my opinion, not the responsibility of government. I support private preschools, which often offer scholarships or discounts for families who struggle financially, but I just don’t believe this is a function of government. I think there are some temporary benefits of 4k, but, as stated before, those diminish by 3rd or 4th grade. I always thought my daughter was brilliant when she was reading at 3 years old and read Little Women before second grade. But by third grade, everyone in her class could read at a similar level, with a few stragglers on either end. I do, however, have a first grade math whiz in the family who may be the real deal. He can count without counting. It’s freaky weird. But I think that’s from his father and not because of preschool.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 23, 2008 at 1937 hrs
There are a few misconceptions going on here. First of all, 4K is not for economicall-challenged families. It is for all children, some of whom happen to come from a financial disadvantage. To lump all children together is inappropriate, not to mention incorrect.
Secondly, it is unfortunate that Fuzz (if you don’t mind my addressing you) has encountered homeschoolers who walk with prideful attitudes. I chose to homeschool as I did not care for the government-based educational system and our family could not afford private school. It was not to brag (so if I sounded that way in the post above, that was not my intention), nor to place homeschoolers on a pedestal. I can assure you, I have felt the sting of the same people who homeschool, but I have felt greater stings from people who choose private education, as well. So we have these issues in more than one place.
Last, the subject here is not whether or not homeschooling is fabulous for all of us because, as Wendy pointed out, she feels called to teach her children their moral values, share their faith, and give them a base of education, not leave it up to the government, who should keep their sticky fingers to themselves.
The issue of 4K is more of what I mentioned previously…it is a robbing of the nest and a reaping of financial gain. It is easy for a parent(s) to use this as a means to be free of day care payments (if they are being utilized) under the guise of “education”, and the government likes it that way.
Posted by GAMazy on December 29, 2008 at 2058 hrs
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