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Thursday, August 25, 2005
Has the Accountability Grinch Stolen Pre-K
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A left coast columnist wrote recently about her take on her child’s pre-k experience (sorry I can’t find the link…). She was disappointed in the lack of fun. She found the program too structured and too academic.
I know kindergarten is the new first grade, so shouldn’t pre-k be the new kindergarten? I have observed many pre-k programs over the years and for the most part the kids appeared to be having a ball. Yes, they still get to play. But it’s true the programs are structured and focused on acquisition of skills. Gotta be ready for kindergarten, which is what first grade used to be.
Some educators and parents are worried that such structured pre-k programs try too hard to make all kids developmentally equal, something that’s impossible to achieve when some kids have just turned 3 and others are on the cusp of turning 5. There’s a wide range among 4-year-olds. They won’t all be able to do the same things at exactly the same time.
Parents of pre-k kids, are they having enough fun? Is the program overly focused on checking off educational accomplishments? Teachers, is this a legitimate concern?
