In an unprecedented move, Dalton McGuinty's liberal government is making Ontario a test subject for education. Of course, I am referring to his recent promise to make school full day for all 4 and 5 year olds within the province. This will make Ontario the only government in North America to move towards this model. The plan also calls for all classes be to a maximum of 26 students and be supervised by both a kindergarten teacher and an early childcare educator (ECE). McGuinty's justification is that a well educated labour force must start with the very youth of this country. This is all being done to "ensure that we build a powerful workforce that can compete and win against the best". To do this McGuinty understands that costs will be higher and that cutbacks may have to be made to other programs. Furthermore, this program will offer an extended hours option to parents at a fee. This should allow for parents to travel to work and still be able to pick their child up at the end of the day.
So there is the facts, now for some opinion. Personally, I have no problem with attempting to institute a full class day. My problem arises from the current standpoint on education. This idea that people must begin working and studying hard as children to achieve success as adults. What ever happened to the days when children came home from school and went to play tag or baseball. They have been replaced by parents who linger over their 7 year old to make sure they did their 3 hours of homework. As a university student I agree that education is important but so is being a kid and enjoying your childhood. This education craze that has enveloped Canadian society is going too far. Therefore, my problem with this policy is not the full day of school but rather the implication that we need to force our children into an intellectual society above all else. After all, I didn't do 3 hours of homework a night until coming to university and here I am, still working and achieving. It amazes me how willing we are to take away the very thing from our children that made us who we are today.
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Nobody is suggesting giving these 4 and 5 year old children three hours of homework. Nobody is suggesting that we abandon play time. A full day kindergarten merely replaces the current system of children watching TV on grandma's couch. The government is replacing a destructive thing with something extremely positive. You are ignoring facts and realities in your quest to degrade this Liberal government
ReplyDeleteChris I think you are being unfair by saying i'm trying to degrade to the liberal movement. As I said I have no problem with the full day of school, my problem is with the the undertone that is being implied. This idea that kids have to work harder than we did for success. That schooling at this age is the most important thing a child can have if they are going to be successful. The generation before us and even to some extent ours never had this pressure on them. We were allowed to be kids and the idea that a child who doesnt have full day schooling is at a disadvantage should be insulting to you, to me and to everyone else who grew up as a normal kid. Is it the blame of the times we live in...absolutely. The liberal government is trying to do good by society, unfortunately society's opinions aren't always the best for all. Tyranny of the majority over a population with no voice....kinda sad that our childhood isn't good enough for our kids.
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