Full Day Preschool Programs - Good Idea or Not?

In recent years, the administration of my sons' elementary school has been considering a possible restructuring of their preschool program, which basically means changing the current part-time preschool schedules in some way or instituting a full day preschool program instead. Currently, the school offers separate morning and afternoon preschool to both 3 and 4-year old children. Well, as of a few days ago, the decision has finally been made. Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, the 3 year old program will no longer exist at our school, in favor of a brand new, all day, every day 4 year old program. Frankly, I think this idea stinks, but that's just my opinion. What do you think? (Don't worry, you'll get a chance to put in your "two cents" below.)

My husband and I first caught wind of this issue last fall when all school parents were asked to complete a survey as to their opinion about possibly restructuring the 4-yr old program. As I recall, we were given four options:

1) Leave the program as is with three half-days of school per week
2) Change the schedule from three half-days to five half-days per week
3) Offer full day preschool but no after school care
4) Offer full day preschool with the option of after school care

We chose the second option. To us, it seemed like the obvious choice. In our opinion, three half days aren't enough. Our boys had a tough time transitioning into Kindergarten for that reason. Still, we don't feel that 4-year olds belong in an all day preschool program. They seem too young for that kind of schedule, even if they will have a naptime.

Photo courtesy of kikashi.

I remember explaining our position in the comment section of the survey. It went something like this:

Now, I realize that not everyone agrees with our position; this was made crystal clear when the school board voted for the full day program. Nor is it a new concept. Other countries and some states across the U.S. have had full-time preschool programs in place for years. Chances are, many of you are already familiar with this. Maybe you've even embraced it wholeheartedly and have chosen that route for your own children. There are many working parents out there who have difficulty dealing with the part-time schedules of Pre-K. That two-to-three hour window from drop-off to pick-up can be extremely limiting, especially if you have little flexibility at work or an unforgiving employer. Many people need the stability of a full-time program. Heck, there are some people who even equate preschool with daycare.

Whatever the source of your opinion, I'm sure you have valid reasons for feeling the way you do and, to be clear, I'm not commenting on those situations one way or the other. We all have to deal with the hand we're dealt and make the best of it. I do, however, have an issue with the school board for making what seems like an ill-informed decision. At the very least, the preschool teachers should have been invited to speak about it. But they weren't. Why? They're on the front lines here. In the confines of their classrooms, they spend hours with the little ones, teaching ABCs, sharing smiles, wiping noses. And after decades of doing those things, you can be darn sure they have a sense of what young kids can tolerate and how they would adjust to a longer schedule. Their opinions should have weighed heavily in this decision. But that wasn't the case. Instead, the decision rested with a school board that consists primarily of people with older children and others who have little to do with the inner workings of the school. Beyond the parent poll, very little consideration was given to those directly affected who could better predict the ripple effect of such a verdict. It seems ludicrous, but maybe it's just us. What do you think?

Photo courtesy of cobrasoft.

I'm happy to report that our school has since reverted back to their original preschool schedule and reinstated the Pre-K 3 program! Apparently, they didn't receive the response they were expecting when conducting registration for full-time Pre-K 4. That, coupled with numerous requests for Pre-K 3, brought about the change of heart. Also, for parents who voted the other way, they are still proceeding with the full day schedule, so I guess that makes this a win-win.

Yeah!!!