School Readiness

While I was at work the other day (more to come on that, later!), I came across this article from Time Magazine. (Please use that hyperlink and read the article - it's brief, I promise!) What really shocked me was the date at the top of the page - did you notice it?? September 7, 1959!! This debate has been going on for over half a century (and I'm sure it was going on before that, too).

Personally, I started kindergarten at age 4 (and 5 months). Why? Because I was reading already and the nursery school didn't want me anymore - they told my mother I was bored. (I can only imagine how that was manifesting itself in the classroom!) Of course, when my mom went to register me for kindergarten at the local public school, they refused to take me. I wasn't old enough. And that, my friends, is the whole reason why I ended up in private school.

As a teacher, I've certainly taught children who "weren't ready for prime-time" even at age 6. So there must be a better way to determine whether children are ready to enter school other than date of birth. We've come a long way in the research over the years. There are many child development assessments out there (I particularly like the Ages & Stages Questionnaire, for example). Why can't we start with a parent/pediatrician checklist as a first step to entering school?

When my son went to Pre-K (private, since that's all I've ever known - see the repercussions of that local neighborhood school turning me away??), the parents of all of the applicants had to bring the kids in for a "playgroup" with the teachers, during which they assessed the children (academically, physically, and socio-emotionally, I think). Would it really be so hard to have something like this be required as a part of the kindergarten application process? Already, parents of incoming kindergartners have to make appointments at their local public schools to fill out and turn in paperwork and to present documentation of age such as a birth certificate. In addition, they could also turn in their parent/pediatrician checklist and sign up for the "pre-entrance playgroup."

Maybe then our schools wouldn't have to deal with such a wide range of abilities, from day one all the way through high school - if we respected the fact that individual children develop at different rates.

Oh! Now that I'm stepping off my soapbox, I did say that there would be more job-related news later. I was offered (and accepted) a position doing Development for a small private school here in Providence! I am delighted, and anticipate starting in about two weeks.