Michigan Votes Forum

Let's just let the Government take the child from the Parent'(s) at birth and raise them at taxpayers expense.

We can name it the Big Brother day care center branch.

4 is too young to start kindergarten. Why is the cut-off date Dec 1st? It should be Sep 1st as it is in Illinois. By having it on Dec 1st, kids who are born in Sep, Oct, or Nov will only be 13 when they start high school and 16 at the start of their senior year. By moving the start date back to Sep 1st, more kids will have reached the age of 18 by the time they graduate high school. This would be more beneficial to those seeking certain jobs, college courses, or military service after graduation. According to the book "Outliers" children who are born in the first quarter (Jan, Feb, Mar) have a far higher success rate in academics and sports than those born late in the year. Take a kid born in Nov, who is still 4 at the start of kindergarten. His/her classmate born in Jan will turn 6 just two months after the kid born in Nov turns 5. That means nothing to adults, but for kids (especially in these early developmental years) it's a huge difference. Just as the kids born in the first quarter are more likely to suceed, those born in Sep, Oct and Nov are most likely to be held back. Kids who are starting kindergarten this fall should be born between Sep '05 and Aug '06 NOT Dec '05 and Nov '06. By doing it this way you still have the option of moving an older kid up a grade if they're ready. Better to move an older kid up a grade and BOOST their self-esteem then hold a younger kid back and LOWER their self-esteem.

 Does anyone smell a rat with this one? " Note: School districts get extra money from the state for every kindergartner they enroll."  Schools already don't effectively manage the funds they have, and in many cases don't do all that great a job of educating our kids.  So, instead of improving our schools and learning to operate within the established budget, let's get as many precious little ones into kindergarten as we can, regardless of the fact that they're not emotionally ready for the rigors of school.   Bad idea, if you ask me!

 I have to say I think there is a lot of painting with a very broad brush going on here.  As a parent that is personally affected by this legislation, I don't support it at all.  My son will turn 5 in Nov. this year.  He is SO excited and completely ready to start kindergarten.  He's been through 2 years of pre-school and is near the top of his pre-school class in readiness, as evaluated by his pre-school teacher, not just by me, an admittedly biased parent.  So these comments about not being emotionally ready are ill-informed.  The truth is that each child has to be evaluated on a case by case basis.  A few months difference in age should not be a determining factor as some Jan. 5 year olds are less mature than Dec. 5 year olds.  If a child is mature enough to handle pre-school he or she should be allowed to enroll, regarding of whether he or she has turned 5 by some arbitrary date.  This legislation is the typical American way these days.  Let's write a bill that doesn't require anyone to think about a child's readiness, because we're lazy.  Let's just have them read a calendar to determine if a child is ready.

I ask you to consider the situation I'm being forced into.  My son has already been enrolled in kindergarten, gone through kindergarten round-up, and now, just before the present school year ends, the Senate passed a bill to change the enrollment date and potentially pull the rug out from under him.  No one has been able to tell me to date whether or not this ridiculous legislation will take effect this fall or not.  What does 2013 mean?  The 2012-2013 school year, or Sept. 2013?  My son will be CRUSHED if we have to tell him he can't go to kindergarten in the fall and he will be under-challenged starting kindergarten the following year.  No one seems to be talking about the negative consequences that could result from this legislation.

I personally am a late Oct. birthday.  I started kindergarten at 4, and excelled throughout school, including college, despite always being one of the youngest students in my classes.  It is not a given that starting at 4 is a bad thing.  It has been allowed for at least 40 years that I'm aware of and probably significantly more.  If it isn't broke, don't try to fix it!!

Did you read the bill?  If your son turns five in Nov. this year he STILL gets to go to kindergarten!  The process doesn't even start phasing in until 2013.  

 As a parent of two with early birthdates and an early childhood teacher I love this idea! Kindergarden is not what it used to be and they now attend a whole day. They learn how to read now in kindergarden and play less. Let your kid be a kid as they have there whole life to go to school and to be tired.  You can teach them so much at home and there is no need to rush kindregarden.  I personal will not be sending my children when they first turn five even if I can. They will both be more then ready!!