Why don't we eliminate tax funded kindergarten all together? I think it is safe to say that almost every parent in America can teach their children the ABCs, 123s and how to share.

Really Robert? Clearly u do not have young children. My husband and I both work, as does a majority of other parents nowadays. So, that being said, when do you suppose we teach our kids " abc's and 123's"? And to be quite clear, kids are learning in K what most of us learned in 2nd grade. They start learning to read, and math as well. I'm not a trained teacher, so I think I would like my tax dollars to continue to fund our children's education by a professional. This full day K program is great, and I hope all of the children in our district can benefit from it soon!

Get with the times Robert. My granddaughter has learned to spell, read, write, add and subtract since September. It is what my 30 something children learned in first and second grades. She is only in the half day program , I can only imagine what she would have gotten out of a full day program. I believe that should be available to ALL children in this day and age.

Okay, so if 5 year olds are learning what we were taught in the 2nd and 3rd grade, that would mean that our graduating seniors should come out of high school with the equivilent education of a junior in college (according to the enlightened ways of today's educators of course). Either that or at some point, they stop teaching the kids for 2 or 3 years. Your deduction is quite wrong as well. I have multiple kids that are eligible to attend school. Please don't take my post to mean that I do not cherish early education. Indeed I do. I just don't see how it's appropriate to force me to pay for semeone else's child to attend kingergarden. Lastly, it does not take a professional to teach kindergarden. A 9 year old can very nicely help a 6 year old learn how to read. And an adult can very easily teach the same as well as perhaps some arthmetic. This can be done after work.

Robert doesn't want to pay for it

Robert, do you have any idea how ignorant you sound? Obviously not... I am not looking for free daycare. I am a college educated professional, and my husband and I have a nice life for our family. I currently pay money for preschool so my child can learn, as well as be socialized. We pay taxes in this country for many, many programs. I believe education is extremely important, and I would prefer a college educated teacher to use their knowledge and resources to guide my children. I am extremely impressed by our elementary schools in this town. Our teachers are wonderful, and I do not mind paying our due taxes!!!! This is the way of the world.

I am glad that you are happy paying taxes for public schools. But that is not the point. The taxes you pay do not cover the cost of your child's education unless you pay 10 to 20K in property taxes and have only one child in school. The point is that you are also happy to take my money to pay for what your taxes do not cover. Also simply because we disagree on this topic does not mean that I am ignorant. Perhaps it makes you feel better to toss around such allegations, but think through what I am saying and then justify why I should be forced to pay the balance of what other people's taxes do not cover. Either we are free to educate our children as we see fit or we are not. In this country we are not.

proud: please feel free to respond. Often times you word the argument much better than I.

@Sharon, you state that one goal of sending your child to day care is to be "socialized". While I do not believe it was your your intent, you bring to mind the very valid point that, in fact, socialized education is very well alive in America today. That it exists via a government monopoly restricts both the rights of liberty and property to most Americans, as choice is often not an option in the education of a child. While you choose to pay send your child to day care; many do not. As a child advances in age and educational level, many parents that would otherwise choose to educate outside of the state run system, simply can not afford to do so as they are financially overwhelmed by paying (with their tax dollars) to educate children that are not their own. Unfortunately, all to often this imposition results in a less than optimal product.

I agree with Mr.Yates. The youth of today is a disgrace. Heroin has ruined them. So has the society we live in. Everyone forgetting about what kept this once great nation strong. HARD WORK. And that is gone. It's only going to get worse. Everyone always looking for a handout from the government. I work hard for my money. And my hard earned tax dollars should not be wasted on kindergarten.

@Pl, though I agree with the position of Mr. Yates, I will not answer for him. I will, however,comment on my own circumstances. I did attend school. They were not publicly funded institutions and someone did pay for them.That would be my parents. As local merchants,they also donatedgenerously to the public school system as well as just about every other town organization that I can think of. Yet, they received no property tax credit for the tuition they paid, notwithstanding the fact that my siblings and I received no direct benefit for school taxes that were paid. That being said, pony up!!!!

Some one take a look at the high school seniors and the impressive colleges that they have attended over the past several years. Many have graduated college with honors. They didn't attend full day kindergarten and they are fine. Why are we putting so much pressure on 5 yr olds? Most parents that are in favor of this work full time and want a financial relief. There are many moms out there that struggle financially because they choose to stay at home and are not in favor of full day kindergarten.