Mr. Segal,
As the former President of the Providence School Board, and a former member of the RI Association of School Committees as well as the National School Board Association, I can assure you that I not only listen to the science but have read far more studies and research relating to the benefits of All Day Kindergarten than I ever imagined possible. Full Day Kindergarten works. And not just for "disadvantaged" students, as your earlier letter suggests. I did not address your points about the Common Core because it is a state mandated curriculum which can not be addressed at the Town Meeting. Your issues with the curriculum will have to be taken up with the Federal Government, the Rhode Island Department of Education, the Board of Regents, the Commissioner of Education and the 44 other states who seem to disagree with you. Of course, you have Indiana, Texas and Alaska on your side. In the meantime, our students here in Barrington will be required to learn Common Core and our teachers will be required to teach it. If we attempt to do it in a three hour day, it will be rushed, stressful and devoid of the playfulness and socialization that is Kindergarten. Our 5 year old children will come home with homework to make up for what couldn't be taught in a 3 hour day. And yes, our children will pay the price.
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