Kindergarten Readiness

It seems unbelievable that 17 kindergartners were suspended last year and 6 so far this year, yet something has to be done about children who are a danger to themselves and others and who continuously disrupt the class. And if the issue can be addressed in the early years, there is a better chance that the child will be successful in school. Fortunately, the school department has been able to fund the alternative elementary program at the Lincoln School which can handle up to sixteen children, K-3, who are in need of extra help with behavior. Is the program big enough? Currently, 13 of the seats are filled, but there is no set time that a child will remain in the alternate program, so conceivably there could be a waiting list. While on the radio last week, a caller asked why not go back to half-day kindergarten since some children obviously can't handle the full day. Certainly many, even most, children are ready for and benefit from full-day kindergarten, but perhaps the half-day might be warranted in some cases. On the other hand, perhap these children need more, not less, socializing; sending them back home may result in disruptive first-graders.

A follow-up article about the program at the Lincoln, indicated that their methods are successful: so far, three children have been returned to the regular classroom.