The Globe and Mail article by Marina Jiménez (Early Education’s Top Model: Finland, June 16, 2009—available online at www.theglobeandmail.com, search Education Finland) that explains Finnish children don’t begin primary school [Grade 1] until age seven even though they have access to free, full-day daycare (up to age five) and Kindergarten (age six).
Jiménez writes, “Finland has consistently been among the highest scorers worldwide in the international assessment for student performance—a study carried out by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.”
“In 2006, Finland’s 15-year-olds scored the highest in science and the second highest in literacy of 57 countries. The World Economic Forum ranks Finland No. 1 in enrolment and quality and No. 2 in math and science education.”
Full-day Kindergarten would be convenient for those who would otherwise seek out daycare for the other half of the day, so it’s easy to understand why many parents would like full-day Kindergarten. But Kindergarten is more demanding and task-oriented than daycare, and most five-year-olds will find full-day Kindergarten too rigorous. In Kindergarten there is less opportunity for free play, which is crucial for a child’s development.
Psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (Temple University) comments, “The philosophy of play is really about an integrated philosophy of learning. It’s about how human beings get information. We learn by being active, not passive…I think today we have a real problem in a misperception of play. I think we think of play as not work, and when we realize that, as [Jean] Piaget once said, ‘…play is the work of childhood.’ Piaget was one of the greatest living psychologists of our time.” (Listen to the interview at www.cbc.ca/ideas/features/hurried-infant/index.html.)
The government of BC should be creating full-day senior Kindergarten classes for those six-year-olds who would benefit the most, rather than using the $151 million set aside for full-day Kindergarten, and restore cuts to programs.
For more information, listen to an interview with Carl Honoré, (www.carlhonore.com) author of Under Pressure: Putting the Child Back in Childhood, www.cbc.ca/wordsatlarge/blog/2008/04/
under_pressure_by_carl_honore_1.html.
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