Letters: School days reopen issues

I found the comments made in the article concerning Elwood's move to a half-day kindergarten session to be misleading and unfair ["Cuts to kindergarten hit parents," News, Sept. 8]. As a 20-year resident of the Elwood School District, I can tell you that until 2009, Elwood had only half-day kindergarten; so technically Elwood returned to the half-day sessions this year.

Residents should be reminded that the full-day program was not guaranteed year to year. It was a program that, if it was able to be sustained in the budget, would continue. As a result of the cuts in state aid to our district, along with increasing pension costs, the community was faced with some tough choices.

Elementary school test scores are not connected in any way to the half-day versus full-day discussion. There is no proof that "children will pay the price," as one parent states. In the few studies done comparing children who have had either one or the other, no differences were found between them in their school performance when evaluated later in elementary school. So, even if the full-day kids picked up some skills earlier, it all evened out in the end.

My two children went through half-day kindergarten. My daughter is, and continues to be, a top student in her class, and she has been involved with sports and multiple after-school clubs and activities. My son is moving down the same road.

The message of the comments in the article is that they can no longer depend on full-day kindergarten to be their children's baby sitters. I don't know about you, but I do not pay my taxes to baby-sit any child.

Wendi L. Stranieri, Huntington

To all of you who are returning to your teaching jobs and to all of you who are just beginning in the profession, hold your heads up high and enjoy a wonderful year of educating our young people.

In spite of the climate in our country that attempts to put you down and take things away from you, remember, you will become one of the most important people in the lives of your students. Treasure that relationship and ignore the ignorance that exists among those who have no idea just how important and necessary you really are to the young people of our country.

Thomas Cestaro, Holbrook