Full-Day Kindergarten Kinda Makes Sense...

I'm not entirely sold on Ontario's premier. I am, however, liking his idea to make kindergarten a full day more and more. He was recently quote as having said, "In a highly competitive, global knowledge-based economy it's absolutely essential that we invest in the younger generation to ensure that we build a powerful workforce that can compete and win against the best anywhere on this planet." I think he makes a good point. Research also shows that kids who attend full-day programs before grade one have better-developed social and academic (especially literacy and vocabulary) skills. In Ontario, kids get access to these kinds of programs if their parents can afford it. Full day kindergarten will level the playing field in terms of what young children have access to in their formative years.

I have to admit, this is tres gutsy, given the current economic climate. Anyone who is willing to present taxpayers with an annual bill for $1.5 billion has got my respect.