SPRINGFIELD: The case for kindergarten

Support full-day kindergarten question on April 27 ballot

Springfield Mayor Denis McDaniel
   I still remember my first day of kindergarten. In September of 1958, I proudly filled my green book-bag with everything a boy could possibly need for a full day of school, and walked the two blocks across Wrightstown to the New Hanover School. I would have been dressed in “school clothes” and probably had my cap gun, my “Dennis the Menace” comic books, a pocketknife, and my lucky rabbit’s foot. Mrs. Glass was the teacher and ruled a diverse group of kids from different backgrounds. There were no teacher aides back then. “Phys Ed” didn’t exist. Instead, they turned the whole school loose on the playground and had one teacher “monitor” us from afar. Most injuries and incidents went unreported, including bloody noses and snowballs fortified with stones.
   Much has changed since those days. A lot of those changes are for the better and some are not. One thing is for certain: The value of a strong education has greater impact today when a young graduate hits the job market. The percentage of jobs that require certifications and set standards is much higher now. Reading, writing and arithmetic are more important than ever. Without those skills you will be less capable of grasping the more complex concepts that are required in today’s world.
   Today’s schools must meet today’s needs. In this environment it is difficult for me to grasp that my town currently offers only a half day of school for kindergarten when I had a full day 53 years ago. In most areas, today’s schools do far more than the schools of that era: more testing, monitoring and addressing needs of all of the students.
   On April 27, voters in Springfield will be asked to authorize the creation of full-day kindergarten in our school. Why would a fiscally conservative elected official want to support a new expense for the school system? This is not just another proposal to “vote yes for the children.” This time a YES vote will really bring an immediate and tangible benefit for the students. Why do I think this is true? Is it because the school officials tell me so? No. Those who know me, know that I am very skeptical of such professional assertions.
   It seems logical to expect a better education if more instruction is provided, but how can one be certain? I got on my computer and began to Google anything I could find on kindergarten, pre-K, preschool, and the benefits or lack thereof from such programs. The results were more clear than I expected and quite dramatic. If you do the same research, you can find studies way back to the 1960s that show long-term impact, as well as shorter term benefits. You can find that the benefits of education prior to the first grade include the following:
   • higher scores on standardized tests throughout the student’s school career;
   • higher earnings upon and during one’s career;
   • greater acceptance rates into college;
   • greater acceptance at the “best” colleges;
   • a lower crime rate in their teen years and adult years.
   These are not someone’s projections, but data from actual studies that followed the students for years and decades.
   Many spending proposals by the schools are met with a good dose of skepticism. The kindergarten question, in contrast, offers clear and tangible results. We are not talking about day care. This is instructional. The Springfield Elementary School historically achieves some of the highest scores in Burlington County on standardized tests. Our students go on to the regional school and perform well. We can do even better and should do so.
   Springfield voters have a long history of supporting education. This proposal is a good one. Please join me and vote “YES” on April 27th.