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Mike Matthews comments to Red Clay School Board 02/17 RE: Kindergarden
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Comments to the Red Clay School Board on Kindergarten
Good evening, Board members and Dr. Daugherty. I’d like to thank you for hosting a
Board meeting in my alma mater, Cab Calloway. The work on the auditorium is beyond
impressive and it’s nice to know students will have a stateoftheart facility to produce what are
truly spectacular shows.
I come to you tonight to share with you some concerns that have been brought to
RCEA’s attention by a very vocal and large group of educators our kindergarten teachers.
During my school visits this year, I’ve made it a point to ask kindergarten teachers how things
are going in their schools. I’ve heard a host of interesting answers from our members. What I’m
hearing almost universally from members is that Red Clay is moving in the wrong direction when
it comes to working with our youngest learners.
I’ve heard stories about classrooms being stripped of their dramatic play centers. I’ve
heard stories about the kindergarten curriculum being sped up, all in the name of increased test
scores and “rigor.” I’ve heard stories that there’s so much emphasis on standards and
curriculum that teachers aren’t able to help our youngest learners with more social and
developmental learning that SHOULD be occurring at this age.
I’d heard enough stories. It was time for action. RCEA called together a focus group in
which all District kindergarten teachers were invited. Nearly 30 teachers showed up and what
fascinated me the most is that the divides that often exist between our neediest schools and
more affluent schools actually didn’t exist. Kindergarten teachers from our city schools shared
the same stories as the teachers in our suburban schools. And they all fear our District is
headed down a dangerous path of developmentally inappropriate lessons and activities for our
youngest learners.
Among the concerns teachers shared:
1) Academics are pushed too hard on students who are not developmentally ready. As one
teacher said in the focus group, “You can not teach a sixmonth old to walk!”
2) “Rigor” does not mean “speed up.” Red Clay has for too long employed a word that
should be banished from our education lexicon: Rigor. It’s a word whose textbook
definition should probably never be used when talking about working with children.
Kindergarten teachers say the District has moved foolishly in speeding up the
curriculum.
3) The teachers agreed universally that there must be more opportunities for structured
play. If students are taught to play and socialize appropriately, then perhaps future
behavior concerns could be blunted.
There were many other concerns shared, but the teachers also came to the forum ready to offer
solutions. Among the solutions offered:
1) Kindergarten should have a schedule separate from other grades. Kindergarten
shouldn’t be expected to do 90120 minutes of ELA and 60 minutes of math like the fifth
graders do. A schedule should be developed collaboratively and should grow WITH the
child.
2) Institute a HANDWRITING program and NOT a WRITING curriculum. Students need
more time to develop their finemotor skills through handwriting and less time required
answering “textdependent questions” they’re not ready to answer.
3) Kindergartenspecific professional development planned collaboratively with
kindergarten teachers.
4) Bring back Kindergarten Council
5) Bring in half and fullday substitutes so teachers can test and DIBEL their own students.
Red Clay is on the cutting edge of many education initiatives in Delaware. We have many
people on the outside trying to get into our schools. It’s time we listen to our kindergarten
teachers and make meaningful changes to the program so that we can get back to doing what’s
best for kids. The trickledown effect this could have on all students in coming years could be
quite dramatic. Thank you.