Academic expectations put on kindergartners

Re “My kid, a burnout at 5,” Opinion, Feb. 27

I taught kindergarten for six years, beginning just when the curriculum was “ramping up.” Nearly everything mentioned by L.J. Williamson was correct except for the erroneous explanation of the rationale for raising the academic curriculum expectations to levels that are developmentally inappropriate for many -- but not all -- young children.

It has nothing to do with rewards or bonuses and everything to do with punishments and penalties placed on schools that do not make their Academic Performance Index growth targets. So, although Williamson is correct that higher test scores are behind the push, it is most definitely not the teachers but policymakers at the state and federal level.

Teachers who want their students to love learning, whose students can finger paint and still learn to read, are being pushed out in the ever more regulated education “industry.” Let’s call it what it is. Meanwhile, the losers are the children.

MICHELE HARRIS-PADRON

Oxnard

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I want to warn Williamson that nothing improves as the grades move on. My granddaughter in second grade has little enthusiasm for school. When she started kindergarten, it was only a half-day, and I was shocked to find that they sat together on the carpet for a solid 1 hour and 45 minutes without even a tiny break -- just memorizing letters, numbers, days of the week, etc. Even the artwork they did was all pre-cut and figured out by the teacher, so that all the children’s work looked identical. And homework is a dull, repetitive, time-consuming waste.

What a far cry from the wonderful kindergarten my own children had, including dress-up, block play and so much enrichment, not to mention the all-important socialization that took place. All of my children went to fine colleges, and none were forced into such heavy academics at such a young age.

I feel sorry for today’s children, for they are not permitted to be children at all. Is there anywhere to complain?

NANCY HOROWITZ

Northridge