“At the Sept. 19 Board meeting, the Board heard a presentation about implementing full-day kindergarten in Barrington 220. Full-day kindergarten would extend core instruction (math, science, literacy, etc.) throughout the school day, and allow teachers time to encompass the whole child in exploration and personalized learning, as well as social-emotional development.
Currently, Barrington 220 offers a half-day option, however, the majority of students are enrolled in a fee-based Kindergarten Enrichment Program that runs a full day. One might assume that since the district currently accommodates the full-day Kindergarten Enrichment Program, it could easily accommodate full-day kindergarten. However, there are many factors to consider prior to implementing full-day kindergarten. For instance, over the past decade, there has been an enrollment increase each year of 40 to 60 students between kindergarten and first grade. Anecdotal evidence is that many of these students are attending private full-day programs, which leads to the assumption that a full-day program in the district will result in an increase in kindergarten enrollment. This would require an increase in staffing, as well as classroom space.
The district is currently reviewing options to renovate two or three classrooms at BHS to house a kindergarten lab program, or build classroom additions at elementary schools.
A final recommendation will be presented to the Board in October. Click here to listen to the Board presentation.”
Are they seriously considering putting five-year-olds in the high school? Will they get tampons in the boy’s bathroom too? Perhaps preferred access to the lovely books at the BHS library that show graphics of blow jobs, hand jobs, strap ons, and other such literary masterpieces. Did this idea come from our own resident pediatrician, Dr. Barry, who wished that he had had books like these when he was growing up? Great job, docped 🙌
You are aware that there has been a preschool operating in BHS for many many years, right? All 3 of my children attended the Little Broncos program.
Brian, I can’t find you in the 220 directory, but great that as a staff member in the district you have been able to take advantage of the Little Broncos program. Since, as I’m sure you know, this program is only available to children of D220 staff, you can understand why most taxpayers in the district aren’t aware of its existence. Similarly, most would not be aware that Little Broncos takes place in a fully self contained classroom.
As a staff member, I am sure you are also aware of the maturity difference between high school teens and 5 year olds. Do 5 year olds, like high schoolers, roam the elementary school halls swearing, fighting or making out with their girl or boyfriend? We all know high schoolers say and do things a 5 year old should not be exposed to.
One would assume full day kindergarteners would be able to take advantage of the D220 art, music, and gym classes. Will this all be brought to their BHS classroom, or will these children be moving throughout the halls of BHS where activities discussed above take place? Will mature content be removed from the BHS library, or will the kindergarten students be prohibited access to the library? Will 5 year olds now be bussing to school with high school teens? Will they be exposed to teen life, sexual relationships, adult language, bullying, smoking, vaping, genderless bathrooms, weapons, drugs? Should parents be concerned about these differences in maturity?
Do you think parents should be concerned about 5 year olds being able to comprehend and react appropriately to any safety issues that may arise at BHS? As a person in the know, I’m sure you’re aware that BHS was evacuated twice last year?
Are you unable to acknowledge that there are valid concerns parents might have with this plan? Not every Barrington parent is willing to expose their child at the tender age of 5 to the realities of high school.