Eleven Hours of Kindergarten a Day?

[...] fame. We’ll be discussing the really long day that some Canadian kiddie may have - an 11 hour day, to be precise. Is that too long? Or would you love to sign your kids [...]

I think it will be too much pressure to the kids.

I don’t think the facts in the story above are quite right - I live in Ontario and from what I have read the intent is that schools are open from 7:30 am to 6 pm and therefore parents can use whatever part of that time they need to obtain care for their kids. It would not be a full day of “school” but would be a combination of school and childcare. Believe the child care situation in Toronto is a disaster - the only way to get a spot is to put your name on a list when you’re pregnant and even then there is no guarantee - and licensed daycare is very very expensive.

Why? In that case only children of the rich or extremely well motivated will be exposed to enriching after-school experiences Children most at risk will be watching TV or wandering the streets. If we believe that everyone should be given every opportunity to live up to their full potential not just for their own sake but for ours as well, why shouldn’t it be free? In many US cities the most dangerous time is between 3 pm and 6 pm when kids are out of school but their parents are still at work. True, that’s more a reason to support after school programs for high schoolers than for kindergarteners.

It’s a great idea, but will be defeated by another conservative attack dividing stay at homes vs. working moms. There was a plan for national daycare in Canada, defeated by the federal Tories on a sham choice platform.
I have awesome amazing kind and educational daycare, we signed up in her 2nd trimester and can afford the 1500 a month. Unfortunately that is out of the question for thousands of my fellow Torontonians.
Quebec has its 7 dollar a day daycare, a program that has helped 80 000 women off welfare, and helped reduce child poverty.
SINGLE WOMEN WITH CHILDREN are the most vulnerable and poorest class in North America, regardless on how a women gets in that situation, I dont care I only know that people need help and there are a lot worse things to do with my taxes.

I’m fine with subsidizing daycare… kind of like federal hot lunch. You should have to qualify for it. I understand the stay at home mom vs. working moms debate. I quit my teaching job to work part time (around my husband’s schedule) to be home with my babe. My problem is this program benefiting two parent working families who can afford big houses they don’t need, vacations, etc. I could probably do that too if the taxpayers were footing my daycare bill.

Angi, you are right. Kids are miserable after a 12 hour day in the same place with the same people. I’d argue that kids are just as well off, if not better, at home doing errands with mom and going to the park than they are in daycare. Being at home can be just as educational as structured daycare activities.

No, I don’t have a problem subsidizing daycare for those who NEED help. I do have a problem offering it for everyone at no cost.

Ok, WHAT high taxes? When I was on maternity leave, my husband was headhunted to work at Amazon and its like in California. The problem was, we would have paid more in income taxes in California and a couple other states where they had offices than we do in Ontario, paying both federal and provincial income taxes. And you might want to read the details of the program- it’s optional for parents to use the daycare part. Many parents do not have flex hours, nor can they afford the $70-90 a day price tag of daycares in the Toronto area. For those of us who are already going to pay taxes, I damn well prefer the kids get decent daycare and learn from accredited teachers and ECEs. I can tell you this much– socialization at a young age really shows up in high school where I teach. I say, more power to McGuinty, if he can get this off the ground.

We’re in Toronto, and actually moved to a far off suburb because we couldn’t find a decent childcare spot in the city. Only 9% of the childcare spaces in the city are actually federally-approved, registered spots with ECEs working there. Many people I know have paid exorbitant fees and ended up with unmonitored spots where bad things happened (serious biting, overcrowding, no outdoor time, etc.). We need to prioritize children more. I am relieved that there will be a before/after school care program for my daughter once she starts kindergarten. Yes, I hate that she’s there for 10 hours per day. If there were a daycare integrated into my workplace, I’d pay whatever it cost to have her close by and to spend more time with her. If I could get a decent job that offered flex hours I’d take it in an instant. I worked hard to find a position other than the neighbourhood Starbucks, one that actually pays a decent wage, and has less hours than full-time - these mythical jobs are nowhere. Sure - the 10-hour kindergarten day isn’t perfect, but it’s better than what’s happening right now. In an ideal world, there would be more flexibility in the working world and better benefits for parents, and we wouldn’t need full-day kindergarten, but that’s not reality. As it is, I have turned down two promotions since having my daughter - greater responsibility = longer work hours. I’ve given up on thinking that there’s a way to enjoy a fulfilling career and have a family. In this society, we have to choose.