Your letter writer who advocates teaching parenting (Voice of the people, Feb. 5) made a very good point: Kindergarten teachers would have a much easier job if parents provided adequate early education at home. The letter writer, however, shows a lack of knowledge about teacher certification and the variety of subject areas covered in early childhood education.
The early childhood teachers’ certificate covers the ages of birth through 3rd grade and encompasses child development, nutrition, literature, teaching methodology, academic subjects and many other areas in addition to the alphabet, numbers and colors.
As a kindergarten teacher, I am expected to teach phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension, vocabulary and fluency in the language arts, plus mathematics, science, social studies, health, character education, music, art and movement education–in 2 1/2 hours per day.
I obviously agree with your Jan. 26 editorial on the need for early childhood education. I would start with lowering the age for mandatory school attendance in Illinois, which is currently 7 years of age, and making kindergarten attendance mandatory, which it is not.
