From All-day school for three-year-olds a silly idea by Noel Herron, September 15, 2008

The February 2007 speech from the throne noted that there are "currently approximately 25 per cent of children [in B.C.] who are not ready to learn when they enter kindergarten," which provides a strong rationale for the long overdue availability of universal all-day kindergarten.

Three years ago this province agreed with other provinces that the five guiding principles of any child care program must be quality, universally inclusive, accessible and developmental. But the gap between agreement and implementation in B.C. is as wide as the Grand Canyon.

One wonders where Bond gets the justification for her recent off-the-wall statement that, "I can only speak to the record we've had since 2001, and we've clearly been a leader across the country in early childhood education" when the facts speak otherwise.

Spin should not be allowed to replace substance. Our pre-schoolers deserve better.