I am the mother of a kindergartner at Hoover Elementary School, and I am writing representing many who wish to keep the five full days per week kindergarten program alive and well and available for all children.

As a piano teacher with a master's degree, I know the value of daily practice in learning a new skill, making learning feel easy and natural.

Five full days of kindergarten during the week allow my daughter to practice her new skills, and reinforce them, giving her a strong educational foundation that is accomplished with ease.

Today's kindergartners are thinking about and assimilating information that isn't traditionally expected of this age group.

Many of the children are reading and writing. They are discussing social issues and they are learning about the world they live in - how to value it, and how to take care of it. They are developing patience and compassion for their friends, learning how to validate each other and how to problem-solve.

These children from all walks of life come to kindergarten to find a model for stability - a model for a world that works together and develops solidarity by experiencing poetry, stories, music, art, invention and teamwork together. I believe it is outdated to think that children of this age are not ready for an entire week of this.

I struggled with the idea of putting my child in five days of full-day kindergarten, because I felt like it was a lot for this age, and, of course, I was going to miss her.

However, as I have watched my daughter's experience, I know that she is getting more from her time with her teacher and her participation in the class than I could ever give her at home.

Many of the rules that had become tiresome for her at home have become relevant and important to her now as she relates her home world with her school world. This has been invaluable in supporting my role as her parent.

Although I was surprised at having to pay tuition in a public school, I accepted it easily, understanding that I was paying for an additional service that was offered. I noted that private schools have daily full-day kindergarten schedules, and saw five full days in the public schools as a benefit of living in a city valuing education.

However, I realize that there are those who simply cannot pay the tuition.

I believe that every child regardless of family income should be able to start out on equal footing, and have the opportunity to reap the benefits of the five-day format.

Investing in these children, when they are ripe and ready to learn, will save money filling the gaps in education later on, and will create leaders who will value education and improve the world that they live in.

My daughter's teacher, Ms. McNutt, is a passionate educator and has a keen sense of what these little minds are capable of, even above and beyond reading, writing and arithmetic. On her door is posted, "If all else fails, consult a poet."

I sincerely hope that my daughter and her younger sister will have the opportunity to take advantage of this teacher five days a week. She and many other teachers like her are a gift to our families.

I can't sum it up better than Thomas Jefferson, and I hope you will excuse any sentimentality in quoting him.

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

It is my sincere hope that citizens of Corvallis will become acquainted with this issue and the current needs of our five- and six-year-olds, and support their education by requesting that the five full-day kindergarten program continue as it has for many years, and by urging lawmakers to subsidise it for those who cannot afford this opportunity.

Brooke Guillaumot is a Corvallis resident.