What happened to play time??

What did you do in kindergarten and first grade. I remember lots of singing, coloring, learning things like right and left, naps, alphabet, learning to write small words, learning to write the date and reading Weekly Reader. Field trips too. In my case, at a Christian school we learned Bible verses also. My k. teacher would play the guitar and make up tunes to help us memorize them. It worked because I can still remember a few of them.

An excerpt:

"Thirty years ago first grade was for learning how to read. Now, reading lessons start in kindergarten and kids who don't crack the code by the middle of the first grade get extra help. Instead of story time, finger painting, tracing letters and snack, first graders are spending hours doing math work sheets and sounding out words in reading groups. In some places, recess, music, art and even social studies are being replaced by writing exercises and spelling quizzes. Kids as young as 6 are tested, and tested again—some every 10 days or so—to ensure they're making sufficient progress. After school, there's homework, and for some, educational videos, more workbooks and tutoring, to help give them an edge....."