Our daughter absolutely LOVED her all day kindergarten and would have preferred more reading time and less time on the playground or in the gym. She played soccer at the time, then went onto baseball and softball, street hockey and dance.
I was freaked out about the all day kindergarten, but my mother considered me lucky because she would have given anything for all day kindergarten when I started in 1965. Of course 2 years later she refused to put my brother in kindergarten because she wasn't ready for him to leave her. Not because HE wasn't ready for school, but because SHE wasn't ready for him to be in school. When he was 21 and accepted into the Police Academy she called me and demanded I come home (I lived in another state by then) to side with her and talk him out of it. It was Christmas and was going back anyway and she did everything but throw me out to make my stay miserable because I congratulated him and wished him good luck.
BTW, that all day kindergartener of mine is now in 10th grade, remains on the Honor Roll (usually with straight A's,) loves her dance, hunts with her dad and works the gardens with me. While I do believe kindergarten, full or half day, should be up to the parents and not the government, I totally disagree with your attitude it is a waste of time and a hindrance.
You’re right. It should be up to the parents. All children are different. I do not think there is added benefit to all day kindergarten other than the convenience for parents and school transportation departments.