Longer School Days, Extended School Year: For or Against

[Matt J]

Part of the reason for the 8 class periods is to allow students the opportunity to take all the elective classes (like band, art, chorus, industrial arts, home ec etc.) they want and to allow them to be able to have a study hall so they can use the library or school computers if needed to do their homework.

Your scenario assumes that kids have no study hall/class time to do work and get 1/2 an hour of homework in every class every night - which is not realistic since their classes would include non-homework classes like gym, art, shop etc. and teachers who give that amount of homework would have to spend a significant amount of their time correcting it.

I agree sports (and other extracurriculars) are important - but not so important that time needs to be taken out of the school day for them. Plenty of time for competition and practice after the academic school day is done and students would also be receiving the benefits of exercise during gym. Typically the kids who would benefit the most from regular exercise are not participating in extracurricular sports.

A half hour is an average. Certain classes would have more, I don't remember teachers ever consulting each other as to the work load they were giving their students. Even when asked for a reprieve due to another teacher already assigning a large home work assignment, the answer was pretty much "not my problem". Every teacher feels that their individual subject is the most important and will rarely, if ever, give into that.

If you're allowing for a gym period then why can't the football, baseball, basketball, swim, track/field, soccer, or whatever else teams be allowed to practice instead of participating in dodge ball? I'd love to see you sell that at any school in the country. In addition you get back to coaches pushing for leniency of homework for students who practice after school.

It might work in your head, but generally in the south academics is very much second to athletics. For example, despite a manhunt for an armed fugitive the SWHS Seahawks continued on with their exhibition game.

 

[Matt J]

That's cool....

I'll just keep this filed away...

Good for you, have I made your "enemies list" yet?

 

[ohmom]

thoughtful answers seasoned with...never mind
Ohioan here... many of our schools are not air conditioned. School here starts 3rd week of August, usually ends (unless there are "snow days" to make up) by June 7th-10th...August can be 90 degrees plus with high humidity and June nearly the same
needless to say lengthening the school year without air conditioning would be brutal for the students and teachers
also the state requires teachers to earn a masters degree...many do that work during the student summer break...a change to year round school would necessitate the universities reworking graduate programs to some extent...there are more online options becoming available but I'm not sure that is for the best in all circumstances

 

[skinnergy]

For

 

[hkem1]

First of all, I believe President Obama thoughts on this are justified in some respects but I don't neccesarily think a much larger school school year to fix the problem. As a country we are lightyears behind other countries (China, Thailand, South Korea) in math and science.
At my school we have Asians easily passing the AP calculus and Physics, Chemistry exams by the end of their 9th or 10th grade year. Few Americans in public schools will ever even think about taking those tests. I'll tell you what they're not better because of genetics they are better because they work a thousand times harder than Americans in those subjects. I was actually talking to a Thai scholar (they take a test and the Thai government sends the top scorers away to top boarding schools in the U.S.) and I was asking him about why kids who are so intelligent from those countries come to the U.S. where the bar is set lower and he told me he doesn't think those countries develop critical thinking enough. He said classes over there are more about 15-17 hours a day memorizing formulas for physics and here they are more about understanding complex ideas.

So I think a longer school day/year is necessary but it would be useless if they don't also fix the other major problems with the public education system in this country.

 

[Bob]

ill bet your a real pleasure to be around....

you'll never know

 

[Rita]

.
I would guess that we have given up much of our critical-thinking teaching to teaching to the test. 'No child left behind' may benefit some students and some schools but it does not add to the education of most AP students, who could use this lost time on concept and critical thinking skills.

.

 

[Jdarg]

I am conflicted on this- I truly see the benefit of year round school with multiple, shorter breaks and how this schedule is helpful to learning and retention.

But- I love summer break. Our kids love summer break. There are so many great things to do over a long summer, however, would life as we know it be over if the school year was stretched out? Probably not- I would selfishly gripe, but it would be an adjustment, not a major civil right taken away.

We like the school year the way it is because that is the way it has always been- and we have discussed this concept before - just because something has always been a certain way, doesn't necessarily mean it is still the best way.

I also think we should definitely look at the educational systems of other countries- our kids will be (and currently are) competing for jobs in a global economy. To assume that we are educating them better because this is the USA is very short-sighted - patriotism is awesome, but it can also restrict progress. Corporations look to successful corporations for inspiration- why can't we apply the same model to education, and take some successful educational models from other countries? Or are we too proud?

I think everyone can relax- I doubt Obama is going to run out and kill summer break.

 

[Teresa]

I am conflicted on this- I truly see the benefit of year round school with multiple, shorter breaks and how this schedule is helpful to learning and retention.

But- I love summer break. Our kids love summer break. There are so many great things to do over a long summer, however, would life as we know it be over if the school year was stretched out? Probably not- I would selfishly gripe, but it would be an adjustment, not a major civil right taken away.

We like the school year the way it is because that is the way it has always been- and we have discussed this concept before - just because something has always been a certain way, doesn't necessarily mean it is still the best way.

I also think we should definitely look at the educational systems of other countries- our kids will be (and currently are) competing for jobs in a global economy. To assume that we are educating them better because this is the USA is very short-sighted - patriotism is awesome, but it can also restrict progress. Corporations look to successful corporations for inspiration- why can't we apply the same model to education, and take some successful educational models from other countries? Or are we too proud?

I think everyone can relax- I doubt Obama is going to run out and kill summer break.

totally agree!

this is an issue that has been under review for many years. and you may be right - it could be just the thing to do - lengthen the school year. we will all adjust if it comes to that.

but I just do not see how that is going to improve one thing about the quality of education provided to all children , unless and until education in America is redefined/reshaped/rewhatever. it is not the hours/days spent in the classroom, imo (ask any serious homeschoolers, or excellent private or public schools).. it is the basic philosophy of education, how learning/exploring is viewed by the student (something fun and wonderful), how material is delivered (teaching techniques, individual studen readiness, etc), how professionally qualified is the teacher and how much is she/he earning? in other words - the overall quality of education is what will make all the difference. then and only then can we consider whether more time in the year/day is needed.

the load of homework put on kids today is unnecessary, imo. yes, i can see having research papers and special projects due now and then. but why aren't these kids doing their work in school? and why do they have hours of work to do when they get home each day? and if it is so necessary, then why aren't our students doing better in their achievement?

there is just so much that needs to go into delivering a quality education. longer school day/year is not the answer on its own - excellence in educational programs is the only real long term answer.

tests? NO... vouchers? NO WAY... more homework? NO... more hours in the day or school year?? aint' going to change a thing... restructure of schools starting at the top? YES. making the profession of teacher a professional career with highest standards and good pay? OH YES.... using the very best in curricular development and teaching practices? uh huh. how about instilling in students a love of learning and exploration? what about teaching students based on their own abilities and levels? ahhh... now that sounds more like it. its just common sense stuff. I think President Obama (as well as professional educators) really gets it. and I know if he's thinking of expanding the school year its because he knows these other things must be done as well. Education is the key to the future.

 

[Minnie]

My best friend teaches in a year round school and the adjustment at first was difficult for some, easier for others, but the majority adjusted very quickly and now they love it.

They get 8 weeks in the summer, a spring break of a week, a fall break of a week and 2 weeks during Christmas.

When I taught in a very disadvantaged urban inner city school, I could definitely see the need for more time spent at school. For one thing many of the students hated going home to an environment of crime, drugs, and battered children and mothers. It was so sad, to have some cry and beg to stay after school and help in any way rather than face what was waiting at home. Many did not get a meal that evening or a change of clothes. Many times I wondered if these children would be better off in a boarding school of some sort at least during the week.

I don't have any answers other than I appreciate the President caring enough to realize something needs to be done.