Longer School Days, Extended School Year: For or Against

[hkem1]

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.

you make good points but is 8 weeks of summer that different than Walton County has now?

 

[TooFarTampa]

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.

Mr. TFT knows a lot of highly educated foreign-born types who take science and math extremely seriously, adding enrichment activities beyond what they get in our public and private schools. He came home one day and told me about Kumon, a private math program that is designed to both help those who are struggling and help those doing well to zip ahead. My understanding is that many of those who take advantage of this program are immigrants who are trying to pass along the high standards of their home countries to their children.

We are pushing science and math big time with our boys, mostly because they already enjoy it and show an aptitude, and we tell them all the time that the world can use some more really good scientists and engineers. Not sure if I am quite ready to go the Kumon route though (or similar); it's maybe a cultural thing -- we have sports to take them to after all!

I agree with Toots though that education is the key to everything, and that we need to make an effort as a country to at the very least keep up. I'd want to start with ways to improve efficiency.

 

[Jdarg]

I thought that going to year round school was more about learning consistency than more time in the classroom? The breaks are still there- they would just be spread out instead of chunked.

 

[Blair]

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

What is this enemies list you speak of....I don't have enemies. I have a different opinion than 90%( a conservative estimate) of the posters on this board and as soon as I say anything , here comes.....You, poopy, Boob, LucySam, Geo and whoever else I forgot. I'm not sure why you're trying to make this personal...I am very aware of how to PM and use the IGNORE button but I will use them when I want to. Not because someone else wants me to....continue with your name calling. That seems to be what you are best at.

 

[Teresa]

I thought that going to year round school was more about learning consistency than more time in the classroom? The breaks are still there- they would just be spread out instead of chunked.

yes, a year-round schedule is a model used more and more by US schools - typically 180 days with breaks throughout the year. I believe the typical schedule is something like 45 days on / 15 days off throughout the year, or similar. but Obama is talking about students needing to spend more time (more school days per year and/or more hours in a school day) in the classroom much like other countries with good success in educational outcomes.

the extension of the school year makes sense and is already in use all over the country. it does seem like a good way to provide continuity for children (and families). it would be interesting to see if teachers and students like this model and if it has made a difference in student progress.

maybe the year round school would make a difference in student progress as opposed to more school days per year or more hours per day.

 

[Mango]

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.

Most of the children who aren't achieving probably do not have the family support, structure and parents setting home standards to accomplish their homework. Kids these days are going home and playing the Wii.
I used to live in a community that was largely Asian. The children used to go to public school, then after that, go to an Asian school for a couple of hours, then go home and do more homework. They were disciplined beyond belief.

I do not agree with a longer school day, but lengthening the school year, leaving say a 4 week summer break, along with the other holidays and breaks, seems like a good idea. I remember enjoying my summers off as a kid, but after a while, I couldn't wait to get back to school. Many kids, especially those on the spectrum, need the structure in their lives. I know my nephews start getting antsy. Also, parents having to try to find something to do with them that's educational and funn can be become cumbersome.

 

[Teresa]

Most of the children who aren't achieving probably do not have the family support, structure and parents setting home standards to accomplish their homework. Kids these days are going home and playing the Wii.
I used to live in a community that was largely Asian. The children used to go to public school, then after that, go to an Asian school for a couple of hours, then go home and do more homework. They were disciplined beyond belief.

I do not agree with a longer school day, but lengthening the school year, leaving say a 4 week summer break, along with the other holidays and breaks, seems like a good idea. I remember enjoying my summers off as a kid, but after a while, I couldn't wait to get back to school. Many kids need the structure in their lives. I know my nephews start getting antsy and parents having to try to find something to do with them can be become cumbersome.

lack of family support is definitely one major problem with kids not succeeding in school.

I hope we do not increase the number of days in the school year, but if so maybe it won't be by many. I just do not see how this is going to benefit anyone unless the delivery of education improves radically. year round school sounds more effective to me (with plenty of breaks). I truly believe children and families benefit from having time for family travel and doing lots of other discovery/activities outside of school - as a family, at camp, on vacation, in the backyard woods, staying with grandma, visiting museums, staying home in your pj's watching cartoons and playing with legos, riding bikes and enjoying a wonderful summer in your bathing suit. Children need extended play breaks, imo.

I firmly believe that to improve education in our public schools we need to improve the quality of education provided. then and only then will more time in the classroom make a bit of sense. why subject children to more test teaching? doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Rita]

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.

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Children who do not have parents who are as actively involved in their children's education as most of us probably are, are the ones who I believe would benefit the most, as Minnie relates above, to extended educational opportunities - not necessarily in the same setting or with the same teachers they have been with all day or school year, but in a more hands-on, discovery type of atmosphere to build on classroom studies.

Many of us provide these opportunities for our kids through camps, travel, planned outings, etc. over the summer to expand our kids experiences. I would not want to give this up; but, I do see that all households cannot always afford to do this. Or maybe they do not recognize the value of it or just don't care? I would like to see these students get a helping hand in order to expand their knowledge and experiences.

I wouldn't be opposed to spreading the breaks out differently.

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........... poopy, Boob, LucySam, ..............continue with your name calling. That seems to be what you are best at.

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:roll:..

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[Blair]

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Children who do not have parents who are as actively involved in their children's education as most of us probably are, are the ones who I believe would benefit the most, as Minnie relates above, to extended educational opportunities - not necessarily in the same setting or with the same teachers they have been with all day or school year, but in a more hands-on, discovery type of atmosphere to build on classroom studies.

Many of us provide these opportunities for our kids through camps, travel, planned outings, etc. over the summer to expand our kids experiences. I would not want to give this up; but, I do see that all households cannot always afford to do this. Or maybe they do not recognize the value of it or just don't care? I would like to see these students get a helping hand in order to expand their knowledge and experiences.

I wouldn't be opposed to spreading the breaks out differently.

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:roll:..

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It's a play off of their own names they gave themselves.....

J E R K doesnt resemble Blair in the least....and if you make a joke there....

 

[Winnie]

I thought that going to year round school was more about learning consistency than more time in the classroom? The breaks are still there- they would just be spread out instead of chunked.

From the original posted article:

For this generation of students to remain competitive with their international peers as adults, they need to start spending more time in school. This week President Obama proposed that American school children extend their time in class, either by lengthening the school day, or spending less time on summer vacation.

His proposal is more class hours, not particularly year round school.