A longer School Day

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Part of it may be to help parents save on costs of after-school care for children.
 
Maratom said:
Good question? "What is the purpose?

americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/03/a_longer_school_day.html
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as the article points out, either the kids aren’t learning what they need to pass standardized tests from 8-3, and parents are looking for babysitters while they work.

our system has mandatory tutoring after school and on Saturday (which is decimating CCD attendance, incidentally) for those kids who fail the TAKS test, Texas achievement tests. some kids are in school 6 days a week, 6-8 hours a day, actually longer than their parents’ work week.

Our children by and large read well below national average grade levels (if at all), have limited vocabularies, and have little skill in reasoning, problem solving and logical thinking. They do however spend ample time on Say No to Drugs, AIDS awareness, sex-ed, Gay Pride week, Diversity Day and other culturally motivated programs.
 
I would not have an issue with a reasonable extension of time to the school day. It would depend on the age of the children and what they would be doing during that extra time. I know that some charter and private schools in the US have already added hours to the week. If most of their children would be unattended and possibly in dangerous conditions after school, then I could see why a certain school or district might want to provide them the safe environment of the school for another hour or two. I live in a very nice area and I still see lots of unsupervised children from about 3:30-5:30.

I’m more in favor of extending the school year than the school day. We really have no reason to let most children out for the farming season in this decade. It is hard for many of them whose parents don’t tutor them to retain info over the summer and start the new year up to speed. I think that many homeschooled children have shorter breaks spread out more evenly which is one factor in their ability to master material more quickly.

In Europe our friends had school 5 full days plus 1/2 days on Saturdays. They also did not have the long summer “farming” break. I think most people in the US would freak at such a schedule because it might cut into their sports and “free” time, but I think our current system is not working for a lot of children. In my family we always spent time studying or finishing homework before play after school anyway. If that time had been a formal study hall or tutoring hour (for those who needed it), then our school day could have been reasonably extended by an hour or two. Of course, some children don’t need the extra time and could use it more appropriately elsewhere.
 
I totally disagree with extended school days. This is a reflection on how far our society has gone from thinking that children and family are most important. Why is it that when we were children (and I am not that old, I grew up in the 80’s) got all of our school work done in a reasonable time (8-3) and still pass the standardized test and read at appropriate levels.

Our public and even some private schools have gotten so far behind, that I find that they are more concerned with being politically correct than educating our children.

Why is that most home school families are finished with their school work in about five hours (and that is stretching it) and yet homeschoolers are at the top and even surpass children of their own age group in traditional schools. It is simple our government has been working over time to make sure that the future of the US wont exist tomorrow.
 
I agree with the idea of a shorter summer break. My husband and I buy workbooks and tutor the kids in math and reading all summer long. We started this about 5 or 6 years ago after being appalled at how much they forgot over summer vacation. My sister is a teacher and she laments the fact that the first month of school is a review to get the kids back up to where they were before the vacation.
 
as the article points out, either the kids aren’t learning what they need to pass standardized tests from 8-3, **and parents are looking for babysitters while they work. **
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As a person who works in the schools…though not paid by them…the bold print says it all.

John
 
I think part of the summer break should be moved to make a longer Christmas break.
 
😦 😊 I guess those little kids cannot watch Pokémon after school now. 😦

It’s not really a loss because the good episodes are not being aired anymore.
 
Around here, the elementary school day is 9-1:30, except Wednesdays when the children are sent home at noon, and alternate Fridays when there are no classes at all.

In a neghboring school district the afternoons were cut by one hour last week, and the teachers are talking slowdown because their pay raise will only be 4% next year…my Social Security increase was 3% this year but I only got about $4 because of increased Medicare deductions, so I’m having a hard time feeling sorry for them.

Parish schools around here are in session 9-3, and I know the teachers aren’t paid as well, but they do have the respect of the pupils and parents.
 
However, legislatively mandating how extended days are utilized would create just as many problems. By attempting to use extended days to improve test scores, governments may very well practice test students out of learning all together.
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Go to your state’s No Child Left Behind report card site and look at the most recent released test questions. The tests are pathetically easy.

If the children were learning anything at all, they could pass those tests with no coaching.
 
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