Obama proposes longer school day, shorter summer breaks

[Alysser]

Highschoolers might be able to handle the extra time... but 1st 2nd and 3rd graders? that's way too long of a day and too much time away from their parents I think.

I never even thought about that, but that'd be insane for younger children as well. Younger kids especially need to spend time with their parents more. High schoolers would just be really annoyed, most kids I know hate school, and they wouldn't try anymore. I can only see this making schools and "test scores" worse for students, not any better.

[Freedom]

We have shorter school days, and longer summers, than most other countries. Growing up, my cousins in England an Italy could not BELIEVE how much time we had off.

That said, I do not believe adding 3 hours per day is practical. His reasoning seems less to focus on education and more to focus on safety:

"Those hours from 3 o'clock to 7 o'clock are times of high anxiety for parents," Duncan said. "They want their children safe. Families are working one and two and three jobs now to make ends meet and to keep food on the table." (Duncan in our national Education Secretary.)

School is NOT child care. (Yes, even senior in high school need adult supervision). Adding time is not the answer. QUALITY time in teaching and homework, that is what is needed. Teachers spend way too much timecoping with discipline, DCFY issues, meal plans, and other things which are the parent's responsibility.

Just my opinion.

[cassiesmom]

We have had such goofy winters the past couple of years that the schools have had to call snow days. I hate to extend school further into June or start even earlier in August, but maybe that would mean less cancelled school in the winter. The Chicago Public Schools have a few year-round schools.

[Karen]

That story is from way back in September, I wouldn't worry about it, as the government is obviously onto other topics. That was one speech, several months ago, odd that it is coming up now after all this time.

Educators have long advocated for longer days and longer years, I have heard this most of my life. Nothing has gained momentum yet, and I doubt the entrenched teachers unions, influential summer programs, etc. would let this take effect anyway.

It's a theory, not an actual plan, i wouldn't worry about it.

[Grace]

We have a friend who teaches in Arizona. They have been on year-round school for years. I'm not sure of the exact schedules, but they go to school for a certain number of months - then get 3 weeks off. And this repeats all year long.

[Twisterdog]

Longer school days are a HORRIBLE idea. Kids can barely concentrate from 8 to 3. I can barely concentrate that long!

But summer breaks are an antiquated idea whose time as long passed. Originally when we were an agricultural nation and every kid was needed on the farm during the warm months, it made sense. Kids were out of school because they were working 16 hours per day in their family's fields. But that hasn't been the case in the country since the Industrial Revolution.

Now parents work away from home, and families live in urban area. Kids are unsupervised and bored for three months, and so much more apt to get in trouble. In most towns, the number of summer jobs available is far less than the number of kids out of school.

Many cities have shown a dramatic drop in the summer juvenile crime rate and a dramatic increase in graduation rates and SAT/ACT scores after going to year long school.

[lizbud]

School Officals started all year school a few years ago. Students get
shorter breaks. If it helps get students to graduate, it's a great idea. Indiana
has a horrible graduation rate.

[sparks19]

the summer break thing doesn't bother me. It's just over two months of doing nothing (although I DID enjoy it when in school lol) It could definitely be shorter especially with all the snow days they have around here. school gets called out with even the prospect of snow. which is totally crazy to me... I don't remember snow days when Iw as a kid unless it was a couple of FEET of snow over night lol.

but longer days? How much can a 7 year old take? 70 hours of school a week?

I agree this is very unlikely to happen and IF it did I would hope it wouldn't be all of a sudden. It would definitely need to be something that they build up to over a few years.

but for young kids that's just TOO much IMO.

[Karen]

As I said, it's an old story, and nothing to worry about.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is many kids these days go to "after care" after school, as both parents work. So effectively, they have a longer 'school' day anyway, even if all of it isn't officially called 'school."

[Alysser]

The summer break proposal would be bad for me, as I am so used to having 2 month summers. I would hate it. I know many many kids are bored all summer, but they should think of those who aren't. I worked all summer, I've been in the working force for 2 years now - it'll be going on 3 next month. Although I don't work during the winter. I was an excellent employee, I even got a letter in the mail saying I was an outstanding performer and they want me to come back, so I guess that's a good sign. A year-round school might not be so bad, but still. I worked my butt off all summer, and it wasn't my fault or the kids who WORK fault that kids were bored all summer. I maybe called out twice all summer.

I agree with you on the quality of teachers, Freedom. I just really don't like the longer school days, like someone said it's not PRACTICAL. I hope if anything happens it isn't going to happen anytime soon.