What is Your Opinion of President Obamas Plan for Longer School Days/Year?
Posted: Monday, September 28, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
I was noticing in this morning's news that President Obama is considering a plan to lengthen our public school's days or year and just wondered how many Americans agree that our children are getting too far behind other nation's children in educational academics.
Since I no longer have school age children, my opinion probably isn't worth that much; I do, however have several grandchildren attending various grades of public school and I tend to agree with President Obama. I am for anything that will help our children on the long haul. I know that many families and 99.9% of school-age children would balk at the idea of a longer school day or a longer school year. The idea does have its up side:
- Kids would learn more and their grades would be more apt to improve.
- Families, which require a babysitter for the younger after-school students, may be helped by possibly no longer needing that service. Some public schools are already on a 10-hour day.
- Full-day babysitters would not be needed for the extra weeks added to a longer school year.
- A longer school year is an advantage to underprivileged children as they continue to receive breakfasts and lunches that they might not get at home.
- Only-child children would continue to enjoy the companionship of other children that they might not otherwise have.
Developing a plan that would work to perfection for everyone across the nation, we all know is not feasible. But a plan that would be acceptable to the majority and a plan that would improve the education and chances for success of our nations most promising resource (our children), would be a plan we should all support.
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More commentsHi Sandra, an excellent article and I at least somewhat agree with you. I guess I am a pessimist but I just believe the main reason kids are falling behind, is the lifestyle now. Children are rarely disciplined for any reason, at home or school, They are rarely made to do a cotton-picking thing, at home or at school. I think the main thing is that people should once again, teach their children that no one gets to coast through life, but that success comes to those who put effort into their lives. But regardless of whether any of that ever again takes place, if longer hours or years are all we can do, something needs to be done. Thanks for sharing this with us.Great comment, Joel. And I think you are probably right--'if longer school hours or year is the best we can offer our children', then yes we do need help.
it stinks i thinkk school is to long already make it 6months of school 6months of summer!!!Quality NOT Quantity---good concept. Thanks for your opinion, Sonny.
I personally doubt this all has anything to do with quantity as opposed to quality.If it doesn't, it certainly should. In my neighborhood schools, I see children NOT getting the one-on-one help they need-----if they can't keep up, they are just left behind. I don't think that is the way a school should be teaching. All children learn at different levels and be treated as such. Thanks for your comment.
I absolutely disagree, Sandra.The problem is not length of school, hours in the day or days in the year. Teachers cannot teach because of ridiculous limits placed on them. Students run amuck in class and there is no order or discipline.I think the concensus has been discipline. And I agree with that.
I am employed with the school district in Fredericksburg, Texas, and I absolutely agree with your assessment. Thank you for an informative article.Thanks for reading and commenting, Chris. Have a good day.
Thanks, Suzy. That would be a great incentive plan--reward those who try hard to excell.
Ms. Sandra, great article. I agree with you, and am happy you have sided with our POTUS (smile).Thanks, Ronyae. for reading and commenting---and the smile.Sandra
Dave (former teacher) here again. I waited a while for the heat to die down. I really enjoyed reading the comments of the visitors, and many were "right on."I've been told I've been blessed with a great memory - sometimes I think it's a curse. Can any of you remember your early days in elementary school? Some of those days seemed more like a months. Some days in school simply would not end. Looking back on it now, I realize I probably had an attention deficit disorder - but the term hadn't been invented yet. I couldn't stand school so It's kind of suprising that I continued on with my education and eventually became an educator myself. Now - think back.... More coming - as my quota will run out
continued - We had an hour off for lunch and recess - that's been taken away. We had 3 recess sessions in early elementary school, then later 2 per day. That too has been taken away. In the elementary school where my wife teaches, phys ed is scheduled twice per week, and 20 minutes per session. We had it much better back in the day. Today, the 3R's aren't the main objective - there's a slew of additional crap thrown down the kids' throats, and thus LESS TIME TO SPEND ON ACADEMICS. Counselors, and feel good psychologists take up more of a student's time than teachers do. State testing mandates leave little time to actually teach. Yes, we used to get punished for breaking rules - that too, has been taken away from our expectations. We used to sing Christmas carols, have play time for Halloween parties, and Valentine's Day parties - all taken away. Art, Music and Shop are now cut back in many districts. Do I sound bitter? I am. I will stop now before I break another quota limit. Great article, Sandra - it does get some thinking started, doesn't it?How could making the day or year longer help? It wouldn't. It would just add to the frustration that most teachers and students already have.
I also think school has become more of a conditioning to prepare us to get some job and learn the system we live in.
Many are home schooling which brings back family unity and closeness.
Young should be free to learn and play not spend most of their youth in an institution which teaches them things that lack morals, love, how to treat others and knowledge about life, nature and experiencing with others.
Thats how we learn, experiencing life, not surviving and working a system.
Life's not about the A's, B's and C's and it's certainly not about acquiring as much money as we possibly can. Life is not about money folks, its about living and the experiences.
So no, we all slave away our adult life and our children twine away the hours behind some desk when they should have more time out in the world, with others and nature.
My vote; is no
Thanks, have a good day
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