I agree with the President; school should be year round!
Now that I have your attention, where are the bloggers? I know you are reading the posts, but everyone must be shy. So here is a topic sure to get some comments. Should we have a shorter summer vacation and have a longer school year? Here is what some of our middle schoolers had to say: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/mixed-reaction-on-li-over-obama-s-longer-school-year-proposal-1.1486435 What do you think?
Posted in Mike's Musings 14 years, 7 months ago at 5:46 pm. 6 comments
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Hello again,
With one less month of school (Irish schools end in May you stated), and given the same excesses that American children have, Irish children would be at a tremendous loss where academic time (in school or at home) is concerned. As it is now, they use less time wisely. Sometimes less is more.
Given that the necessary infrastructure and salary updates happen, do you think American children should have an extended school day or year now? Do you think they’d benefit from it given all that is written in these posts?
Hi Jillian – Good question. I think that the kids I met really just don’t have access to the technology our kids have (my own son included, who loves videos). Would these kids be any different from ours given all that we have? – probably not. In the end responsibility, does fall on the parents to monitor, set the boundaries and give the guidance kids need. You know my 17 yo is constantly trying to keep up with phones, the ipods, the computers and I challenge him all the time to step back and think about when enough is enough, when its good enough and why must he have the instant gratification of having it all now.
Since he has started working, I’ve noticed he is less impulsive with needing things in the heat of the moment. Money is taking on a different value.
In response: Did the Irish children do their homework because they enjoyed learning, and homework was directly tied to the curriculum? Or, did they do their homework because that was “their job?” Are TV’s, computers, and video games readily available to them? Or, should their society be admired for not allowing those temptations in their homes?
There are many children here that would read rather than watch TV or play video games. However I do agree that too many distractions and temptations are available to American children, and that too many of our children fall prey to these. Whether or not taking these temptations away from them would keep them from needing an extended school year, I’m not sure. After all, the same children would still have homework and would still have distractors no matter how long the school year.
I’m fascinated when I learn about how the children of other countries fare, but I’m skeptical that our society’s constant demand for new and more technology can ever be abated fast enough for us to change the direction in which today’s children place their attention; be it computer games, Wii, soccer, or studying.
Ultimately, doesn’t responsibility lie with the parents en mass (otherwise they’d have to keep up with the neighbors) to cut down the temptations, and the schools to provide motivating and meaningful learning and practice materials for homework? It seems that a call to lengthen the school year comes from a sense of frustration that children are just not getting enough, or doing well enough. Is it possible to make the time we (parents and teachers) do have at home and in school more meaningful and productive before we imagine that more time in either place as being the answer?
I was recently in Ireland and met my friends children and her nieces and nephews. In talking with the kids I found them to be smart, well read (even at the age of 4) and responsibily mature. I watched them play and interact. Some of these kids lived on an Island off of Galway and some in a suburban city. Their school year ended in May and began again in September. They have similar holidays and time off.
What differences I found in questioning them and their parents was: no Cable TV, no fast food, no playstation, no video games (on the island). The suburban kids had limited TV, no TV’s in their rooms, no computers (adults only, only used for school purposes).
When I ask the kids I work with, they share that many have TV’s in their rooms, they only read b/c the have to, and most said they play video games more than anything, they also tend to go to bed later. Some of my kids seem to have no limits. If they do their Homework they are rewarded with time on computer or video games. What ever happened to “you do your work because that is your job” – why reward them for doing what they should be doing?
I believe that year-round schooling with creative scheduling might be beneficial for students for many reasons. However, with the economy doing as poorly as it is, where would the money come from for the necessary air-conditioning of all buildings (inclusive of gymnasiums, cafeterias, and hallways), as well as increased salaries for employees not on a 12 month schedule? I am assuming here that more school days would be added to the school calendar.
I don’t necessarily agree with the President but do believe we could be more creative with scheduling. Perhaps we could have a 10 week schedule with a 2 week break and then mid year and summer 3 weeks…. A four day school week might also be nice, longer days, less days…. just some thoughts.