Has the Time Come for Longer School Days?
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- 1/21/2012 |
- 10:00 am
How much time is too much time for students to be expected to sit in class? How much time is not enough? And how do you find the sweet spot -- that Goldilocks zone where it's not too much, not too little, but just right?
Teachers, parents, politicians and school administrators have been wrestling with that issue for many years, and as a result there are many different approaches in play all across our national landscape.
But there's a high-profile experiment going on right now in Chicago, and you can bet that its outcome will help shape not only local school policy, but also the federal government's approach to education.
Thirteen Chicago public schools have lengthened their school days by nearly two full hours, going from five hours and forty-five minutes to seven-and-a-half hours. That total includes 90 minutes for additional instruction and time for extra breaks in between. Each school is free to divide the time however they see fit, with the ability to emphasize, say, math and reading for one grade or science for another.
So how did all of this come about?
It began with an education reform law passed last year, which allows district administrators to lengthen the school day and school year, with the small (read: big) caveat that they must negotiate the details of implementation with the teachers' union. Teachers at 13 of the Chicago-area schools voted to waive portions of their union contract in order to allow for the extension of the school day, and in return, the teachers receive a stipend that ranges from $800 to $1,200. The participating schools receive between $75,000 and $150,000 in discretionary funds.
It's too soon to tell what sort of impact this will have, but for those concerned about the students' well-being, one assistant principal told the New York Times, "I think the kids have adapted faster than we have."
Proponents are quick to point out that many private- and charter schools, such as the successful network of KIPP schools, have seen good results with longer school days. Opponents worry that there's a finite limit to the amount of effective learning that young children are capable of, and point out that the costs for public education would go up drastically and across the board.
And while no one is making a direct connection to the national implications of this Chicago experiment, make no mistake: Washington is watching. The Chicago mayor behind the legislation that allowed for these changes in the first place is Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama. The U.S. Secretary of Education is Arne Duncan, whose previous job was as CEO of Chicago Public Schools. The president, too, was active in the Chicago education scene during his tenure as an Illinois state and U.S. senator from 1997-2008.
Duncan, by the way, has been on record with his opinion of the somewhat arbitrary nature of school calendars. In a wide-ranging interview with Charlie Rose in 2009, Duncan noted that the lengthy summer vacations students enjoy today is rooted in the history of our agrarian ancestors, for whom it was important to have their children home during the summer to help plow fields and do other necessary farm work. Given that most summer vacations now involve more pool parties and Playstation marathons than crop harvesting, Duncan has shown an openness to modifying the amount of class time that is required of public school students in the U.S.
So where do you come out on the issue of longer school days? Is it a necessary tool in the ongoing battle to make up the lost progress of our education system in recent years? Or is it an expensive and misguided attempt to fix a system with more immediate flaws? We'd like to know.
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This post is sourced from a January 12 article in the New York Times, and you can read that article in its entirety right here.
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Marcia Bischof
January 21, 2012 6:04 am
Wow...2 hours longer? More learning, but I think the average kid would lose some amount of concentration being in classes for that long...kind of like adding an extra 2 hours to my day at work. I'm sure it could work for some children, but not for others. I'm all for extra opportunities for learning as long as it's interesting and exciting for those involved. -
Anonymous
January 24, 2012 6:04 am
My opinion as a high school student: I believe this would work for me. I am one where I enjoy going to school everyday but do not like homework. I find that I have far too many distractions while at home (even at this moment I should be doing homework). I have no problems staying focused while in school. Teachers are the key for me. As long as there are a variety of teaching styles and personalities, I figure this could work well. I would just hope that an extended school day would mean less homework. When I am at school I am in work mode; at home, home mode. Here are the potential problems I could see. One, is activities, school sanctioned, or not. I would say that around 80% or more of students are involved in after school activities. With sports that involve light this could become a problem. Possible solutions include, school starts earlier(not a fan), or possibly installing lights on fields(though this might not solve every problem), or they become "before" school activities(still not a fan). I also thought of mid-day activities, but it could significantly distract from learning. That is one. The other is homework. As I said, less homework is kinda a must, but I do recognize a few issues with that. Less homework doesn't mean get rid of it, just not at home. It would probably be done in class, meaning constant access to a peer or teacher. The problem is that it might stunt the growth of self reliance. Knowing you cannot get help from someone who knows, teaches you to rely on your resources and previous knowledge. It can also teach you a lesson, so that you get it right the next time. Not, that, more in class work might build teamwork. In todays interconnected society, I can't decide which is better. Just some thoughts as a current student.
