Obama wants to extend school time

http://news.aol.com/article/obama-supports-curtailing-students/689157

I want to know how teachers will be dealt with should this happen?

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While I think every school and every district should re-examine their programs, I don't necessarily think lengthening the school day or year is the right solution. I also don't think there will be any one-size-fits-all solution. I think education in the city needs to be different from education in the burbs and rural areas. And as much as I respect and support teachers, their union is often a stumbling block to any sort of meaningful change.

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It pisses off teachers AND eliminates school sports? THIS IS THE BEST IDEA EVER!

Joe, just because you don't sit on the bleachers and watch wrestling practice doesn't mean you have to ruin such simple pleasures for the rest of us!

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I think if the government or school districts didn't care so much about test scores (the one that all schools are supposed to take) then it would be better. I mean, teachers aren't teaching kids really anything that is going to benefit them. They are teaching them to pass a test. Or that is how it is like in the district I grew up in

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I support it wholeheartedly.

I support it because I live it.

I teach at a charter school in New York City. We have both an extended school day and an extended school year. Students are in class from 7:45 - 4:30 everyday. Students that are below grade level stay until 5:30 for additional tutoring. Having come from a school with "traditional hours" I see every day what a huge difference it makes for our kids.

Because of the extended school day our students get Social Studies EVERY DAY. They get Science with a dedicated science teacher in a science lab EVERY DAY. They have PE three times a week. Yoga twice a week. Dance twice a week. Art twice a week. Music twice a week. There are clubs that happen within school hours that work on a pull-out basis. There is a track team and a basketball team. I am looking at starting a school chorus this year and perhaps a band next year. Basically a lot of "extracurriculars" are incorporated into the school day.

On the teaching side, we get three preps a day. That means that I no longer bring work home with me as I finally have adequate time to do all my grading and planning during the school day. At my old school the kids used to get out a 2, but I spent most days working on planning until 5 anyway. Now I get my planning done at work and am actually compensated for the hours. What a concept.

We only have one month of summer vacation, the kids have 6 weeks. Teachers return to school a full two weeks before the students which allows us to have the entire curriculum hashed before the year starts. That also saves from having to take work home with us during the school year.

Wednesdays are early release days, the kids leave at 2. The teachers stay til 5. This is when our staff meetings take place as well as PD and even MORE planning time.

Our kids are about 97% free/reduced lunch. Most are straight out of the projects that are adjacent to the school. A number live in homeless shelters or women's shelters in the neighborhood. Yet these kids are crushing the achievement gap. 96% of our students are now on grade level (the rate is usually about 40% when the kids start with us) with 65% ABOVE grade level.

Extended school WORKS.

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Updated On: 9/28/09 at 04:39 PM

High schools have extended days up here too. Which means more opportunity for electives. Or for students to take classes in whatever their interests lie in.

My high school actually had optional extended days, which I chose to participate in and that meant I took 3 music classes every day in addition to my regular school schedule.

Some students who were less interested in music used it to take additional science classes, additional journalism classes or additional history classes. Others used it just to get requirements out of the way, graduate a year early, and get a jump start on college.

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Updated On: 9/28/09 at 05:03 PM

I think if the government or school districts didn't care so much about test scores (the one that all schools are supposed to take) then it would be better.

The problem isn't so much the test scores, but the fact that those test scores one day turn into more highly qualified college graduates who are given more jobs than Americans.

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It is just so strange how the 5 day a week, 8 to 2 or 3 for classes and school years from the week after Labor Day up until about June 10th just went away. And everything was covered, even the arts. Lots of extracurricular activities also.

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Again you can not compare our test scores with other countries because other countries DO NOT educate every child, only their smartest students.

I have a question for colleen lee, if any of your students have behavior issues (such as cursing, threatening, or physically hurting a teacher) can they be kicked out? If a student is getting at risk tutoring and still not achieving can they be kicked out? Do the students at your school take the mandated state tests? Also does your school pay more then the public school in your area? Does your school have a competative sports team and marching band? Not trying to be argumentative just want to know the answers

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PE three days a week, Colleen? Isn't this cruelty to gay boys?

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as someone who saw first-hand how badly our schools fail our children, i think that nothing should be "off the table" when it comes to trying to turn them around. my own preference is that every three weeks we publicly execute one teacher based on random criteria to be determined by me and whoever happens to be sitting near me at the bar that night. don't worry colleen, you'll be given an opportunity to, uh, "appeal" my death sentence.

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I'm a sophomore. I get out at 2:35 everyday and start at 7:30. I do about on average 4 hours of dance classes each day. I have to juggle that with school.

HELL to the NO.

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