Comments on: Failing Schools See a Solution in Longer Day . . . http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:21:30 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: That's What Matt Said. . . « What has two thumbs and is ready to blog? This guy! http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-24 That's What Matt Said. . . « What has two thumbs and is ready to blog? This guy! Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:43:32 +0000 http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-24 [...] Failing Schools See a Solution in Longer Day . . . [...] [...] Failing Schools See a Solution in Longer Day . . . [...]

]]> By: matt4386 http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-23 matt4386 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:40:02 +0000 http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-23 As with the other comments, I am somewhat torn. Although I believe that students could use a longer day to help continue the learning process, I don't understand why the teachers just can't make the regular class time more productive. Of course, this is easier said than done and the teachers may be very efficient (I'm not trying to complain about the teachers) but personally, I can see students reacting negatively to longer days and not being able to participate in other activities such as sports or clubs due to time issues. If parents and teachers are concerned about a child's learning progress, I believe there needs to be a good amount of communication between parents and teachers. The teacher can explain to the parents that their particular child should have time set aside each day after school to work on school work and practice the skills they have learned in school. This way, not only is the child practicing and continuing the learning process, but the parent(s)/family is involved in the work the child is doing, creating a better family atmosphere. Of course, some family structures are not perfect and not all parents have time to sit down due to work or multiple children, but communication with their children is essential to the future success of their child, so they should strive to make time. As with the other comments, I am somewhat torn. Although I believe that students could use a longer day to help continue the learning process, I don’t understand why the teachers just can’t make the regular class time more productive. Of course, this is easier said than done and the teachers may be very efficient (I’m not trying to complain about the teachers) but personally, I can see students reacting negatively to longer days and not being able to participate in other activities such as sports or clubs due to time issues. If parents and teachers are concerned about a child’s learning progress, I believe there needs to be a good amount of communication between parents and teachers. The teacher can explain to the parents that their particular child should have time set aside each day after school to work on school work and practice the skills they have learned in school. This way, not only is the child practicing and continuing the learning process, but the parent(s)/family is involved in the work the child is doing, creating a better family atmosphere. Of course, some family structures are not perfect and not all parents have time to sit down due to work or multiple children, but communication with their children is essential to the future success of their child, so they should strive to make time.

]]> By: Comments « Stephanie’s Wicked Awesome Words http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-19 Comments « Stephanie’s Wicked Awesome Words Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:47:05 +0000 http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-19 [...] becoming more marketable??? [...] [...] becoming more marketable??? [...]

]]> By: myotts http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-16 myotts Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:54:37 +0000 http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-16 When I first read this post on the benefits of lengthening schools days and years, I was torn. I believe that any new, innovative ideas to improve education and the learning process should be tried, if only temporarily. Lengthening the school day would allow more material to be taught and perhaps increase the amount of 'stuff' that children learned. However, in the long run I think that the negative aspects outweigh the positive ones. For starters, students are usually exhausted at the end of the day. I remember how tired I'd be at the end of a day in high school, going from 7:25 in the morning until 2:40 in the afternoon. That is a long day for a teenager, especially if he/she has extracurricular activities or a job after school. If school days get lengthened, students will become cranky and non-responsive two or three days into the week. They need time to rest their brains and their bodies and to do other things. Keep in mind that primary and secondary students are still children. There is only so much sitting in a desk and taking notes that they can handle. In addition, I do not believe that learning more information is the magic solution to passing standardized tests. Teachers need to focus more on their teaching methods and their interactions with students - perhaps this will help students. If students can't retain the information now, adding an hour onto their school day isn't going to help them retain it any better. When I first read this post on the benefits of lengthening schools days and years, I was torn. I believe that any new, innovative ideas to improve education and the learning process should be tried, if only temporarily. Lengthening the school day would allow more material to be taught and perhaps increase the amount of ’stuff’ that children learned. However, in the long run I think that the negative aspects outweigh the positive ones. For starters, students are usually exhausted at the end of the day. I remember how tired I’d be at the end of a day in high school, going from 7:25 in the morning until 2:40 in the afternoon. That is a long day for a teenager, especially if he/she has extracurricular activities or a job after school. If school days get lengthened, students will become cranky and non-responsive two or three days into the week. They need time to rest their brains and their bodies and to do other things. Keep in mind that primary and secondary students are still children. There is only so much sitting in a desk and taking notes that they can handle. In addition, I do not believe that learning more information is the magic solution to passing standardized tests. Teachers need to focus more on their teaching methods and their interactions with students – perhaps this will help students. If students can’t retain the information now, adding an hour onto their school day isn’t going to help them retain it any better.

]]> By: canknight http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-11 canknight Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:48:45 +0000 http://bisardm.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/failing-schools-see-a-solution-in-longer-day/#comment-11 Although you make good points that follow the motto "practice makes perfect" or the more you do something the better you get at it, I would have to say that lengthening might not be the solution. I do not have numbers to back up this assumption, but I think that if the school day is lengthened than students will lose out in other important areas of their lives. What about students who have to work to help their family? Will they find time for this anymore? Or what about students that participate in extra-curricular activities? They will have an increasingly difficult time balancing school, sports or band, family, homework, and possibly work. It is important for us to keep in mind that these are not adults, they are stilling learning and developing. They already devote nearly seven hours a day to the school, roughly one third of their day. I know that the "real world", or life after grade school often is more hectic, but that is why it is set up for adults. They have the mentally ability to handle it. There must be other solutions that the educational system and schools can come up with. They need to look at how much work time is actually being used, and how much is being wasted. Let's face it, we all can remember times nearly everyday when educational time was wasted. I think we need to try to eliminate some of this downtime before we add more time to the day. Grade school is not only about the education in the classroom. During this time in students lives it is important that they learn more than just pencil and book work. They need to be able to develop social skills, physical wellness, strong family bonds, and relationships that will carry them through life. Students need time away from the four walls of a classroom and cutting down on that might help benefit standardized test scores, but will it really improve the person? Although you make good points that follow the motto “practice makes perfect” or the more you do something the better you get at it, I would have to say that lengthening might not be the solution. I do not have numbers to back up this assumption, but I think that if the school day is lengthened than students will lose out in other important areas of their lives. What about students who have to work to help their family? Will they find time for this anymore? Or what about students that participate in extra-curricular activities? They will have an increasingly difficult time balancing school, sports or band, family, homework, and possibly work.

It is important for us to keep in mind that these are not adults, they are stilling learning and developing. They already devote nearly seven hours a day to the school, roughly one third of their day. I know that the “real world”, or life after grade school often is more hectic, but that is why it is set up for adults. They have the mentally ability to handle it.

There must be other solutions that the educational system and schools can come up with. They need to look at how much work time is actually being used, and how much is being wasted. Let’s face it, we all can remember times nearly everyday when educational time was wasted. I think we need to try to eliminate some of this downtime before we add more time to the day.

Grade school is not only about the education in the classroom. During this time in students lives it is important that they learn more than just pencil and book work. They need to be able to develop social skills, physical wellness, strong family bonds, and relationships that will carry them through life. Students need time away from the four walls of a classroom and cutting down on that might help benefit standardized test scores, but will it really improve the person?

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