Obama Proposes Longer School Days, Extended School Year

shel90 · 05-03-2009, 02:00 PM

Obama Proposes Longer School Days | Edu in Review Blog

For this generation of students to remain competitive with their international peers as adults, they need to start spending more time in school. This week President Obama proposed that American school children extend their time in class, either by lengthening the school day, or spending less time on summer vacation.

“We can no longer afford an academic calendar designed when America was a nation of farmers who needed their children at home plowing the land at the end of each day,” Obama said. He continued to say “That calendar may have once made sense, but today, it puts us at a competitive disadvantage. Our children spend over a month less in school than children in South Korea. That is no way to prepare them for a 21st century economy.”
In fact, American children spend the least amount time in the classroom when compared to other countries. Currently, the school year length in the States is 180 days. Advocates are pushing further toward a 200-day school year, which would align with Thailand, Scotland and the Netherlands, and leave us a close second with Israel, South Korea and Japan, who leads with a 243-day school year.

via MSN Encarta
This comes as Obama makes it very clear that education is on his hot-list of priorities. He admits the notion of spending more time in school is not “wildly popular”, but necessary.

He was applauded for his breadth of knowledge regarding the public education system in the U.S. He cited that one-third of the 13- and 14-year-olds in our country cannot read at an appropriate level for their age, and that the eighth grade curriculum is two years behind competing nations. He says the part of the problem is our “race to the bottom” mindset, wherein states are comfortable with lower standards for students.

Obama and his Secretary of Education Arne Duncan are truly advocates for a superior education system than that we’ve previously and currently known. It’s imperative that states use the stimulus package money to rebuild curriculum, increase teacher pay, improve school conditions, offer newer technologies to students and even extend the school year to ensure that this generation can not only keep up with their international peers, but even surpass them in the professional environment of the coming decades

What do u think?

Foxrac · 05-03-2009, 02:07 PM

I have disagree with Obama's decision on extended school year, I rather to sticking with traditional year, not 21th century.

Compare with US with other countries, especially Europe and Asia are just like apple to orange, even I don't want copy from other country.

Thanks to god, I already out of school in last 3 years ago but would still in grandson.

Bottesini · 05-03-2009, 02:08 PM

I think Japan has the longest school year, and also the most student suicides.

It is not necessarily healthy for kids to spend that much time in school.

shel90 · 05-03-2009, 02:12 PM

My step-cousin who is a teacher in Colorado told me that the school board there approved to add 70 minutes to the school day. What she was so pissed off was that they arent planning on increasing teacher pay or give teacher more comp time. To me that is JUST SO wrong! If teacher's pay arent increased, and this gets approved nationwide, we will see a teacher shortage crisis.

Foxrac · 05-03-2009, 02:18 PM

When I was in high school in 2005-2006, days of school was 170 or 175 days but they increased to 180 days in after 2006-2007 school year.

jazzy · 05-03-2009, 02:24 PM

It will not work in Calif unless they find more $$$ to hire more teachers and build more schools.. It is already overcrowd in classroom and not enough teachers to teach. They are laying teachers off at the end of school year. Plus I do not want any more tax raise unless they find a way to fix where all tax money had gone before.

No way to increase longer day for kids.

Foxrac · 05-03-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzy

It will not work in Calif unless they find more $$$ to hire more teachers and build more schools.. It is already overcrowd in classroom and not enough teachers to teach. They are laying teachers off at the end of school year. Plus I do not want any more tax raise unless they find a way to fix where all tax money had gone before.

No way to increase longer day for kids.

When congress start vote, you need call congress to vote no.

I bet most republican would vote no.

Babyblue · 05-03-2009, 02:45 PM

I think the idea is more so a bit too much. Kids are not behind due to lack of days. They are behind because so much has already been cut from schools. Hate to say it teachers are suppose to teach. Kind of hard to doso in overcrowded classrooms.

If the days or hours are increased... How will he fund it?

PuyoPiyo · 05-03-2009, 04:02 PM

I would prefer to leave it as it was. Children love summers so much.

moonflower · 05-03-2009, 04:19 PM

i disagree with obama with that.
i felt that children need to rest in summer time not get stress it is not good for kids to get stress at school to struggle with.

faire_jour · 05-03-2009, 04:22 PM

The first 2 months of school are review because the kids have forgotten so much during the summer or are out of practice. Year round school is gets rid of that.

Lighthouse77 · 05-03-2009, 04:23 PM

I think it should be optional for parents who have to work til 5pm...

but we also have voluntary work as well.

Lighthouse77 · 05-03-2009, 04:26 PM

family life is important.. all work and no play ... how does that quote goes?

Steel X · 05-03-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bottesini

I think Japan has the longest school year, and also the most student suicides.

It is not necessarily healthy for kids to spend that much time in school.

It is true that children in Japan spend more time with education than we do so obviously its no surprise that alot of them can actually be smarter than us. I assume we need to extend education activies so to give a better future to the children.

I'm sorry to hear that some of you disagree with this, of course it can be frustrating at times for going to school more often, but the more the better your life will get.

Think about it.

rockin'robin · 05-03-2009, 11:11 PM

I disagree....my boys work hard in school, make good grades and attend everyday. They look forward to summer...inasmuch as we adults look forward to vacations from work.

They are "just kids"...let them be that way! They'll grow up pretty fast, some go to college or join the work force 5 days a week 8 hours a day....

"All work and no play....makes a kid a very dull child"!..I feel they have enuf pressure as it is!

Grummer · 05-03-2009, 11:19 PM

180 days out of 365 is nearly half the whole year doing nothing, so i kind of agree with Obama, its payback time to America to work for their status as the world's biggest consumer, so they should pay for it by working extra harder, what's more Japan is one of the safest country in the world, (ok aside from some extremity and slightly higher suicide rates). America have alot of problem with young people getting out of hand simply they are bored and have nothing to do but cause trouble. I think it would be worthwhile, and perhaps its not needed to go to extreme as Japans but maybe the academic year could length somewhere in the middle of the road, say 200 or even 210 days. This would actually prepare america to cope better in the 21st century' increasingly competitive world market for employment along with captial and intellectual investments. Why be so offended to lose 3 weeks? I doubt it would be stripped off from the summer break, maybe one week there and another 2 weeks in piecemeals from somewhere during the academic year. Hell i think New Zealand should too, we have too many aggressive and lazy teenagers wagging schools and they dont get better when they enter university, they just get worse...like mass vandelism is confused with 'partying' that, i think it's simply becuase life is too easy for them so they get real cocky. ps, I agree with Steel X too.

~*Kaelei*~ · 05-03-2009, 11:45 PM

Thank god that I graduated from HS in 2006.... It was bad enough to have 180 days of school, and I always have looked forward to having summer vacation while I was in school, that what kept me going.

My dad almost sent me to a private school that does a year around school.... I'm just soooo thankful that my dad didn't.... because that would be just awful, horrible.....

So I disagree with Obama.... kids needs to be kids, not like those Japan children that goes to school like 90% of the time... you basically won't have time for family or friends, instead you'll just be focusing on education/school work.

LuciaDisturbed · 05-04-2009, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grummer

180 days out of 365 is nearly half the whole year doing nothing, so i kind of agree with Obama, its payback time to America to work for their status as the world's biggest consumer, so they should pay for it by working extra harder, what's more Japan is one of the safest country in the world, (ok aside from some extremity and slightly higher suicide rates). America have alot of problem with young people getting out of hand simply they are bored and have nothing to do but cause trouble. I think it would be worthwhile, and perhaps its not needed to go to extreme as Japans but maybe the academic year could length somewhere in the middle of the road, say 200 or even 210 days. This would actually prepare america to cope better in the 21st century' increasingly competitive world market for employment along with captial and intellectual investments. Why be so offended to lose 3 weeks? I doubt it would be stripped off from the summer break, maybe one week there and another 2 weeks in piecemeals from somewhere during the academic year. Hell i think New Zealand should too, we have too many aggressive and lazy teenagers wagging schools and they dont get better when they enter university, they just get worse...like mass vandelism is confused with 'partying' that, i think it's simply becuase life is too easy for them so they get real cocky. ps, I agree with Steel X too.

WTF?

In the USA in most places we only get 3 straight months off from school, and that's during the summer. From mid-June until Mid-August to late August (it varies in different areas of when school starts at the end of the summer). We get one week off for Easter/Spring break (it varies on when the break is in different areas - back where I come from we had Easter breaks but now it's spring breaks) and about 1 1/2 weeks to two weeks off from school for Winter break, and about three days off from school for Thanksgiving, and that is about it. That's not 180 days. Do you even know math?

I don't like how they keep moving up the first day of school earlier and earlier and earlier. When I was a child it was the day after Labor day. Now it's mid-August! It fucks with summer plans!

At least I can homeschool my kids if I want. So ain't nothing anyone can say about MY kids.

rockin'robin · 05-04-2009, 12:06 AM

Familes do take vacations together...during the summer break. Also, many divorced parents share custody of kids during the summer months. And some kids do attend summer school, or have to attend on Saturdays. Some kids go to see their relatives and spend the summer, especially their grandparents.

Often wonder why suicide is high in Japan? Could it be the pressure they are pushing on the kids to "learn"!?

Here in Duval County, they have already cut bus service for many children, so next year a lot of kids will have to walk to school, some even farther than they used to.

LuciaDisturbed · 05-04-2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~*Kaelei*~

Thank god that I graduated from HS in 2006.... It was bad enough to have 180 days of school, and I always have looked forward to having summer vacation while I was in school, that what kept me going.

My dad almost sent me to a private school that does a year around school.... I'm just soooo thankful that my dad didn't.... because that would be just awful, horrible.....

So I disagree with Obama.... kids needs to be kids, not like those Japan children that goes to school like 90% of the time... you basically won't have time for family or friends, instead you'll just be focusing on education/school work.

Yeah, when I was a child, we learned about children in other countries, and one of the things we were taught were that children in China goes to school 6 days a week! Ugh...fuck no.

Weekends and winter breaks and spring breaks and summers are precious...I ain't sending my kids to school during these days. If the school authorities don't like it, I can always pull my kids out of public school and either homeschool my kids or send them to a private school that does not do a year-long thing but only does the usual September to June school year!

naisho · 05-04-2009, 12:10 AM

There are various factors that need to be considered to see if they fit within Japan's suicide ratio.. We dunno the full story.

Plus school might not even be the accountable factor, it could be cultural differences for all we know. For one, japan is a lot stricter than most countries for sure. You aren't supposed to drink or eat anything while walking in public or it's considered disrespectful.

What Steel X said has some truth... The more school kids get, the smarter they can become, ignoring social or psychological drawbacks in light of this. Answer is already presented, question is are we going to keep up with them?

deafdyke · 05-04-2009, 12:17 AM

I approve of longer school days....that's an awesome idea. But a longer school year? what's that gonna do to summer ecnomies? Like summer camps will go out of business, the Cape's ecnomy will be destroyed etc.

rockin'robin · 05-04-2009, 12:34 AM

Then we'll just have bumper stickers on our vehicles saying "My kid is smarter than ur kid in Japan"! Goes to school year round!

Kids have a lot of pressure in the schools! Just last week, a "rumor" started at my boys middle school, that a "shootout" was gonna be that day. Police cars were everywhere!....I was in that long line of cars with concerned parents, to find out it was just a rumor. My boys didn't want to go back to school the next day.

Kids face the pressure of fights, gangs, shootings, peer pressure, etc., that adults don't in their daily lives at work. They need "time off", a summer vacation more than adults do.

Kids are Kids, not robots! My kids go to the Library 1-2 times a week, and do read books during the summer.

naisho · 05-04-2009, 12:39 AM

Food for thought:

How come we don't hear about shootouts in other countries and their schools? Not saying this never happened, but it seems rare on US news.

And in USA it's apparently really common? Feels like we have all the attention. What's the deal?

AlleyCat · 05-04-2009, 12:49 AM

Schools still start after Labor Day here in MN.

I could see how year-round school (or at least a longer term than is now) would make some sense as far as continuing reinforced learning - taking a 3 month break lets younger kids forget many things. I could be in favor of a longer school term, then, as long as shorter school days are applied.

jillio · 05-04-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyblue

I think the idea is more so a bit too much. Kids are not behind due to lack of days. They are behind because so much has already been cut from schools. Hate to say it teachers are suppose to teach. Kind of hard to doso in overcrowded classrooms.

If the days or hours are increased... How will he fund it?

It is also difficult when schools are expected to provide exceptional adjunct services rather than teach the curriculum. The more time spent in pull out, the less time spent teaching the curriculum.

That said, our edcuational system is indeed in crisis. However, I fail to see how more time spent in underfunded classrooms with outdated textbooks and technology is the answer.

Grummer · 05-04-2009, 01:13 AM

Shel-90 posted this; In fact, American children spend the least amount time in the classroom when compared to other countries. Currently, the school year length in the States is 180 days. Advocates are pushing further toward a 200-day school year, which would align with Thailand, Scotland and the Netherlands, and leave us a close second with Israel, South Korea and Japan, who leads with a 243-day school year.

thats where i got the 180 days of schooling time. Sorry, that I made one mistake saying 180 days of holidays but when you count the days in a year, its 365 - 180 thats still quite alot 185 days, that's HALF !!
so i beg to differ, we in the west ARE spoilt for free times.

jillio · 05-04-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlleyCat

Schools still start after Labor Day here in MN.

I could see how year-round school (or at least a longer term than is now) would make some sense as far as continuing reinforced learning - taking a 3 month break lets younger kids forget many things. I could be in favor of a longer school term, then, as long as shorter school days are applied.

This is true. There is considerable research that shows that the first 6 weeks of any school year is spent reviewing from the previous year due to the extended summer break that allows kids to forget concepts they were taught.

LuciaDisturbed · 05-04-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockin'robin

Familes do take vacations together...during the summer break. Also, many divorced parents share custody of kids during the summer months. And some kids do attend summer school, or have to attend on Saturdays. Some kids go to see their relatives and spend the summer, especially their grandparents.

Often wonder why suicide is high in Japan? Could it be the pressure they are pushing on the kids to "learn"!?

Here in Duval County, they have already cut bus service for many children, so next year a lot of kids will have to walk to school, some even farther than they used to.

Yeah, in Milwaukee you have to live more than 2 miles away from your public school or you cannot take the yellow bus to school. So stupid. I would not let my children take public transit to school in Milwaukee and especially here in San Antonio! Not after that huge gang fight I witnessed! No fucking way! They have to take the yellow bus, or I have to take them to school. So stupid. I am not going to make my future kids walk two miles to school, especially when it gets so fucking hot here in Texas and where there are bound to be so many gang fights between dumb students from middle and high schools! And a lot of the time it's just too fucking hot to make your child walk the two miles to and from school each way. Today it was so hot! We had a high of 90 degrees and it's only the 4th of May. We began having hot weather at the end of February. By the end of this month we will hit temperatures in the 100s. I am not going to make them get overheated while walking to and from school, 2 miles each way. NO. And Milwaukee can get very frigid, would you make your child freeze his or her ass off walking the two miles to and from school in -10 weather? Trust me, YOU DON'T WANT TO. IT'S TOO FUCKING COLD! Believe me, I lived in Milwaukee from the age of 4 until I left for Minnesota at 21 years old. In Minnesota it gets even colder - do you want your children walking the two miles to and from school in -30 weather? Trust me, YOU DON'T! I know because I lived in Minnesota for 5 years!

LuciaDisturbed · 05-04-2009, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naisho

Food for thought:

How come we don't hear about shootouts in other countries and their schools? Not saying this never happened, but it seems rare on US news.

And in USA it's apparently really common? Feels like we have all the attention. What's the deal?

Maybe it's because you've been reading the USA newspapers and not other countries' newspapers? Hmm? Ever think about how the USA newspapers talk more about the USA more than about other countries? THIS IS THE FUCKING USA!

GO READ A NEWSPAPER FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY! Then come back and tell us!

05-03-2009, 02:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
shel90 In a pink and black world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the land of the free Posts: 25,990 Blog Entries: 3	Obama Proposes Longer School Days, Extended School Year Obama Proposes Longer School Days \| Edu in Review Blog For this generation of students to remain competitive with their international peers as adults, they need to start spending more time in school. This week President Obama proposed that American school children extend their time in class, either by lengthening the school day, or spending less time on summer vacation. “We can no longer afford an academic calendar designed when America was a nation of farmers who needed their children at home plowing the land at the end of each day,” Obama said. He continued to say “That calendar may have once made sense, but today, it puts us at a competitive disadvantage. Our children spend over a month less in school than children in South Korea. That is no way to prepare them for a 21st century economy.” In fact, American children spend the least amount time in the classroom when compared to other countries. Currently, the school year length in the States is 180 days. Advocates are pushing further toward a 200-day school year, which would align with Thailand, Scotland and the Netherlands, and leave us a close second with Israel, South Korea and Japan, who leads with a 243-day school year. via MSN Encarta This comes as Obama makes it very clear that education is on his hot-list of priorities. He admits the notion of spending more time in school is not “wildly popular”, but necessary. He was applauded for his breadth of knowledge regarding the public education system in the U.S. He cited that one-third of the 13- and 14-year-olds in our country cannot read at an appropriate level for their age, and that the eighth grade curriculum is two years behind competing nations. He says the part of the problem is our “race to the bottom” mindset, wherein states are comfortable with lower standards for students. Obama and his Secretary of Education Arne Duncan are truly advocates for a superior education system than that we’ve previously and currently known. It’s imperative that states use the stimulus package money to rebuild curriculum, increase teacher pay, improve school conditions, offer newer technologies to students and even extend the school year to ensure that this generation can not only keep up with their international peers, but even surpass them in the professional environment of the coming decades What do u think? __________________ Shel~ "A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

05-03-2009, 02:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Foxrac PC gamer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dixieland Posts: 19,109	I have disagree with Obama's decision on extended school year, I rather to sticking with traditional year, not 21th century. Compare with US with other countries, especially Europe and Asia are just like apple to orange, even I don't want copy from other country. Thanks to god, I already out of school in last 3 years ago but would still in grandson. __________________

05-03-2009, 02:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
shel90 In a pink and black world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the land of the free Posts: 25,990 Blog Entries: 3	My step-cousin who is a teacher in Colorado told me that the school board there approved to add 70 minutes to the school day. What she was so pissed off was that they arent planning on increasing teacher pay or give teacher more comp time. To me that is JUST SO wrong! If teacher's pay arent increased, and this gets approved nationwide, we will see a teacher shortage crisis. __________________ Shel~ "A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

05-03-2009, 02:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Foxrac PC gamer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dixieland Posts: 19,109	When I was in high school in 2005-2006, days of school was 170 or 175 days but they increased to 180 days in after 2006-2007 school year. __________________

05-03-2009, 02:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
jazzy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: High desert in Calif Posts: 3,621	It will not work in Calif unless they find more $$$ to hire more teachers and build more schools.. It is already overcrowd in classroom and not enough teachers to teach. They are laying teachers off at the end of school year. Plus I do not want any more tax raise unless they find a way to fix where all tax money had gone before. No way to increase longer day for kids. __________________

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

05-03-2009, 02:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bottesini Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 18,368	I think Japan has the longest school year, and also the most student suicides. It is not necessarily healthy for kids to spend that much time in school.

05-03-2009, 02:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Babyblue Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 8,042	I think the idea is more so a bit too much. Kids are not behind due to lack of days. They are behind because so much has already been cut from schools. Hate to say it teachers are suppose to teach. Kind of hard to doso in overcrowded classrooms. If the days or hours are increased... How will he fund it?

05-03-2009, 04:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
PuyoPiyo (Image taken 2005) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fourth Plain Village WA Posts: 6,114	I would prefer to leave it as it was. Children love summers so much.

05-03-2009, 04:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
moonflower winter is here BRR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washtenaw County, Michigan Posts: 5,752	i disagree with obama with that. i felt that children need to rest in summer time not get stress it is not good for kids to get stress at school to struggle with. __________________ 2010

05-03-2009, 04:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
faire_jour Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,224	The first 2 months of school are review because the kids have forgotten so much during the summer or are out of practice. Year round school is gets rid of that.

05-03-2009, 04:23 PM	#12 (permalink)
Lighthouse77 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,877	I think it should be optional for parents who have to work til 5pm... but we also have voluntary work as well. __________________ Good thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.

05-03-2009, 04:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
Lighthouse77 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,877	family life is important.. all work and no play ... how does that quote goes? __________________ Good thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.

05-03-2009, 11:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
rockin'robin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 3,365	I disagree....my boys work hard in school, make good grades and attend everyday. They look forward to summer...inasmuch as we adults look forward to vacations from work. They are "just kids"...let them be that way! They'll grow up pretty fast, some go to college or join the work force 5 days a week 8 hours a day.... "All work and no play....makes a kid a very dull child"!..I feel they have enuf pressure as it is!

05-03-2009, 11:19 PM	#16 (permalink)
Grummer Burn fat off your soul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North Island in the South Posts: 3,366	180 days out of 365 is nearly half the whole year doing nothing, so i kind of agree with Obama, its payback time to America to work for their status as the world's biggest consumer, so they should pay for it by working extra harder, what's more Japan is one of the safest country in the world, (ok aside from some extremity and slightly higher suicide rates). America have alot of problem with young people getting out of hand simply they are bored and have nothing to do but cause trouble. I think it would be worthwhile, and perhaps its not needed to go to extreme as Japans but maybe the academic year could length somewhere in the middle of the road, say 200 or even 210 days. This would actually prepare america to cope better in the 21st century' increasingly competitive world market for employment along with captial and intellectual investments. Why be so offended to lose 3 weeks? I doubt it would be stripped off from the summer break, maybe one week there and another 2 weeks in piecemeals from somewhere during the academic year. Hell i think New Zealand should too, we have too many aggressive and lazy teenagers wagging schools and they dont get better when they enter university, they just get worse...like mass vandelism is confused with 'partying' that, i think it's simply becuase life is too easy for them so they get real cocky. ps, I agree with Steel X too. __________________ Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better. I've always believed this, in spite of the trouble it's caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles. Hunter S Thompson

05-03-2009, 11:45 PM	#17 (permalink)
~Kaelei~ Wishing Upon A Star Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vancouver, Washington Posts: 1,416	Thank god that I graduated from HS in 2006.... It was bad enough to have 180 days of school, and I always have looked forward to having summer vacation while I was in school, that what kept me going. My dad almost sent me to a private school that does a year around school.... I'm just soooo thankful that my dad didn't.... because that would be just awful, horrible..... So I disagree with Obama.... kids needs to be kids, not like those Japan children that goes to school like 90% of the time... you basically won't have time for family or friends, instead you'll just be focusing on education/school work. __________________

05-04-2009, 12:06 AM	#19 (permalink)
rockin'robin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 3,365	Familes do take vacations together...during the summer break. Also, many divorced parents share custody of kids during the summer months. And some kids do attend summer school, or have to attend on Saturdays. Some kids go to see their relatives and spend the summer, especially their grandparents. Often wonder why suicide is high in Japan? Could it be the pressure they are pushing on the kids to "learn"!? Here in Duval County, they have already cut bus service for many children, so next year a lot of kids will have to walk to school, some even farther than they used to.

05-04-2009, 12:10 AM	#21 (permalink)
naisho Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,006	There are various factors that need to be considered to see if they fit within Japan's suicide ratio.. We dunno the full story. Plus school might not even be the accountable factor, it could be cultural differences for all we know. For one, japan is a lot stricter than most countries for sure. You aren't supposed to drink or eat anything while walking in public or it's considered disrespectful. What Steel X said has some truth... The more school kids get, the smarter they can become, ignoring social or psychological drawbacks in light of this. Answer is already presented, question is are we going to keep up with them? __________________

05-04-2009, 12:17 AM	#22 (permalink)
deafdyke So NOT a Princess! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 7,736	I approve of longer school days....that's an awesome idea. But a longer school year? what's that gonna do to summer ecnomies? Like summer camps will go out of business, the Cape's ecnomy will be destroyed etc.

05-04-2009, 12:34 AM	#23 (permalink)
rockin'robin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 3,365	Then we'll just have bumper stickers on our vehicles saying "My kid is smarter than ur kid in Japan"! Goes to school year round! Kids have a lot of pressure in the schools! Just last week, a "rumor" started at my boys middle school, that a "shootout" was gonna be that day. Police cars were everywhere!....I was in that long line of cars with concerned parents, to find out it was just a rumor. My boys didn't want to go back to school the next day. Kids face the pressure of fights, gangs, shootings, peer pressure, etc., that adults don't in their daily lives at work. They need "time off", a summer vacation more than adults do. Kids are Kids, not robots! My kids go to the Library 1-2 times a week, and do read books during the summer.

05-04-2009, 12:39 AM	#24 (permalink)
naisho Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,006	Food for thought: How come we don't hear about shootouts in other countries and their schools? Not saying this never happened, but it seems rare on US news. And in USA it's apparently really common? Feels like we have all the attention. What's the deal? __________________

05-04-2009, 12:49 AM	#25 (permalink)
AlleyCat Chicken in a Cat Suit Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,736	Schools still start after Labor Day here in MN. I could see how year-round school (or at least a longer term than is now) would make some sense as far as continuing reinforced learning - taking a 3 month break lets younger kids forget many things. I could be in favor of a longer school term, then, as long as shorter school days are applied.

05-04-2009, 01:13 AM	#27 (permalink)
Grummer Burn fat off your soul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North Island in the South Posts: 3,366	Shel-90 posted this; In fact, American children spend the least amount time in the classroom when compared to other countries. Currently, the school year length in the States is 180 days. Advocates are pushing further toward a 200-day school year, which would align with Thailand, Scotland and the Netherlands, and leave us a close second with Israel, South Korea and Japan, who leads with a 243-day school year. thats where i got the 180 days of schooling time. Sorry, that I made one mistake saying 180 days of holidays but when you count the days in a year, its 365 - 180 thats still quite alot 185 days, that's HALF !! so i beg to differ, we in the west ARE spoilt for free times. __________________ Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better. I've always believed this, in spite of the trouble it's caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles. Hunter S Thompson

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode