New Revampped School Week

[kittytech]

I see so many problems with the following article, I just don't even know where to start. It seems that kids already have too much free time to get themselves into things without giving them continuous three-day weekends. Plus, what about parents who have to provide childcare for the days off for younger kids? What about the kids themselves? I remember sitting in school and trying to digest everything the teachers were talking about. By the end of the day my brain was mush. They want to make kids sit even longer during the days they are in school? I predict increases in drug-dependent kids because teachers will claim that they're ADHD because they can't sit through a 10-hour school day. Okay, so I guess I just feel this is wrong on so many levels.



Blackduck schools approve 4-day week
Associated Press, Published Wednesday, April 08, 2009
BLACKDUCK, Minn. (AP) — Students in the Blackduck school district in northwestern Minnesota are closer to going to class only four days a week.
The school board approved the cost-cutting move on a 5-1 vote on Monday. If the state Department of Education approves, the new schedule will start in the next school year.
To make up the lost time, Superintendent Bob Doetsch says the district set up a tentative schedule to lengthen each school day. As of now, Monday is the favored day off.
Doetsch says the district needs the savings of the shorter week because he expects big cuts in state funding for the district.
The savings would come from lower costs for transportation, fuel, cooks, janitors, food and substitute teachers.

Comments

[lyssas-song.livejournal.com]

That doesn't sound like a good idea, and not just because of needing the kids to be cared for on their extra day off. If they lengthen the school day, that's going to mean kids being there longer than six hours. After that much learning, who wants to be in a classroom even longer?

[braillereader.livejournal.com]

I really don't think this is a good idea at all because not only does it make it more difficult for children to sit in a classroom longer, but if the day was longer, they would get home even later and if they have any homework at all or any after school activities, there is no way they could keep up. Just my thoughts though.

[caninespirit.livejournal.com]

I'd thrive on this concept for the work week as an adult, but kids don't have the attention span for this kind of thing. Not too mention i can see it causing some physical problems being forced to sit that long.

[jenandbronze.livejournal.com]

This would be not so good for students with disabilities as they don't have the mental or physical stamina to be in school. I went part time in high school, as I couldn't keep up with the rest of the kids, so only took two classes instead of four per semester, so I could have more breaks then the other students. I agree with your statement about childcare costs, who are going to watch the kids... but nowadays, I see so many kids unsupervised enough as is, and there is just going to be more trouble than necessary. I think, this article, is certianly asking for trouble! Kids need time to let off steam after long days... mental learning is far more tiring then physical learning!