Bronx Mom: Is extending the school day a “fine fine” idea?
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One day this week, my daughter brought home a book from her kindergarten class entitled “A Fine, Fine School” by Sharon Creech. It is the story of a well-meaning principal who is so proud of his fine, fine students and teachers that he decides to extend school to weekends, holidays, and the summer.
At first, though miserable, no one dared to object because it was obvious that the principal only wanted the best for his fine, fine students. After all, they were learning so much in school. Eventually, one brave girl helps the principal to see that ,although they are learning a great deal, there is much that was not being learned, such as how to climb and sit in a tree for an hour.
Last week the New York Daily News reported that President Obama proposed an increase in school hours as a means to achieving significant academic gains. The article included a quote from Education Secretary Arne Duncan suggesting that children in the US are being out-performed academically because they spend less time in the classroom.
The (working) mom in me can definitely see practical benefits in a longer day. No longer would I have to endure the annual search for a decent, yet affordable, after-school program. Truthfully, that was the only benefit I could imagine.
Children are learning and developing in multiple domains, and they learn in so many different ways. They need time for both structured and unstructured play and for learning how to make and keep friends. They are building problem-solving skills when they figure out how to climb that daunting net structure in their neighborhood playground. Reading skills can be fostered by sharing books at home and perusing signs on city buses. Math happens when your little sous chef helps measure the milk. And even the brightest, most motivated adolescents can become burned out from a lack of time to “chillax.”
An increase in class time might very well result in higher test scores. But are we raising test-takers? I would like to believe that we are raising critical thinkers and scholars who are also compassionate citizens of the world. I want my children to grow into adults who play well with others, find the cure for AIDS, and can make wicked Lego structures. If extended time in school means that there will be more time for play, music, physical activities, the arts, meaningful science activities, and socialization, then I am all for it…in moderation. But more time for teaching to a test would be unhealthy and could lead to an even greater disconnect from school for many kids.
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I completely agree with everything in this post. When Obama says that children need more time in school could he only be talking about other people’s children, not his own? He has chosen to send his children to private school. If that school is anything like the private schools here in NY, then his children spend less time in school than those in public school, not more. (The school day may not be significantly shorter, but I’m willing to bet that the school year contains fewer days than does the public school calendar.) I hope that Obama is not falling into the Bloomberg trap of running public schools for what OTHER PEOPLE’S (read, the poor masses’) children need.
Comment by A Parent — October 7, 2009 @ 11:43 am
I agree with this post and the above comment. If extending the school day means incorporating meaningful activities in a more relaxed setting, then it’s a good idea. As Donya said, the key is moderation. Everyone, children and adults, need some down time too. I also would not like to see the education system raising a generation of test-takers.
Comment by another parent — October 7, 2009 @ 11:50 am
Improving the quality of the schools would go a lot farther toward achieving academic gains than extending the hours children spend in inadequate school programs.
Comment by joe — October 8, 2009 @ 4:43 pm