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Updated: 8:58 AM Sep 29, 2009
Longer School Day, Shorter Summer Break
President Barack Obama announced Monday that he wants to explore the idea of cutting summer vacation short, and keeping kids in the classroom longer. Posted: 10:57 AM Sep 28, 2009Reporter: Rick Montanez Email Address: RMontanez@kktv.com |
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Posted by: E.D.
Location: Canon City
on Oct 2, 2009 at 04:16 AM
I think the presidents plan can be very beneficial to our children. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with my children, but on the other hand I would love to see them learn as much as they can now to succeed in this world and better themselves for the future. I think the presidents plan can work out for our children in the long run!! WAY TO GO OBAMA!!!! [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Stephane
Location: Yoder
on Oct 1, 2009 at 11:39 PM
My elementary age children go to school 4 days a week, 7:45 am to 4 pm, not counting the bus ride. They are tired by the end of the day. Teachers need a break from the kids and time w/ their families. Where's the $ for this coming from? Businesses depend on Highschool kids for summer employment and kids/families depend on summer jobs to help pay for college, cars, clothes and so on. Disneyland and such depend on summer vacations to be able to stay open. America has done quite well with the school system as it is, look how well our leaders have turned out. lol. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Mike
Location: colorado springs
on Sep 30, 2009 at 08:21 AM
So the President preaches family and then wants to take that away from us by keeping our children in school longer. Not a good idea. Lets face it the teachers alone put in 10 plus hours a day as it is and i am sure they have famlies as well. Why compare us to what other countries do. If we as parents do what we need to do then the kids will be just fine. There are alot of after school activities that would have to be done away with and thus creates more problems. I am a Baseball coach here in the Springs and know how much time is spent on practices and games. this also includes band, debate teams and so on. I Know the President is trying to CHANGE, but when it comes to families and thier time together, he needs to leave it alone. Schools are not daycare centers. I do know this, the younger children lose thier attention span fairly quick and to extend thier days and expect teachers to keep thier focus is asking alot. let things alone, teachers teach and parents parent. we'll be fine. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: EK
Location: Colorado Springs
on Sep 29, 2009 at 01:24 PM
Let me guess, "LB" you dont have kids do you? Or are you a grumpy old person that calls the police on kids playing and being "loud" when they are merley having fun. Give me a break. BO is definitley living up to his word "change". Now he plans on breaking families even farther apart, with less time with each other. Theres not enough time NOW to spend with our kids let alone expanding their school time becuase "Europeans do it". Dont they also close shop in Europe for 2 hours so their employees can rest? If you like Europe so much BO- go there.. please!!! Our teachers are hard workers and do not need to "baby sit" our kids longer in the day. They do not get paid enough for that, but even if they did- a good parent would not want that. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Dave
Location: Colorado Springs
on Sep 29, 2009 at 07:17 AM
What I am hearing is that people want the schools to be more of a day care system than they are now and that parents should be willing to spend less time with their kids. I personally greatly value my time with my kids and if I do my job as a parent then my kids don't need to spend more time in school. Besides it does cost money to keep a school open longer and right now there is not enough money to teach effectivly in the hours we have now. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: AV in Falcon
Location: Falcon
on Sep 29, 2009 at 07:14 AM
What the president doesnt say is that yes, alot of other country's have their kids go to school MORE DAYS a year, however, as we experience through out Europe, the kids start school at 0900 and get out of school between 1200 and 1300. As we recently lived in England for 5 years and know the current system there, the schools had the shortened day schedule and with summer lasting only 6 weeks. Trust me, their kids arent any smarter then ours due to MORE DAYS in school. We've lived throughout Europe (England, Germany, Italy, Spain) and it was the same throughout, short days and a few extra weeks a year in school. It's amazing how the little details are left out of these statistics the president likes to throw out there. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: LB
Location: Falcon
on Sep 29, 2009 at 07:13 AM
Oh, please, Saph. Education is not left-leaning. The problem with you right-wingers is you want to strip the science out of school. Not having a rigorous and well rounded education is the detriment. Imposing social values should be left to the home, not schools. Longer school year also means less time to get in trouble in the summer. And maybe a longer school day will mean they won't stay up til 3 a.m. damaging our parks. European kids get 1 month off and seem to do just fine. American kids don't need 2 months off. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Julie
Location: Peyton
on Sep 29, 2009 at 05:42 AM
When we start comparing our kids to those in other nations we are comparing apples to oranges. Other countries track their students from an early age whereas we educate all regardless - students with disabilities etc. When you compare achievement data, you have to consider that we are being compared to the select in other nations not all children. On the other hand, a longer school day would benefit students. Teachers don't have time to get in all of their instruction as it is. With a heavy focus on reading, writing and math time is limited for other subjects like social studies and science. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Todd
Location: Baghdad
on Sep 29, 2009 at 12:30 AM
I graduated from the local public schools. I know first hand how they operate. If they get rid of the teachers union, it would be a good start to catching our children up to where the President thinks they should be. Unfortunately, the list is long ie.. top heavy on administration, poor budget planning, teachers teaching their own personal agenda instead of the three "R"s. Just fixing those few things would mean our students would be able to keep the current summer schedule. Those are some of the reasons why we live paycheck to paycheck to send our kids to private school. Until the list is fixed it won't matter if kids went to school without any breaks. It can't and won't work. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Chris
Location: Colorado
on Sep 28, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Wow! So Obama is offering free day care all week and all summer long, awesome, Because the two working parents already have to see their kids a few mins in the morning and a few in the afternoon. This way the Govt can take care of them and do away with that pesky family time thing. Great thinking! Go Obama...lmao [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: BH
Location: Colorado Springs
on Sep 28, 2009 at 11:24 PM
If students were in school from 7:30 to 6:00 like he suggested. They would have any time to be kids. Speaking as a teacher, when would we plan for students, if they were there all day. My class leaves at 3:30 and I don't ever leave until 5:30 or 6:00. I have a family too. I would like to spend time with them. Also, what would happen to all the after school programs? Just add them to the climbing unemployment rates? Sports programs? When would kids get to practice or compete? Labor laws, how many hours a day could you expect a teacher to work? 10.5 hours of instruction a day? Would the kids really learn anything more? Or would they burn out after a while? [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: D
Location: Falcon
on Sep 28, 2009 at 10:50 PM
this is useless. It won't solve anything. American kids already spend more time in school than any other country. There are numerous studies that kids do need the breaks. Plus the "oh so great one" hasn't thought about the economic ramifications of this. Schools are strapped as it is, constantly cutting classes and programs, with his newest dumb idea it will strap the schools further not to mention how hard it is now to get or retain decent teachers, this will only make that worse. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Tedyy
Location: Colorado springs
on Sep 28, 2009 at 10:39 PM
I believe kids need to be kids, longer school hours is not going to make them any smarter. They need breaks to have fun, and spend time with there families. I spent seven years in Japan, and I've seen what happens to stress out kid with to much education. Thirteenth Japanese kids hung themself from all the stress from testing,school, and trying to keep up with their parents aspectation. Besides their are poeple in the work force with degrees, that don't have jobs. And a Goverment that keeps loosing more jobs to oversea area's. It's just another way for the Goverment to try and control our lives. What we need is to find teacher that love to teach and are great at it, the kind that kids love to go to school to learn from these teacher. And go back to the basics of teaching where america came from and where america is going, and why america is a great country. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Misty
Location: Colorado Springs
on Sep 28, 2009 at 10:34 PM
This is a bad idea! Kids need a break, I think if this were to happen the grades and CSAP scores will go down and violence will go up. I also think extending the day will be bad because children have other responsibilities and activites to take care of at home other then homework. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: 5th grader
Location: Rockrimmon
on Sep 28, 2009 at 10:27 PM
The opinion of a 10yr old..it think it's a bad idea because we already have enough stuff to do and it puts alot of pressure on kids. It also cuts into after school activities such as sports, church, music, etc... I already don't see my soldier dad enough because of deployements. With longer school days our family time would be even more limited. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: porsha
Location: colorado springs
on Sep 28, 2009 at 10:25 PM
This is a way that we can give our children the education they need for the future.Why should we deprive our them? They deserve it. Anything that will make their life easier I am willing to do. And as far as the "stress factor" children need to be taught now how to "relax" because, parents if your children are stressed now..its only because your teaching them how to be stressed. I am a young 24 year old mother of 6 from the ages of 19months-7 years old and they do wonderful in school! Added school time will only be an investment for my children and grandchildren. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Ty stegeman
Location: howard colorado
on Sep 28, 2009 at 10:16 PM
I think it would be stupid to have the childeren in school longer and and have summer shorter. The kids already have unuff to deal with during school and this would make them tired when they got home and would make them less active in the community and sports. Also the grades might go up but the personality of kids would go down. Plus the summer id the only time kids have to just relax and hang out with there friends and just be kids. so i think the kids should be in school about 7hrs and that way they are still awake and able to there homework and not be tired and just stop doing it because of it. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: iedt
Location: Colorado Springs
on Sep 28, 2009 at 09:50 PM
Seriously TK - my daughters in district 11 and they rarely close school for snow.... And really a longer day would mean a later night for homework and such. I don't like the idea and I know plenty of parents who would agree with me. Your kids schedules should never be a matter of convenience for a parent - and most kids spend little enough time with their families as is - why shorten that time more!?! [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Robert
Location: Colorado Springs
on Sep 28, 2009 at 09:21 PM
We already spend more time in school. It's not a problem involving time, but quality. People are right that this will solve nothing and is just another excuse to have schools babysit our children. Plus where are they going to get the money for this? An absolutely ridiculous idea in my opinion. I understand it in certain cases where the parental involvement is nonexistent, but to make this a sweeping mandate is nuts. My daughters actually learn a great deal at home with me each night and would lose this valuable time if the school days were lengthened. I don't think the teacher union would allow this anyways and we all know the Democrats need them. I would imagine this is a long shot at best. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: shenah03
Location: CO
on Sep 28, 2009 at 09:09 PM
Sending kids to school longer won't make a difference in scores for many. Getting kids to actually care would help. I hardly see my husband enough as it is. Don't extend school hours. Give families the time that they barely get and rightfully deserve. Slap the apathy out of the students not more time on the clock. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Dean
Location: C/S
on Sep 28, 2009 at 09:05 PM
What next? Change the caption on our money from In God We Trust to In Obama We Trust? I guess being an expert on healthcare make you an expert on education. Well 2012 might provide relief by either the Mayan Calandar or the November election. One can only hope. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Erin
Location: security
on Sep 28, 2009 at 08:20 PM
Kids don't need a three month break any more than adults need a three month break. I don't notice any employers in the area giving their employees three months off every summer plus a two weeks for Christmas, a week for Thanksgiving, another week for Easter, etc etc. I don't think it would help though because the problem isn't with the schools... it's with the parents. If their little precious fails a test, it's never because the kid didn't bother to learn the material or follow directions, it's got to be the teacher's fault. Parents don't discipline their spawn and won't allow anyone else to discipline them in any way. Did you know that it's almost impossible to be 'held back' anymore? Because that would separate them from their peer group... so even if Little Johnny can't read, he still gets to pass to the next grade. And if he does poorly it's not HIS fault, it's his teacher's fault... so he gets passed again. Until he graduates just as ignorant as he was when he started! [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Kelsi
Location: Hartman
on Sep 28, 2009 at 08:18 PM
i disagree, my school already has longer days and they dont need to be any longer. plus we start earlier in the year. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Becca
on Sep 28, 2009 at 07:47 PM
I agree with Saph. The teachers are worthless so what good will this do. My child is 11 and he hates the teachers and comes home and says they do nothing ,but collect a paycheck. I know why people home school their children. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Saph
Location: 7532ft
on Sep 28, 2009 at 04:29 PM
If spending more time in school = a better education, I'd be all for it. But too many of our teachers are useless, and/or too left-leaning to be of any good to our children. Obama favors longer hours more days in school...of course he does = more indoctrination into the Obama youth would result!!! [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Don
Location: Colorado Springs
on Sep 28, 2009 at 02:42 PM
If they are spending enough time in school why are we lacking behind the rest of the world? I say put them in school longer, and shorten the summer break. What would they really be missing ? Open on the weekends would be great too. They could use the resources for projects or participate in sports and elective classes on the weekends. [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: TK
Location: CS
on Sep 28, 2009 at 02:11 PM
I think it would be a good idea for Colorado since schools cancel whenever there are 2 inches of snow on the ground [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: D
Location: Falcon
on Sep 28, 2009 at 01:46 PM
This will solve nothing, this will only cause twice as many problems as there are now. The majority of schools have already adopted a modified year round schedule. I know for a fact that there are schools in our area that start the first week of August and get out in the last weeks of may. That leaves 2 months off. Both kids and adults needs those breaks. Thats why those schools that have already modified their schedule have adopted more time off during the school year such as Fall Break, Christmas, and Spring Break. Because the kids need a break. Plus the wanna be oh great one has never thought about the strain his idea would put on the economy. Schools are barely making it now. Having to eliminate classes due to budgets. His plan will also make it harder to find and retain quality teachers! [ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Sissy
Location: colo.springs
on Sep 28, 2009 at 01:36 PM
kids spend plenty of time in school now..unless they are playing hookie. they also have a lot of homework..from the kids I know...more family life is needed and time for sports. The weekends should be for families as well...it should be up to the school districts to determine the time the schools should be open. Stick with teaching the basics and music & P.E. and have sport activities and they will do fine..the government needs to back off...leave our kids alone. [ Report Abuse ] |
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i think this is rediculous this country is too competitive to realize what the cidisins really want
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I want my children to enjoy their childhood while still being educated. Time to teach substance instead of some of the unnecessary items being taught. If a carpenter works for 7 hours with no materials, nothing gets finished. If the same carpenter works for 12 hours with no materials, nothing gets done again. Why add school hours when we need to increase USEFUL material. Time to teach what is needed in the time alloted. Instead of increasing school hours, how about increasing jobs so these children can work for a living once they complete the education process?
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As one who spent over 15 years in education, I for one believe going back to at least a 180 day school day calendar would greatly improve the performance of today's student. Too many kids today know all there is to know about "techy" things but greatly lack common sense and critical thinking skills. God forbid these kids should have to try and function without calculators and ipods. Using the excuse that both parents work and thus need to schedule time off and vacations accordingly just doesn't, in my opinion, hold water. Let's go back to the time when school started right after Labor Day and ended the second or third week in June with minimal time off for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break.
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you know by the time your 25 and in a career, you have been working since you were 16 and already starting to feel burnt out. I dont want my kids feeling burnt out by the time they ar 18 and ready to begin a career
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I think making longer school days and shorter summer break will really burn the children out. My son is in Kindergarden and already goes a full day. He comes home and is just exhausted. I cant imagine longer days... I dont think it is a good idea.
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Headline , Nov 2012, "Obama loses election on longer school year" You Righties have your can't-fail issue.
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I would be ok with a longer school day if there wasn't any work coming home...which is kind of unrealistic because kids do need to learn good study habits through homework. By the time I pick up my kids from school (walking), give everyone a snack, help two kids with homework, make dinner, give baths, read to them and listen to them read, there is no time left for anything but sleeping. I can't imagine how this will work if they are coming home later. I am ok with a shorter summer. All summer, my kids wanted to be in school and when they are, they are not waiting for summer to get here. Later school days...it seems like the day doesn't have enough hours as it is. I don't know how I would adjust. My kids would probably suffer because the only thing to take the time away from is when they are sleeping. Tired, stressed out kids. Not good.
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it amazes me how little parents these days know about the education system. The reason Europe and countries over seas have higher test score is because they only select the smartest kids to test..in the US we test everyone..i have 6 weeks off during the school year and about a 7 week summer break. all the time my district spends trying to keep kids in school has not helped our test scores at all. So instead of keeping kids in school, longer school days and shorter summers are probably going to make kids give up on school even more.
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Fred must not have kids or has kids that are already in jail. Funny that you put all children in the category of hooligans, since you know every single child in the United States.
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This is absolutely absurd! Let's take away what little family time we have with our children, and put them in front of their teachers who already see them for 6-8 hours a day! And Obama preaches about how important family is? Yeah right... what other lies are you going to tell us? So, children get home around 6:30. Eats dinner and does their homework and immediately off to bed? Really? So they don't get time to talk to mom or dad? To play with their friends? To relax after 10 hours of school? And I guess we can forget about sports or other important life-building activites. Let's let our kids get lazy, obese, stressed, have no friends and not learn what teamwork is all about. Great plan Obama, what's next... try to get the Olympics here? Oh..wait.... FAIL!
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I think the only way to teach children is to make them go longer maybe even 6 days a week. Children today are wild hooligans
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I'm not sure why the idea that kids in European countries are in school longer than in the U.S. We are from the Czech Republic and there children below middle school age go to school from o8oo to 1200 or there abouts. I'm fairly sure this is the same in the rest of the Central and Eastern European countries. It's true that Summer holiday is only for two months but it seems the hours per year spent in school are less than in the U.S. We also had fairly long Christmas break and off for many state and religious days. My Czech and Slovak friends back home are actually amazed that small children here step onto a school bus at 0700 and arrive home again at 1630. This is unthinkable in Europe so please don't let the president or anyone else mislead you on this issue. Children don't need to be packed away from home most of their young lives in order to learn.
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This is insane, there is no way that kids should be going to school even longer. Alot of high school students have it much harder then regular adults. They have to work at school go to sports practices, work some more there. And then come home and study and work some more. Oh yeah, and they dont get paid for it. So some of them have jobs too, and get paid very low wages. So lets just make the lives of these learning kids even harder, and put even more pressure on them.
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It's a proven fact that children stop learning after 4 hours so how is putting them in school longer going to help them learn more. All that will do is make them more tired and overworked than they already are. I agree that our education system is far from great, but rather than over work our children why don't we have shorter days and longer school years.
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No, No, No. summer vacation is a good thing, for families, kids, economy, relaxation, all around. We are so overworked in this country, why make the kids start earlier than necessary already!
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