Saturday, February 28, 2009

Longer school days, weeks, and years coming?

Education chief favors longer school days, weeks and years

"It doesn't matter how poor, how tough the family background, socioeconomic challenges," Duncan said. "Where students have longer days, longer weeks, longer years -- that's making a difference."

Do you agree?

This reminds me of the documentary 2 Million Minutes.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Absolutely not.

It's not the time spent in school that makes a difference. It's the methods that teach the subjects that do.

Too many teachers try teaching just one way, and when students don't get it, they say longer school days/weeks/years are needed? What's the point of making them stay in school longer if the school can't reach the child?

More diverse teaching methods are the answer to education problems today.

Duez said...

Although I appreciate you comment, I have to disagree. Have you seen 2 Million Minutes?

http://www.2mminutes.com/

We are living in a global economy. The kids in India and China go to school much longer, are learning more, and are learning at a deeper level.

I am not saying that kids need to go to school for 12 hours a day for 7 days a week. But, many schools are creating a more variable schedule to accommodate more classes, more students and more learning.

It is inevitable that we will have major changes to the school day, week and year. Or else we will lose the battle for jobs in the next 50 years.