Comments on: How Long Should the School Day Be? http://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/2007/02/how-long-should-the-school-day-be/ Work at Home in Progress Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:37:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stephaniehttp://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/2007/02/how-long-should-the-school-day-be/comment-page-1/#comment-296 Stephanie Tue, 27 Feb 2007 04:14:32 +0000 http://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/2007/02/26/how-long-should-the-school-day-be/#comment-296 You and I have very similar fears. But it should be interesting to see how this all goes. As I said, I would want some controls to ensure more enrichment time, in the hope that it will keep at least a part of school more interesting.And like anyone else, I want to know where the money will come from. You and I have very similar fears. But it should be interesting to see how this all goes. As I said, I would want some controls to ensure more enrichment time, in the hope that it will keep at least a part of school more interesting.

And like anyone else, I want to know where the money will come from.

]]> By: Melonie K. (SmallBizMentor.com)http://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/2007/02/how-long-should-the-school-day-be/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Melonie K. (SmallBizMentor.com) Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:26:27 +0000 http://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/2007/02/26/how-long-should-the-school-day-be/#comment-295 My concern here is that while some districts would use this as an opportunity to provide enrichment, others would use it to push the academics as you mentioned. And while all too many parents consider the public schools to be the providers of their child care while they are at work, many families are already talking about being overscheduled and lacking quality OR quantity time as a family due to the length of the school day plus any sports or other extracurricular activities. Lastly, as a homeschooler, my fear is that administrators would use the "need" for longer school days and higher teacher wages (and who shouldn't get paid more to work more?) as an attempt to raise income in a district by claiming that a longer day will equal "more learning". As many children have proven for generations, attendance can be mandatory...learning cannot be. Kids who are having issues in school because they aren't getting one on one tutoring or because they daydream are still probably going to daydream or miss out on individual lessons if the focus is on enrichment such as art, recess, etc. Every day families who begin homeschooling after school attendance learn that smaller teacher to student ratios (anywhere from Mom to one child up to mom and older kids working with each other and younger kids) can accomplish just as much, if not more, in less time, because there are fewer admin tasks (roll taking, forming lines, disciplining a group of gigglers, etc) at home than in class. Is the idea worth considering? Yes. Will it be a perfect solution? I fear not. My concern here is that while some districts would use this as an opportunity to provide enrichment, others would use it to push the academics as you mentioned. And while all too many parents consider the public schools to be the providers of their child care while they are at work, many families are already talking about being overscheduled and lacking quality OR quantity time as a family due to the length of the school day plus any sports or other extracurricular activities.
Lastly, as a homeschooler, my fear is that administrators would use the “need” for longer school days and higher teacher wages (and who shouldn’t get paid more to work more?) as an attempt to raise income in a district by claiming that a longer day will equal “more learning”. As many children have proven for generations, attendance can be mandatory…learning cannot be. Kids who are having issues in school because they aren’t getting one on one tutoring or because they daydream are still probably going to daydream or miss out on individual lessons if the focus is on enrichment such as art, recess, etc. Every day families who begin homeschooling after school attendance learn that smaller teacher to student ratios (anywhere from Mom to one child up to mom and older kids working with each other and younger kids) can accomplish just as much, if not more, in less time, because there are fewer admin tasks (roll taking, forming lines, disciplining a group of gigglers, etc) at home than in class.
Is the idea worth considering? Yes. Will it be a perfect solution? I fear not.

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