Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

dy156 · 03-11-2004, 06:42 AM

My wife's an elementary school teacher, so I have some strong opinions on this.
Here's why having school 8-5 year-round school won't, or shouldn't, work:
1. Teachers Unions-which are an impediment to any real change, as mentioned above- but on this they have a valid point. Not all teachers teach a class, then teach that class again, and maybe get a couple of class periods where they don't teach. Some are on their feet the vast majority of the day, working with the same kids without a break except for 30 min. lunch and when they go to PE or music sometimes. That's a long time to be "on" and vigilant, and teachers are in short supply as it is. (I disagree, by the way, w/ the teachers unions' opposition to allowing peolple to teach without an education degree.)
2. Little kids don't need that much instruction. They need to play, and interact socially, and teachers and our school system should not be babysitters. Schools are for education.
3. Cost -covered by other posts
4. Summer vacations and afternoons provided me with some of my most fond memories of growing up, and I bet the same is true for many many people.
5. America's long working period is one of the reasons America is so productive, and where it is economically compared to other nations. American kids do alright adjusting to the real world as it is, without the benefit of schooling all day, every day, and there is no reason to change force them to adjust any earlier.

03-11-2004, 06:42 AM	#22 (permalink)
dy156 cookie Location: in the backwoods	My wife's an elementary school teacher, so I have some strong opinions on this. Here's why having school 8-5 year-round school won't, or shouldn't, work: 1. Teachers Unions-which are an impediment to any real change, as mentioned above- but on this they have a valid point. Not all teachers teach a class, then teach that class again, and maybe get a couple of class periods where they don't teach. Some are on their feet the vast majority of the day, working with the same kids without a break except for 30 min. lunch and when they go to PE or music sometimes. That's a long time to be "on" and vigilant, and teachers are in short supply as it is. (I disagree, by the way, w/ the teachers unions' opposition to allowing peolple to teach without an education degree.) 2. Little kids don't need that much instruction. They need to play, and interact socially, and teachers and our school system should not be babysitters. Schools are for education. 3. Cost -covered by other posts 4. Summer vacations and afternoons provided me with some of my most fond memories of growing up, and I bet the same is true for many many people. 5. America's long working period is one of the reasons America is so productive, and where it is economically compared to other nations. American kids do alright adjusting to the real world as it is, without the benefit of schooling all day, every day, and there is no reason to change force them to adjust any earlier.