Should the school year be longer??

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

The POTUS has announced that he wants the schools in the US to run longer. He feels that this would enhance student learning. The problem is, is that he wants it to run barely a month longer (17 days).

Obama presses for longer school years

Will 17 days really help teach children more? Will it really help a student to remember things better?

Then there is the cost of running each school in the US an extra month. And the cost of teachers' salaries for an extra month. Plus the fact that if the public schools extend their school time by a month, it may be required that all PRIVATE schools extend their curricula by one month. That would, in turn, would cost parents more to send their children to school.

Doesn't sound like too good of an idea to me. But maybe I'm missing the point..

[Dr. Shane]

Teachers are paid by the year, not by the hour, day, week, month, etc. Increasing the school year would not necessarily mean increasing teachers' salaries. I am sure the teacher unions would argue for that.

I don't think a longer school year is the answer to our problems. Parental involvement is the key to improving our schools. I don't know how we get there but that is where we need to go.

[Woody]

You make some good points Rudywoofs.

Coming from POTUS Obama ... it does not surprise me.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Teachers are paid by the year, not by the hour, day, week, month, etc. Increasing the school year would not necessarily mean increasing teachers' salaries. I am sure the teacher unions would argue for that.

I don't think a longer school year is the answer to our problems. Parental involvement is the key to improving our schools. I don't know how we get there but that is where we need to go.

Teachers are paid for 9 months of teaching. They have the option to have their salaries paid out over a full year, or taking more during the 9 months. My father was a public high school teacher for many years, so I *do* know what I'm talking about. If the school year was lengthened, the teachers would get a hike in their pay...as they rightly should.

[Dr. Shane]

If lengthening the school year means paying teachers more, it will mean a major tax increase. Teachers salaries are the biggest expense of a school district and are paid by local property taxes. If Obama lengthens the school year, thus forcing local communities to increase taxes, Republicans will use it to paint him as another tax-and-spend liberal.

[bonnie]

If lengthening the school year means paying teachers more, it will mean a major tax increase. Teachers salaries are the biggest expense of a school district and are paid by local property taxes. If Obama lengthens the school year, thus forcing local communities to increase taxes, Republicans will use it to paint him as another tax-and-spend liberal.

Maybe they should just concentrate on teaching. As long as they spend the time on "Heather Having Two Mommies" "divirsity" and"letting children that fail go on to next grade" and everyhing else they try to cram down the kids,nothing will change. Here high school "graduates" are given 3 times to take the math test.If they fail the 3rd time it is understood the test is to hard and on they go to graduation.

Reading comprehension and writing they get two cracks at it.

The concern over the "loss of self esteem" is given as the reason for this kind of idiocy.

Maybe try a little discipline and consequences for the behavior the student chooses.

If the student is a bully and cannot be controlled I would be all for the parents having to pay a very stiff fine.