Comments on: Lengthen the School Year?

By: EscapeVelocity

EscapeVelocity — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:16:56 +0000

The consumers control the market through their decisions on winning ideas, business models, etc.

If that is fascism…count me in.

I don’t think there is a one size fits all solution. — Itoro

There isnt. Let millions of individual consumers decide for themselves. Not government or bureaucrats lording over the system.

By: dacookson

dacookson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:47:25 +0000

Fascism: Let The Market Decide

By: dacookson

dacookson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:45:24 +0000

I think your kids thought through their support for George Bush more than most Americans. Schooling needs so much reform it’s hard to know where to start…

By: ltoro1

ltoro1 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:58:46 +0000

sricher, I know how you feel. My overall opinion on this subject is that it is an issue best left to the localy elected school boards. While the concept of summer vacation is, for the most part, an anachronism, any changes will have a huge effect on both children and parents. I don’t think there is a one size fits all solution.

By: Lengthen the School Year and Sleep In : Mormon Metaphysics

Lengthen the School Year and Sleep In : Mormon Metaphysics — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:16:02 +0000

[...] post up at New Majority. The first is this: heed the scientific research about teenagers’ sleep patterns and reverse the [...]

By: sricher

sricher — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:14:40 +0000

“Adolescent brain”? I’m pretty sure I still don’t function at 7:20 AM.

By: Oneon1isto

Oneon1isto — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:39:56 +0000

Anyone read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell? There’s a massive amount of research that’s gone into why and how the summer vacation is actually hurting our kids, and one of the reasons they’re falling behind other countries and cultures.

Summer vacation serves to “reset” much of what our kids learn during the year, where there’s a laggard catch up period that has to happen once they’re back. Year round schooling (peppered with vacation times) serves the kids much better.

By: EscapeVelocity

EscapeVelocity — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:26:25 +0000

I support lengthening the school year.

However the Teachers Unions are virulently opposed to it.

Let the market decide, then the teachers can decide if they want to work or not.

Kill the Teachers Unions.

By: EscapeVelocity

EscapeVelocity — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:25:00 +0000

School Choice Funded StateWide with Vouchers that Follow the Child

Let the market decide.

By: JeninCT

JeninCT — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:09:33 +0000

The problem with the school year is that new material stops being taught mid-May, and then September is spent on review. I agree that several short breaks would be better than a long summer break. Kids have enough time off! The scout camps and other daycare programs will adapt and adjust because they are businesses.

It’s been my experience that while all the parents are crying about education, when the rubber hits the road most are more concerned about their kids’ social lives and extracurricular activities. In my district, math and science enrichment programs are poorly attended but the football, lacrosse and cheerleading programs are huge, with afterschool practices daily.