School Daze

" To the story -- your kids are probably going to hate what do you think about it. If the new education secretary has his way the school year in this country could become the longer -- a lot longer Arnie Duncan. His American schools should be open at least six days a week maybe seven and at least eleven months a year maybe all year long. He says we must do it to compete with countries like India and China. Well boy with us now the author of reclaiming childhood William crane and might -- Charlie is here to -- he's an education expert with the Thomas B Fordham institute. I'll -- first US flooded the site you to some parents -- and their reaction was unanimous. There is no time in the day for my kids to handle more work they're overloaded as it is now."

" Yes and the fact that the kids will -- should be taken very seriously because is this going to add to that drudgery of school. Test driven school. As it exists right now. And their emotions are very important if we really -- improve education what we need to do is to make it more exciting and meaningful for children. It is learning is is is driven by. Children's enthusiasm for learning when they get excited and they get absorbed in tasks they throw themselves into it that's when their minds expand. And and that's when in the intellect develops. Just adding more time is going to make them hate schools can turn them off to learning even further. In and it's really -- bad ideas very counterproductive."

" Is -- proof that it even works to have them in the classroom more and I -- it teachers more. Well there is some proof that it can work -- willing -- that we can't just add more time. But there are some programs particularly focused on poor children -- tend to be. Many years behind that if you provide extra time it means that they can catch up and also have the time to do things like. History and science and art music. Gym class if you don't have extra time what ends up happening is that you're trying to catch students up and you give them more time for reading more time for math. If you cut out everything else and then school does become nothing but surgery. You have extra time you don't face that same problem -- though we've seen -- particularly in the last several months some school districts considering going to a four day week because of the financial cost of it mean to sound like the -- major burden. Well that that is definitely true is that our schools are under incredible stress right now financially. So if we wanted to extend the school day in school year which makes sense especially for kids who are behind. We're going to have to make some decisions there's a great school called the knowledge is power program called -- it's got about fifteen charter schools around country. They have a longer school day they go six days a week. They -- until 5 PM they go almost year round. But they have. In return have to give up some things they don't have class sizes that might be a little bit larger for example so they don't need. As many teachers but they have found incredible results when they're able to spend more time learning. And make sure that -- students get all kinds of enrichment activities the kind of things that think William would support -- how quickly Ellington actually seconds left left but does secretary -- the Seattle points -- keep up at the rate we're going if India and China have their kids are so far ahead."

" Well there's an example of Finland where they have very. Relatively short school days lots of recess slots and recreation and and they -- them they have the leader. But in the to the international test scores if that's what your goal is test scores themselves. Did not measure many things that are very important like creativity like empathy. Like there an ability to think for oneself. This obsession the test scores is what the the secretary is aiming at is itself misdirected. We we have to. Take -- sick care for our children and can care about their feelings childhood as a special time. We want them to be enthusiastic about learning we want them to be happy -- children let's not just. Add to their -- and make life miserable for them. Some programs may be helpful but. As Mike says. If you're gonna add any time at all let's make sure that children are having a happy enjoyable positive experience and school."

" Blame crane might -- we're gonna actually it -- thanks a vote thank you. Whether -- and class participation now some kids in Massachusetts will also be graded on their weight. Believe it or not schools across state will soon -- students in the first fourth seventh and tenth grades. And calculate their body mass index. Parents will also get the information but the public health commissioner says it's all part of the State's battle against obesity. Arming parents with information and tips to keep their kids -- in shape but the commissioner says parents can opt out if they choose to. We continue --"