Students beware: The summer vacation you just enjoyed could be sharply curtailed if President Barack Obama gets his way. Obama says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe.

The president, who has a sixth-grader and a third-grader, wants schools to add time to classes, to stay open late and to let kids in on weekends so they have a safe place to go.

School until dinnertime? Summer school? And what about the idea that kids today are overscheduled and need more time to play?

Obama says kids in the United States need more school because kids in other nations have more school.

I have cousins in Italy and I was shocked to hear they go to school on Saturdays!

This is a tough call. I firmly believe in down time, socialization with friends outside of the school setting, and physical exercise... all as part of physical and mental health and development. But, there's no denying the reports that show the direct relation between additional curriculum and improved test scores. In the U.S., there are many examples of gains when time is added to the school day.

So, the questions become: Is there enough time in a day? And with the schools already battling with budget deficits, who would pay for the extended program? Would the added school time backfire as more and more students get burned out, drop out, lose interest, etc.?

 Comments (1)

Glen Reyes Munguia said:

This is very wrong Mr.President as a student at Semiridge high school in Florida I have to say that this sir is wrong what your trying or will do. Its bad enough that childen and teenages go to for 10 months. Even though that I'm a student and I go to school its a bad idea to do this. I understand that education is important but, we also love to relax from school and just hang out with friends. Yea, teenage and children are in danger at home or in the streets. We may play around in the classes but, you shouldn't give us students more school days. Some parents my like this idea but, some do want this. Another thing parents want to bond with there kids during Breaks. I mean if you give us more school days how will we ever get to know our mom's and dad's. And if we go to school more parents won't even get a chance to know there own child. I know if i was a parent I would be very out rage about this. there is enough time of the day if school do block schuldes. Which means,this can only work in middle and high school all over the country,one they do periods 1,3,5,7 on odd days and another even like periods 1,2,4,6,. period 1 should be taking every day. Each class should be 1 hour and 30 minutes in a class. Mr.President if you read this plase as a Student at my school please DON'T MAKE SCHOOL LONGER FOR US.

November 02, 2009 05:58 AM

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