http://scooptoo.com/posts/two-cents-will-more-school-make-us-smarter.html Two Moms Giving You The Scoop on an Elementary School Quest Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:06:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://scooptoo.com/posts/two-cents-will-more-school-make-us-smarter.html/comment-page-1#comment-1049 Joe Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:28:35 +0000 http://scooptoo.com/?p=878#comment-1049 It is interesting to consider the evolution of schools in America. At first they were an adjunct to instruction at home and voluntary. Along the way, they became mandatory, publicly funded, required to serve nutritious meals daily, required to dispense health care, and much, much more. Teachers became surrogate parents in some cases, mandatory reporters of child abuse, and school became childcare for families with two working parents. But the yearly calendar was designed for an agrarian society. I think it needs updating. Exactly what the update looks like should be tailored to what we need today. Some parents relish the thought of a longer winter vacation, while others cringe. If our ultimate goal is what is best for our children, then it makes sense to have a shorter summer break and maybe a little bit more break built in at other times of the year. As for the school day, I think lengthening it to allow for more arts and recreation that have been cut out of many schools would be a good use of time. However, lengthening the day so we can drill math facts and phonics would have diminishing returns for most kids. The majority learn best in smaller chunks that are reinforced repeatedly, not in longer learning sessions. I wouldn't mind my kid staying longer at school if the motives were more holistic and not just to provide more core subject time. It is interesting to consider the evolution of schools in America. At first they were an adjunct to instruction at home and voluntary. Along the way, they became mandatory, publicly funded, required to serve nutritious meals daily, required to dispense health care, and much, much more. Teachers became surrogate parents in some cases, mandatory reporters of child abuse, and school became childcare for families with two working parents. But the yearly calendar was designed for an agrarian society. I think it needs updating. Exactly what the update looks like should be tailored to what we need today. Some parents relish the thought of a longer winter vacation, while others cringe. If our ultimate goal is what is best for our children, then it makes sense to have a shorter summer break and maybe a little bit more break built in at other times of the year. As for the school day, I think lengthening it to allow for more arts and recreation that have been cut out of many schools would be a good use of time. However, lengthening the day so we can drill math facts and phonics would have diminishing returns for most kids. The majority learn best in smaller chunks that are reinforced repeatedly, not in longer learning sessions. I wouldn’t mind my kid staying longer at school if the motives were more holistic and not just to provide more core subject time.

]]> http://scooptoo.com/posts/two-cents-will-more-school-make-us-smarter.html/comment-page-1#comment-90 Kathy Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:43:59 +0000 http://scooptoo.com/?p=878#comment-90 I like this entry. You both make good points. It's scary how much work kids are expected to do, and parents too, helping with homework and projects. Growing up I felt like our schools were good and we had time for outside activities. I wonder if the US is getting "worse" or if other countries are getting better academically.. Interesting food for thought. Thanks for sharing this! Kathy I like this entry. You both make good points. It’s scary how much work kids are expected to do, and parents too, helping with homework and projects. Growing up I felt like our schools were good and we had time for outside activities. I wonder if the US is getting “worse” or if other countries are getting better academically.. Interesting food for thought. Thanks for sharing this!
Kathy

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