| Sep 27 @ 5:24 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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Snappygoddess
Posts: 5,094
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If this subject has already been started in a thread, I apologize but I didn't see one.
Obama wants to extend school hours
I work in a public school and even though I work with special needs kids, I am around general ed kids too and I think the day is long enough for them as it is. Maybe extend school into the summer for a few weeks but I disagree with making the school day longer and I am sure many teachers would agree.
What say you?
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| Sep 27 @ 5:38 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,892
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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. Most scholos are lacking in sufficient funding today so where does the additional money come from for school bus drivers on weekends,gas,additional teacher pay and additional utilities?
School is for education and babysitting is for daycare.
In our area the local churches all got together and started a youth activity center for all the kids that have nothing to do between school letting out and their parents to get home from work.
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| Sep 27 @ 7:04 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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j_goose
Posts: 2,906
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I'm all for it. (provided they quit misappropriating funds like they have been for as long as I can remember) Our children are falling behind acedemically.
Did you know they are allowed to use calculators on their proficiency tests? Why they're using calculators for math in the first place I have no idea. (Guess the calculators help the school to get that "Excellent" rating.
And a 1.5 grade point average makes you eligible for sports. It's a joke.
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| Sep 27 @ 7:14 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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painter007
Posts: 17,853
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They can extend hours all they want...Doesnt guarantee that a child is going to do better academically. It starts at home.....Parents need to help their children learn. Be involved in their children(s) future...jmo
My sons were not allowed to use calculators in school...The teachers didnt like it, but they followed what I asked of them. It wasnt until they got into higher levels of math then it was ok....
And spell check? NO way I said they could use a dictionary....
My sons excelled in high school and are doing the same in college....BUT, I WAS very involved with helping them with homework.....jmo
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| Sep 27 @ 7:16 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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BandTMom
Posts: 38,041
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I don't agree on lengthening the school day. Kids need to be kids and have time for outdoors play and unfortunately physical education is pretty lacking in our schools.
I do, in a way, like the idea of a all year school. I know (at one time) some schools in Nevada had school for 3 months and then a four week break in between. Kids often forget a lot of what they are taught (or memorized) during the long summer break and I think that this would help this.
I also agree with Jankia as to funding since most of our schools are already in financial trouble as it is.
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| Sep 27 @ 7:18 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,892
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painter- BUT, I WAS very involved with helping them with homework.  Exactly why we shouldnt put more reliance on our schools and less on ourselves to teach our children.If only more would do the same.
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| Sep 27 @ 7:31 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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lacyvsq
Posts: 6,161
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One of the biggest problems with children excelling at school is that they do not get enough individual 'special' time with a 'teacher'. I am not posting here about the person in the front of the classroom of 20-30 children.
I know that I did well in school because long before I could read, my parents read to my siblings and me, and I learned about math and money from getting an allowance from the time I could remember being able to hold a dime...
I work in a program to tutor second graders. For four days a week, each child in the program sits for 30 minutes with an adult who gives him or her 100% attention. For two days a week, s/he is coached in math and for the other two days in reading. Most of the students are apartment-dwelling latch-key children and do not get that kind of time and attention at home. The school has become an A- rated school and the principal credits the volunteer program for the exemplary results.
These young minds need people who believe in their ability to excel and who convey that belief. More group time is not the answer. It only creates greater isolation from family.
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| Sep 27 @ 8:36 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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j_goose
Posts: 2,906
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The all year school is a good idea. And make 'em wear uniforms. Public schools near here are starting to do that. Kids need structure. At home, in school, everywhere.
And with uniforms, no one can be singled out for looking "weird" or "poor", they'd all look stupid. Then instead of worrying about their shoes, makeup, etc, they could focus on school and homework.
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| Sep 27 @ 8:42 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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SensualGemini
Posts: 6,867
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Snappy: I work in a public school and even though I work with special needs kids, I am around general ed kids too and I think the day is long enough for them as it is. Maybe extend school into the summer for a few weeks but I disagree with making the school day longer and I am sure many teachers would agree.
...From what I read of his proposal awhile back, he wanted to extend hours and lower the age, so that school's become even more of a daycare at the taxpayer expense.
...In some ways, especially the inner cities, this may prove to be a positive thing, as kids are not learning how to be productive adults from unproductive parents, but the one shoe fits all approach is not a viable plan.
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| Sep 27 @ 9:06 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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southernlass
Posts: 2,211
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I think President Obama's idea is a terrible one and one I hope will not catch on with the majority of the populace. I think we've already got enough stress on our children with TAKS testing, and expectations of them that border on the insane compared to thirty years ago. I don't think these expectations are helping our adults, much less will it help to turn our children into clones of their parents.
We already have parents working two jobs or more to make ends meet; this in itself is ridiculous. That parents would want to put their children through the same thing they are going through seems crazy to me. Who makes these rules? Who comes up with these ridiculous expectations for the citizens in our country and for the world anyway?
This is not what life is supposed to entail, in my opinion. We have lost the true importance of the meaning of life and no longer have time to spend with our children or ourselves. We are so busy within the rat race we've allowed government (apparently) to create and become, that we run incessantly day in and day out like hamsters on a wheel. When the wheel stops, we've become so conditioned that we're lost.
Our society has become a society of workaholics and who is benefitting from it? Our children are not benefitting, imo. This is just a way to make the school play daycare, while parents spend all of their parenting time away from their children chasing the all mighty dollar, so that we can give it all to the government anyway. It's a very bad idea and home schooling is beginning to look better and better to me all the time. I enjoy time with my daughter and President Obama is not going to take that from me.
[Edited on 9/27/2009 9:10 PM]
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| Sep 27 @ 9:09 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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Loreli
Posts: 25,398
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If parents will be at work anyway, and there is PE, music or art -I say so what?
Better there than on the street (for some) when parents aren't home.
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| Sep 27 @ 9:10 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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lacyvsq
Posts: 6,161
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This is not what life is supposed to entail, in my opinion. We have lost the true importance of the meaning of life and no longer have time to spend with our children or ourselves. We are so busy within the rat race we've allowed government (apparently) to create and become, that we run incessantly day in and day out like hamsters on a wheel. When the wheel stops, we've become so conditioned that we're lost.
...worth repeating!
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| Sep 27 @ 9:31 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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gunn12fan
Posts: 2,317
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I say go for it!!! It would keep the kids out of trouble and make them actually learn something
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| Sep 27 @ 9:43 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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SensualGemini
Posts: 6,867
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Southern: I think President Obama's idea is a terrible one and one I hope will not catch on with the majority of the populace. I think we've already got enough stress on our children with TAKS testing, and expectations of them that border on the insane compared to thirty years ago
...Yet, the US has and continues to drop at the international level for education.
...For some reason, our public school system and the no child left behind have proven to be total failures for where they were intended to prosper, as no matter what government does, it is the mentor, the role model that defines the outcome of the formative child.
...Schools were not intended to become the role model, but rather the introduction to education that has to continue and be expected at home as well. Is it no wonder, that by far the majority, uneducated people raise uneducated children as not seeing the importance of same?
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Southern: I don't think these expectations are helping our adults, much less will it help to turn our children into clones of their parents.
...For many, the concept is to not create clones of their unproductive parents within an already overtaxed society.
...I admit, I have no idea what expectations you are talking about, but from the results, I could agree that the expectations are not working, or not being met by the fact that America continues to dumb down on an international level.
...Now, whether it is the expectations, or the lack of home enforcement of these expectations, is another concept.
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Southern: We already have parents working two jobs or more to make ends meet; this in itself is ridiculous. That parents would want to put their children through the same thing they are going through seems crazy to me. Who makes these rules? Who comes up with these ridiculous expectations for the citizens in our country and for the world anyway?
...In this case, I think the concept is to keep the kids in a productive environment, rather than the growing "Latch Key" kids, or otherwise without supervision.
...In the case of Welfare, it relieves the government from paying for child care after school, for those trying to improve their lives, while the same from the pockets of non-Welfare recipients.
...Like I said, it is not a one shoe fits all approach.
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Southern: This is not what life is supposed to entail, in my opinion. We have lost the true importance of the meaning of life and no longer have time to spend with our children or ourselves. We are so busy within the rat race we've allowed government (apparently) to create and become, that we run incessantly day in and day out like hamsters on a wheel. When the wheel stops, we've become so conditioned that we're lost.
...For a fact, two people can live a lot more economically together, than one affording each household. Being a single parent is a lot more difficult than being in a two income family, or one making at least 1-1/2 income, while the Mother stays home with the children.
...As society diminishes morally, so have family values as a direct result of our divorce rate, among many other issues.
...I agree with the home schooling in many areas, but eventually, the child does have to enter society.
...This is possible and in some states, such as Colorado, where the population density is very low, children do stay home and learn from satellite classrooms. The school system provides the connection, the computer and comes by often enough to check on progress, while physical education and socialization are resolved through mandated times at the local YMCA, etc., for which they run the bus to pick up and deliver.
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| Sep 27 @ 9:51 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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Loreli
Posts: 25,398
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.
[Edited on 9/27/2009 10:05 PM]
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| Sep 27 @ 10:04 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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Snappygoddess
Posts: 5,094
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I agree with Painter.. education starts at home with the parents. Working in the school environment, I see kids every day that are "tuned out" after the first half of the day.. it takes truly dedicated teachers to keep kids involved in wanting to learn all day long.. extending school hours is not going to help IMO.
And it's true" it is not a one shoe fits all approach" and neither is keeping the kids in school longer the answer to keeping them "out of trouble". I would go for less of a summer(even though that means less of one for me also) rather then taking away a childs play time out of the classroom 5 days a week.
It really is starting to feel more like daycare then school... classrooms are all overflowing and there are not enough good teachers and staff to give enough quality time to students individually, even once a day. I have no idea how they propose to pay teachers/staff for extra school time as schools are struggling now financially. 
I do not understand the Presidents logic on this one at all 
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| Sep 27 @ 10:43 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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Jankia
Posts: 11,892
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Obama and Duncan say kids in the United States need more school because kids in other nations have more school.
If kids in other nations are scoring better in math and sciences we obviously need to pay more attention in teaching those subjects.
Maybe we dont need more schooling...but better.
Nearly 80% of highschool graduates want to attend college but only 60% actually do.
So...if 40% of our kids dont get a further education we shouldnt make math and science courses like geometry and biology mandatory highschool courses.
Anyone interested in a further education is advised to not miss those courses.
Anyone not is advised to take more technical courses instead to make better use of the time spent in highschool.
We need to make better use of the time kids allready spend in school not more time just spending it.
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| Sep 27 @ 10:52 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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SensualGemini
Posts: 6,867
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Snappy: I have no idea how they propose to pay teachers/staff for extra school time as schools are struggling now financially.
...The same way most corporations do with salaried employees. Does the job description say how many hours, what days, or what months they are to work? Or if so, threaten with going full time, all year, unless they will work 8 or 9 hours each day on the job. From 8 to 6, with an hour lunch, is a 9 hour day. Or, as some school districts have done, tell them they are going broke and if they don't pitch in, they will not have a job and then lay off a few, etc.
...I don't think the teachers are going to get much of a "bonus" out of this deal and they need to be watching Obama, as he was right at the center of emptying $10 Billion out the teacher's retirement pension in Illinois and replacing with IOU's.
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| Sep 27 @ 11:56 PM |
Obama wants to extend school hours
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legacy1
Posts: 668
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With some of the answers here and on other forums this was posted...I see why now we get our ass kicked in test scores in area's such as math-(Calculators) and science.Let's just keep it the old status quo...
One guy even had the stones to say on another forum f*** that...when is my kid going to be allowed to play football let alone practice? What priorities... 
I agree with one poster that our weakness's should be made into our strengths...put more effort into the classes where our kids are testing the worse...
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| Sep 28 @ 12:39 AM |
Obama wants to extend school hours |
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southernlass
Posts: 2,211
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With some of the answers here and on other forums this was posted...I see why now we get our ass kicked in test scores in area's such as math-(Calculators) and science.Let's just keep it the old status quo...
One guy even had the stones to say on another forum f*** that...when is my kid going to be allowed to play football let alone practice? What priorities...
I agree with one poster that our weakness's should be made into our strengths...put more effort into the classes where our kids are testing the worse...
I suppose that depends what an individual considers "our strengths" to be.
Personally, I am far more concerned about rasing mentally and emotionally healthy children than I am raising brilliant little antisocial "competitors" with foreign nations.
Children who spend little to no time with their parents do not bond with their parents. There are countless examples from songs like "Cats in the cradle," to poetry, to essays written about parents that are "too busy" to spend time with their children and the end result of this.
I believe our society overall has lost its way and has its priorities upside down. We no longer value the simple things in life. We are all about competition and demanding more and more productivity from the populace, while we attempt to make everything easier and more disposable for everyone. We are told that this is "good."
We don't need to further this mind set along. It's doing damage to our bodies, our spirits, and most of all it's doing damage to our children. There are no more family values, and little enough family time. Parents are strung out, stressed out, and ever more and more destitute financially, despite working two jobs or at least one full time job. And now we want to teach our children to behave similarly, to follow in our footsteps!
President Obama is wrong about this and there should be an outcry and an attempt to stop him from putting this insane plan into action. If we don't take back our right to a life, no one else will. At the very least, our children deserve a life, a more simple, healthier life that is rapidly disappearing amidst the greed, the corruption, and the ever seeking more and more and more; unfortunately MORE will never be enough.
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