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Extended School Year Would Have Dire Economic Effects, Critics Say
Fox News ^ | 9/29/09 | Cristina Corbin

Posted on 09/29/2009 10:00:08 AM PDT by Nachum

If the academic year gets pushed deeper into summer, as President Obama is advocating, the grumbling will not be limited just to students and teachers who will be forced to spend more days in school.

Critics say the president's call for a longer academic calendar and a shorter summer vacation will bring on a host of unintended consequences -- including increased costs for school systems, major cuts to the nation's hotel and tourism industries, and a serious blow to summer camp operators.

Obama says kids in the U.S. spend too little time in the classroom, putting them at a disadvantage when competing with students in other countries. The president has suggested that making school days longer and extending the school year will increase learning, raise test scores and close the achievement gap.

But while Obama's proposal is meant to improve education, critics say a curtailed summer vacation will have a dire economic impact on school systems, which could be forced to retrofit their schools for air conditioning, pay overtime to teachers and incur higher utility costs

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: agenda; bho44; bhofascism; democrats; economic; economy; education; extended; fubo; indoctrination; publiceducation; publicschools; school; unemployment; year
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To: Nachum

The extended school year would have great economic, social benefit for a nation of free people IF the students would actually learn more history, math, science, geography, English, etc. They should learn about triple what they presently learn — and they could do that since they don’t learn much now.


41 posted on 09/29/2009 10:24:32 AM PDT by Aroostook25
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To: wombtotomb
While quality is most assuredly a huge problem, the long summer break is as well. Most of the first semester each year is spent remembering all the stuff they need from last year to move forward. I think it would be a much better system to get 2 weeks or so off every quarter and let them go year round. It is my preferred method for homeschooling as well.

I was raised in a year-round school system comprised of three "tracks" with each track having two short breaks a year (vice one long one) and everyone getting the various holidays off. I thought it was wonderful! It kept classes small and teachers employed year round. It also made it easier for high school kids to find jobs as there were always young people available for employment during the weekdays.

After I graduated, my school district returned to the traditional model. I never understood why. Year-round seemed to have so many advantages.

42 posted on 09/29/2009 10:24:40 AM PDT by Drew68
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To: tioga; All

any homeschooling moms out there? I always figured that without all the “extra” stuff kids get that a home-schooled kid could be done before noon each day with all his class work complete. how far off am I?


43 posted on 09/29/2009 10:24:52 AM PDT by tioga (Drip, Drip, Drip.........the ACORNS are falling.)
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To: Nachum
Obama says kids in the U.S. spend too little time in the classroom, putting them at a disadvantage when competing with students in other countries. The president has suggested that making school days longer and extending the school year will increase learning, raise test scores and close the achievement gap.

Hey, Obama, you friggin moron! Private schools, charter schools, and home schools don't have any problem at all "competing with" students in other countries. So your answer is to make kids spend even more time in school, especially those sh--hole schools that your buddy, Arnie Duncan, was in charge of in Chicago where good students are bludgeoned to death for refusing to join gangs? Go back to Indonesia or Kenya and leave us in peace.
44 posted on 09/29/2009 10:27:45 AM PDT by aruanan
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To: Nachum

bump


45 posted on 09/29/2009 10:35:28 AM PDT by VOA
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To: manic4organic

“More time to indoctrinate.”

Nah! Our President must be planning to use that extra month to round out the kiddie’s education by adding math, science, reading, and history to their curriculum.


46 posted on 09/29/2009 10:35:55 AM PDT by haroldeveryman
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To: tioga
You aren't very far off. And in the extra hours, the kids get extras that public educated kids don't get - cooking, trips to the zoo, museums, etc. In many districts, the homeschooled kids may participate in school district sports too.

Gosh, when I was in high school (many moons ago) I went to school from 8:10 until 12:20 and had my 4 majors, 2 periods of PE, 1 health and a 2 period elective in that time.

47 posted on 09/29/2009 10:37:15 AM PDT by Abby4116
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To: Nachum

The problem isn’t that the school year is long enough. The problem is that nothing is being taught during those nine months.


48 posted on 09/29/2009 10:39:39 AM PDT by ksm1
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To: Nachum
Obama says kids in the U.S. spend too little time in the classroom, putting them at a disadvantage when competing with students in other countries.

Hmmmm...somewhat true. Japan and Europe's children do spend 230, 210 days, respectively, in school versus our 180 days....BUT the Obama statement above should correctly state...

kids in the U.S. spend too little of their time in the classroom on basic/advanced academic skills...

49 posted on 09/29/2009 10:41:37 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen ("All that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.")
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To: Nachum

More time with the kids to brainwash them


50 posted on 09/29/2009 10:43:13 AM PDT by Diggity
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To: Nachum

picture Epcot as a giant parking lot....

(will no longer take hanging chads to finish off a Democrat in Florida!)


51 posted on 09/29/2009 10:46:10 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Nachum

Think of how much transportation costs will increase, mileage and fuel? PLUS, Obama is talking about having schools open on the weekend and you know those poor people can’t be left out so we will have to cart them to school on the weekends AND feed them...


52 posted on 09/29/2009 10:47:29 AM PDT by autumnraine (You can't fix stupid, but you can vote it out!)
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To: pnh102
How come schools used to be able to do the job with just 180ish days a year of instruction?

Social engineering, diversity/tolerance/environmental (green)/NEA/liberal agenda classes take up much of the school hours/days that used to be utilized in the olden days of " to do the job with just 180ish days a year of instruction? ".

53 posted on 09/29/2009 10:52:14 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen ("All that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.")
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To: FrankR

I guess this is why there are so many “Reality” shows now on TV. Everyone wants their 15 minutes in the spotlight, since Hippie Mom & Dad didn’t do it in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I’m glad I was born in 63. Both my Parents were able to teach my Brother and I some values that we still use. But with today’s kids? Fugettaboutit!


54 posted on 09/29/2009 11:05:34 AM PDT by shredderman (Living in a Blue State, with a Blue Wife, But I'm Red to the bone.....)
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To: Nachum

Less time together as families and more time to indoctrinate the kids. Now I guess it takes a whole SCHOOL SYSTEM to raise a child.


55 posted on 09/29/2009 11:05:46 AM PDT by Wisconsinlady
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To: pnh102

“How come schools used to be able to do the job with just 180ish days a year of instruction?”

It wasn’t 180 days per year, but a lower number.

There ar a number of syllabi available that are from the early 1900s and late 1800s and you would swear that they were college syllabi.


56 posted on 09/29/2009 11:07:58 AM PDT by texmexis best
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To: Nachum

This is to keep children away from their parents. The last thing Zero wants is educated children. More like indoctrinated.


57 posted on 09/29/2009 11:18:53 AM PDT by Marty62 (former Marty60)
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To: Nachum

This kills me.
My girls DO work all summer because that works for us.

However, they do actual schoolwork about 3 hours a day AND we take off when we want. A week here or days there for vacations and appointments.

It works for us. But geez 7 hours a day in school and how many hours of homework? This is nuts.


58 posted on 09/29/2009 11:22:23 AM PDT by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: Nachum

Obama says obama want..... who cares what he says? When are people going to grow a set and just say NO, HELL NO! Sheesh, no wonder he acts like a dictator. He has such willing subjects.


59 posted on 09/29/2009 11:23:26 AM PDT by mojitojoe (Socialism is just the last “feel good” step on the path to Communism and its slavery. Lenin)
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To: Nachum

Obama says obama wants..... who cares what he says? When are people going to grow a set and just say NO, HELL NO! Sheesh, no wonder he acts like a dictator. He has such willing subjects.


60 posted on 09/29/2009 11:23:58 AM PDT by mojitojoe (Socialism is just the last “feel good” step on the path to Communism and its slavery. Lenin)
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