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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: Hodar

In Colorado, the summer break is 9 weeks, not 12 weeks. With break periods (fall, spring, winter), Colorado has 13 weeks off. However, teachers have very generous leave policies for personal days and sick days. I believe that teachers can even take vacation days during the regular teaching period. Recently, the mother of my daughter’s friend took a one week vacation. I was surprised because she is a first grade teacher. I do not think that the vacation was anything special like a wedding. She just took one week with her husband for a Mexican vacation.


61 posted on 09/29/2009 11:27:59 AM PDT by businessprofessor
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To: tioga

Three hours in my house. Including the three Rs, History, advanced Science, Catechism, Polish Dance and Latin.

Go figure


62 posted on 09/29/2009 11:30:11 AM PDT by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: Nachum
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

And guess who gets to pay for all that? Bad investment if you ask me.

The kids today can't write, read or do math worth a damn. Show me specifically how more school time will fix those problems.

Of course, more school time will mean more time to fill the young heads of mush (as Rush says :) with leftist doggerel. Now I think we're getting close to home.

63 posted on 09/29/2009 11:38:05 AM PDT by upchuck (New sign on my pickup: Are you a "Hope and Change" regretter?)
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To: Nachum

Is there *any* area of life that this weird-o will not stick his nose?


64 posted on 09/29/2009 11:47:14 AM PDT by Tax Government
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To: SoldierDad

“In time of national peril, it is your duty to serve, suffer, and work for the salvation of the country!”


65 posted on 09/29/2009 12:27:34 PM PDT by RWB Patriot ("Need has never produced anything. It has only been an excuse to steal from those with ablity.")
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To: RWB Patriot

Yes, it is. And, if need be, take up arms against a rogue government that is attempting to usurp the power of the people.


66 posted on 09/29/2009 12:38:47 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier whose wife is expecting twins SONS.)
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To: Nachum

He wants to eliminate summer Vacation Bible Schools.


67 posted on 09/29/2009 12:44:38 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
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To: Drew68

I adore every speck of time with My children, that’s why! Since when does everyone assume all parents would love the gov’t to raise their kids? I lived in Europe, trust me, they are no smarter. More money and more time does not equal more education, duh. And some parents actually adore their children, sorry to disappoint. Their birth certs still have my name on them.


68 posted on 09/29/2009 1:27:49 PM PDT by momincombatboots (The last experience of the sinner is the horrible enslavement of the freedom he desired. -C.S. Lewis)
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To: Nachum

We can’t afford the damned school taxes now let alone keeping them open and staffed year round.


69 posted on 09/29/2009 1:35:11 PM PDT by headstamp 2
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To: FrankR
And last - but not least - DISCIPLINE.

Reading, and writing and arithmetic, taught to the tune of a hickory stick.

Worked well when I started school in 1944.

70 posted on 09/29/2009 2:52:37 PM PDT by itsahoot (Each generation takes to excess, what the previous generation accepted in moderation.)
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To: Hodar

Its amazing, why are you not in line, for one of those jobs?


71 posted on 09/29/2009 2:54:40 PM PDT by itsahoot (Each generation takes to excess, what the previous generation accepted in moderation.)
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To: Alberta's Child
and extending the school year makes it easier to get more adults into the work force.

Which might make some sense in a climate where there are jobs available, but now?

the infowarrior

72 posted on 09/29/2009 3:56:44 PM PDT by infowarrior
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To: SoldierDad

Do you know where that quote came from?


73 posted on 09/29/2009 4:14:06 PM PDT by RWB Patriot ("Need has never produced anything. It has only been an excuse to steal from those with ablity.")
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To: tioga

You’re exactly right, at least until high school. That was my experience growing up homeschooled - and I was able to basically do the first eight years of school in six, as well, so we definitely weren’t missing anything.


74 posted on 09/29/2009 4:32:04 PM PDT by JenB
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To: Nachum

Thats the only reason he wants it. Because it will do even more damage to the economy. He could`nt care less about the kids.


75 posted on 09/29/2009 4:53:52 PM PDT by chessplayer
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To: Nachum

Obama and his minions are sure waking up a generation to the beauty of Marxism.


76 posted on 09/29/2009 6:20:27 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: RWB Patriot
I didn't - Taken from "The Hoffmann Report:

"It's a great responsibility," said Eugene Lawson, "to hold the decision of life or death over thousands of people and to sacrifice them when necessary, but we must have the courage to do it. In time of national peril, it is your duty to serve, suffer and work for the salvation of the country! You have to make certain sacrifices to the public welfare!" (pp. 870, 902) "For instance, in view of the desperate shortage of food, it has been suggested that it might become necessary to issue a directive ordering that every third one of all children under the age of ten and all adults over the age of sixty be put to death, to secure the survival of the rest..." (p. 1024) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Interesting reading.

77 posted on 09/29/2009 8:07:07 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier whose wife is expecting twins SONS.)
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To: Nachum

I don’t imagine the teachers unions are going to be too happy about this, nor those kids singing the dear leader’s praises in that video.


78 posted on 09/29/2009 8:16:13 PM PDT by ThomasSawyer (Democratic Underground: Proof that anyone can figure out how to use a computer.)
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To: itsahoot
Its amazing, why are you not in line, for one of those jobs?

Because I know how much I am worth, and chose to go into a profession that pays me that wage. I make more than a typical teacher, but I also have substancially greater risk (layoffs, plant closures, off-shoring, ect). In retrospect, maybe teaching would have been the way to go - no layoffs, huge vacations, tenure, no accountability, special retirement programs and almost free medical insurance.

79 posted on 09/30/2009 5:46:09 AM PDT by Hodar (Who needs laws .... when this "feels" so right?)
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