Should the School Day Be Longer?

By U.S. News Staff

April 27, 2009 RSS Feed Print

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Proponents of more class time for America's youth say this would help close achievment gaps by giving teachers more time with all students. Opponents argue that more time in mediocre or lousy schools does not necessarily mean better outcomes. Should the school day be longer?
Edited by Steve St. Angelo

Yes

Should American students go to school for more time, less time, or the same amount of time as

Christopher Gabrieli is chairman of the National Center on Time and Learning and coauthor of the book Time to Learn.

they have for most of the past century? The answer is that they should go to school for the time needed to gain the core academic skills and well-rounded education necessary to thrive as individuals and to succeed in today's complex society and high-skills economy.

Students need enough time to learn to read and write well and to handle math comfortably. But they also need time to master science...

No

More money. More teachers. More time. The oldest recipe for school improvement is "more."

Frederick M. Hess is director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute and author of Tough Love for Schools.

Popular today is the push to extend the school day. With champions like Sen. Edward Kennedy, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and President Obama, advocates are ready to spend whatever it takes to add more time to the school day. The president recently declared that "the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom."

"More" is a winning political strategy....

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If school days were longer then students won't have any time for studying at home. If you were in exams and you couldn't study at home then you could get a bad grade.No. School days shouldn't be longer.

Elizabeth 8:17AM February 16, 2012

I think there should be differentiation of students with respect to this question. Students who are failing (often because they've chosen to waste the time they're given during the existing school day) should be required to attend for extra hours until they can prove competence in fulfilling school and state requirements. This type of a plan would serve as a positive reinforcer for students who had effective study habits, and a negative reinforcer for those who did not. As it is now, failing students just attend summer school for their rubber stamp up to the next grade. This type of remediation is useless as it is too far separated from the failing behavior that necessitated the action. Students should be monitored at regular intervals, and required to spend more time in an after school program when they are failing. Also, districts need to require teachers to get rid of busy work grades and assess on substantial criteria so parents, districts and the government have a truthful idea of how our students are really performing. Take away the excuses, measure in some significant consequences, and watch the achievement statistics rise.

JMO of KS 10:58PM September 02, 2011

I am going into junior year, and this summer I have already had to read 4 chapters of AP Biology (and complete around 32 pages of worksheets related to those chapters), complete over 15 pages of math problems, read and annotate two novels, and write 6 "mini" essays in MLA format. I am also in marching band (which practices during the summer, 2-3 times a week until now, when we practice every day), a summer voice class, I have a job, and I'm traveling to europe for a church mission trip. THIS IS SUMMER! Can you imagine my life during the school year? Right now I am managing to squeeze in one or two hours of TRUE relaxation time, during the school season, I lose that. My relaxation time turns into the few hours I sleep at night.
Some say I take on too much, that it's my fault I have this schedule. Well, to get into a good college, I have to have a competitive transcript. I have to do these extras to get scholarships, to get into the National Honor Society. Society is already pressuring us students sooo much, now they want to add school classes year round? All those tests, loads of homework. Fighting to fit extra-curriculars, work, community service, and my family's other events and activites all around a normal 7 hour, 5 days a week school season?
Why do ADULTS get to make this choice? They've already completed school! Sorry Mr.President, and all the politicians, but you need to come to US, the students, and the teachers who already don't get paid enough: you have to come to US and ask if we are willing to give up what few summer benefits we have.
Instead of looking at students' statistics and seeing the BAD, look again and see the GOOD. See how many students cram extra into their schedules, who work and go to school, who give up tv, computers, and free-time with friends to do advanced-level homework and study to keep their grades up. Be proud of what has already been accomplished, and realize that maybe the amount of time spent in school isn't always the reason statistics have a bad side. Then reconsider whether or not the United States should have full-round school.

Lizzie of MI 5:46PM August 04, 2011

Should the School Day Be Longer?

Yes

No

Should the school day be longer?

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