Comments on: Obama: “President Poopy-head”? http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/obama-versus-alice-cooper/ a view from mid-America Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:16:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Mid-Riffs » Blog Archive » Why lengthen the school day? After school programs are more cost effective! http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/obama-versus-alice-cooper/comment-page-1/#comment-746 Mid-Riffs » Blog Archive » Why lengthen the school day? After school programs are more cost effective! Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:57:38 +0000 http://mid-riffs.com/?p=1068#comment-746 [...] couple of weeks ago we had a post that mentioned Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s proposal to lengthen the school day and/or [...] [...] couple of weeks ago we had a post that mentioned Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s proposal to lengthen the school day and/or [...]

]]> By: BKisida http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/obama-versus-alice-cooper/comment-page-1/#comment-555 BKisida Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:38:48 +0000 http://mid-riffs.com/?p=1068#comment-555 Yes, that makes sense too. I would imagine that by three o'clock most kids are pretty tired, and additional hours wouldn't be very productive. Yes, that makes sense too. I would imagine that by three o’clock most kids are pretty tired, and additional hours wouldn’t be very productive.

]]> By: Matthew Petty http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/obama-versus-alice-cooper/comment-page-1/#comment-554 Matthew Petty Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:29:04 +0000 http://mid-riffs.com/?p=1068#comment-554 The data seems to show that shortening days, but adding more of them, is a good course of action. I'm a big fan of block scheduling, too. The data seems to show that shortening days, but adding more of them, is a good course of action.

I’m a big fan of block scheduling, too.

]]> By: Jarhead http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/obama-versus-alice-cooper/comment-page-1/#comment-436 Jarhead Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:54:01 +0000 http://mid-riffs.com/?p=1068#comment-436 One of the major differences between American schools and Japanese schools is the use of time. ‎Japanese students go to school for fewer hours each day, but they spend the entire school time ‎focused on academic subjects. Extra-curricular activities such as band or soccer take place after ‎the school day. Even though American students spend more time in school, what is the quality of ‎that time and how is it spent?‎ This isn't to say music and art are not important subjects to learn. The Greek concept of the ‎balanced man/philosopher king is a noble goal, but our schools especially at the high school level ‎have become too involved with non-academic pursuits.‎ America will continue to slip compared to other countries on tests of academic achievement until ‎we decide to place our focus on academics instead of leisure. Since most Americans won't want ‎to modify their current lifestyles, they should stop whining about our kids falling behind. Simple ‎fact is, you can't have both.‎ One of the major differences between American schools and Japanese schools is the use of time. ‎Japanese students go to school for fewer hours each day, but they spend the entire school time ‎focused on academic subjects. Extra-curricular activities such as band or soccer take place after ‎the school day. Even though American students spend more time in school, what is the quality of ‎that time and how is it spent?‎

This isn’t to say music and art are not important subjects to learn. The Greek concept of the ‎balanced man/philosopher king is a noble goal, but our schools especially at the high school level ‎have become too involved with non-academic pursuits.‎

America will continue to slip compared to other countries on tests of academic achievement until ‎we decide to place our focus on academics instead of leisure. Since most Americans won’t want ‎to modify their current lifestyles, they should stop whining about our kids falling behind. Simple ‎fact is, you can’t have both.‎

]]>