A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
So often, in our attempt to move toward something new and better, we give up something vital and important. Such is the case with the Obama Administration's proposals for a longer school year.
Although this plan might provide a service to some parents and provide more time for “information absorption,” it will come at the expense of optimal childhood development. It will come at the expense of family time, downtime and nurturing, and at the expense of opportunities to play, daydream and explore --- all of which are essential for intellectual and emotional growth. We must face the fact that learning is not something that is done to children, but a way of life that requires not only information, but also enthusiasm and curiosity. What better way to dampen enthusiasm and extinguish curiosity than to force children and teenagers into institutional settings all day and all year? Children and teenagers can only sit still for so long. They can only listen to lectures for so long. They can only absorb new material for so long. At some point, they need to get outside, relate with friends, be with family, stretch, and grow.
American children already spend more time in school than they used to, and the results are not impressive. Yes, American education needs improvement and, yes, higher academic standards are in order -- but let’s not mistake quantity for quality. It’s better education we need, not more. Academic rigor and more time in school are not one and the same.
The supposition that “more is better” is not new. To the contrary, it is a supposition that already defines American childhood. Today’s children expend their energy on long days in group situations, on preschool activities and after-school programs, on team sports and music and athletic lessons. Today’s teenagers juggle academics, sports and tutorials, and are expected to “build resumes.” “You can do it” parents, tutors, and coaches urge, as children “try again” to achieve the perfect ballet pose, the perfect runner’s mile, the perfect musical performance, the perfect SAT score. Then we are taken by surprise when success strategies backfire; when, instead of gaining momentum, children and teenagers lose energy and motivation. But, this end result makes sense. For, it takes a certain amount of freedom to be creative, a certain amount of time to be a thinker, and opportunities for independence to become inspired. Moreover, when we emphasize outward displays of accomplishment over children’s actual moral and intellectual advancement, children feel a void.
The signs that our children are overwhelmed by feelings of emptiness or inadequacy are everywhere, one of the surest signs being the very visible one of “cutting.” A 2006 study by the American Psychological Association reported that nearly 20 percent of American teenagers engage in self-mutilation. Eating disorders, anxiety problems, binge drinking, childhood depression, displays of cruelty and even childhood suicide rates all continue to rise. Depression, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports, can be related to too much parental pressure, too much familial conflict, and too little maternal nurturing. Stress, these groups also note, is no longer a word that applies primarily to adults. (See, for example, the Nemours Foundation’s “KidsHealth” and “TeenHealth” websites, and my book: Ships Without a Shore: America's Undernurtured Children, which would have been more aptly named: Undernurtured and Overscheduled.)
An alternative to the harried, preordained way of life we give our children would rest upon renewed respect for childhood and renewed respect for learning for its own sake. There is a world of difference between raising a child and programming a child. Teaching children to be tough and prepared for the world, achieving doers instead of capable thinkers, has its price. Children’s innate curiosity is intense. When that curiosity has no room to fulfill itself, it burns out like a smothered flame.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan's plan appears to be gaining momentum. If you disagree with his vision for our children, now is the time to speak out.
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May '10
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
I completely disagree. Our current system was not designed to optimize childhood development but because of the need to have children in the fields in the summer. A year round school year does not mean there cannot be vacations for day-dreaming but it provides an enormous benefit to working poor parents and likely makes the schooling that does take place far more productive. Over-programmed kids are just as over-programmed in the summer and under-programmed kids - which is the segment being failed by our current system - would benefit enormously. It would allow the school day to begin later. Research suggests that allowing teenagers uninterrupted sleep in the morning would actually be beneficial. The only reason not to do this is tradition for tradition's sake. All due respect, as a parent of three - I think this would be a great improvement.
Dec '11
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Anne R. Pierce:
Yes, American education needs improvement and, yes, higher academic standards are in order -- but let’s not mistake quantity for quality. It’s better education we need, not more. Academic rigor and more time in school are not one and the same.
But it certainly can be. Students living in Singapore, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Japan consistently score higher on standardized tests with an annual 240-day school calendar than the average U.S. student at 180 days. Asian students spend less time on those over-hyped "outside activities" and many more hours studying Shakespeare, calculus, economics, physics, and world history.
A young relative of mine has traveled extensively throughout North America representing his middle school hockey team, but has difficulty, alas, spelling d-o-g. Doubting his odds at competing in the NHL, I worry for his future.
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
EThompson
Anne R. Pierce:
Yes, American education needs improvement and, yes, higher academic standards are in order -- but let’s not mistake quantity for quality. It’s better education we need, not more.Academic rigor and more time in school are not one and the same.
But it certainly canbe. Students living in Singapore, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Japan consistently score higher on standardized tests with an annual 240-day school calendar than the average U.S. student at 180 days. ............A young relative of mine has traveled extensively throughout North America representing his middle schoolhockey team, but has difficulty, alas, spelling d-o-g. Doubting his odds at competing in the NHL, I worry for his future. · 9 minutes ago
In many ways, we already have adopted the Asian model; but, with a very different model, we did a better job of producing that American creativity and ingenuity and heart, which now seem lacking. I look at Thomas Jefferson and Thoreau and Ben Franklin, let alone Steve Jobs, and see their genius and curiousity as inconceivable with today's hyper-structured approach. When you deprive children of childhood, you deprive adults of individuality.
Dec '11
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Anne R. Pierce:
I look at Thomas Jefferson and Thoreau and Ben Franklin, let alone Steve Jobs, and see their genius and curiousity as inconceivable with today's hyper-structured approach. When you deprive children of childhood, you deprive adults of individuality.
Don't forget Bill Gates who skipped most of high school to hang out in U-W's computer labs and then proceeded to drop out of Harvard!
I think perhaps that you are using examples far outside the mainstream. The majority of American children do not have a 160 IQ and thus do need to study core subjects for extended periods of time. This is not to imply (as does Obama) that educational institutions should substitute as baby-sitters for the indigent and the irresponsible.
May '10
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Until public funding of K-12 education is separated from public provision of K-12 education, no "reform" is going to be any more than rearranging deck chairs.
Give parents a voucher and the ability to choose for themselves what kind of education their children should have. If they want to opt for year-round, they will surely be able to find it (although they may have to go into their own pocket to pay for the extra months).
And pardon me for asking the inconvenient question "How is this supposed to be paid for?" I'm already being driven out of my home by the property taxes, I can't handle a hefty increase to provide raises for teachers who aren't getting the job done already.
Dec '11
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
1. Many students are involved in activities during school days - clubs, sports, academic competitions, etc - while sitting on their butts in summer.
2. Students often regress a bit when they have summers off. Take the summer, break it up, and schedule shorter breaks throughout the year. 2-3 weeks should be enough time to recharge anyone's batteries.
Oct '12
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
First, the schools haven't earned the right to have more of my kids time by executing the core mission successfully.
However, children who tend to be lower achieving (poor, chaotic households, lower class, ethnic disparities) would likely benefit from an extended school year. This would provide them (theoretically) more time to grasp concepts.
Unfortunately, in our one size fits all education system, it is difficult to offer specialized services targeted to those who would most benefit.
Dec '11
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
PsychLynne: First, the schools haven't earned the right to have more of my kids time by executing the core mission successfully.
However, children who tend to be lower achieving (poor, chaotic households, lower class, ethnic disparities) would likely benefit from an extended school year. This would provide them (theoretically) more time to grasp concepts.
Unfortunately, in our one size fits all education system, it is difficult to offer specialized services targeted to those who would most benefit. · 5 minutes ago
First, schools don't have rights. Second, parents in this country have been ceding their authority and responsibilities to schools for decades. That is why they will be able to do this.
As for who benefits the most, you are correct. Children in educated and affluent homes usually continue their education in summer months, either with their families or in camps or other activities. Poor children (among others) do not, and the lack of academic reinforcement over the summer months appears (based on research) to cause them to lose ground.
On your final point, schools absolutely need to be changed away from "one size fits all", but sadly the current trends are in the opposite direction.
Dec '11
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Nick Stuart:
And pardon me for asking the inconvenient question "How is this supposed to be paid for?"
Hardly an inconvenient question at all! The truly inconvenient questions are:
Why aren't public schools presenting a more intense and comprehensive agenda?
Why aren't the Feds able to maintain and repair interstate highways?
Why does it take so much time to clear security at any given airport?
I would be grateful if my taxpayer $ were fruitfully spent on all of the above; malheureusement, these are low priority issues that fall prey to the exhorbitant demands of entitlement programs.
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
PsychLynne: First, the schools haven't earned the right to have more of my kids time by executing the core mission successfully.
However, children who tend to be lower achieving (poor, chaotic households, lower class, ethnic disparities) would likely benefit from an extended school year. This would provide them (theoretically) more time to grasp concepts.
Unfortunately, in our one size fits all education system, it is difficult to offer specialized services targeted to those who would most benefit. · 3 minutes ago
I agree with your points and would add that I don't think more time in sub-par schools is going to help our children. In addition, I believe that even the best schools are institutions, and that too much time in institutions is not ideal (although it's necessary for some). Previous generations of Americans spent less time in institutions - and less time in the company of teachers/trainers/coaches/tutors/camp counselors etc. And yet, America, although flawed, had an awful lot of success, and children/teenagers/college students showed less symptoms of stress. I think it's the quality of schoolife -and homelife- that is the real problem today.
Feb '11
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
EThompson
Nick Stuart:
And pardon me for asking the inconvenient question "How is this supposed to be paid for?"
Hardly an inconvenient question at all! The truly inconvenient questions are:
Why aren't public schools presenting a more intense and comprehensive agenda?
Why aren't the Feds able to maintain and repair interstate highways?
Why does it take so much time to clear security at any given airport?
I would be grateful if my taxpayer $ were fruitfully spent on all of the above; malheureusement, these are low priority issues that fall prey to the exhorbitant demands of entitlement programs. · 4 minutes ago
I agree. It makes the heart weep. And listening to my governor A. Cuomo with his laundry list of liberal growth programs... Anyway...
The government will not be able to proffer any help to students, no matter how much $$$ we give them, because the educational system in this country is deeply, possibly fundamentally, flawed.
I suspect all it really is is a federal ploy to increase a de facto day care entitlement so more of the parents can depend even more on big schools and government.
Jul '10
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
I believe there is a disconnect here in this thread.
Increasing the length of the school year is just another way of insuring that the teachers union has a basis for demanding more money. Lefties have no solutions other than throwing more money at a problem.
In Florida, I know that some kids have a year-round school year, with larger breaks inbetween semesters. It seems to work for them. So school year or length of time is not so much the issue, as much as how it's scheduled.
OTOH, how and what we teach kids is very much a problem. Rachael L mentioned this in a thread way back. This is a whole other matter, and one that needs some serious exploration. Perhaps it's time to take the curriculum away from the teachers and back to the school boards and parents.
Apr '12
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Mama Toad
I suspect all it really is is a federal ploy to increase a de facto day care entitlement so more of the parents can depend even more on big schools and government. · 7 minutes ago
Yep. More time listening to the dumbest kid in class fail to get the concept again isn't likely to help the average kid, let alone the under served students.
It will, however, mean more money to teachers and less expense for childcare.
Apr '12
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Getting rid of summer break has a secondary effect, besides meaning that parents don't have to think about taking care of their kids during it: less chance that the little flowers might get a job. Sure, minimum wage laws and child labor laws and various really silly requirements have almost gotten rid of it--yet, somehow, some teens still draw a paycheck!
Dec '12
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Great point! It seems today that there is an elitist bias against teenage employment. I didn't have a year round job in high school, but I did have a summer job in commercial lawncare and landscaping. This taught me value of hard work, but also motivated me to work harder at academics to avoid a long life of physical labor. If there was year round school I wouldn't have had this experience. Today, there are probably many students who graduate from college, who have never received a pay check!
Jul '10
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Foxfier
Mama Toad
I suspect all it really is is a federal ploy to increase a de facto day care entitlement so more of the parents can depend even more on big schools and government. · 7 minutes ago
Yep. More time listening to the dumbest kid in class fail to get the conceptagain isn't likely to help the average kid, let alone the under served students.
But it doesn't have to be that way. New Orleans has proven that charter schools as the education "system" can invigorate the teaching experience and lead to actually educated kids. Ones who liked going to school and learning.
Oct '12
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
I am always astounded at how information on how to teach children successfully to read and write is discounted. When I look at my kids school, I see teachers who are very motivated to teach and love kids, but either by their choice or the county guidelines, are not implementing the basic findings on how to successfully teach kids to read and understand basic math principles. I am a big believer that our local schools success is driven by the fact that the area* is populated largely by very bright, well-educated, successful parents...who, not surprisingly, have children who are very bright.
With regard to quality home life, I am a fan of kid-driven, non-electronic playtime. Managing the low level frustration that comes with boredom is good for kids (this sentence would not surprise my children : )
When I look around our affluent community, I see a bunch of over-stimulated, over-enriched children with busier schedules than me!
*We live in one the Charles Murray's "Super Zips"
Mar '11
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Not really the topic, but I believe this is a myth (Disclaimer - I was a suburban kid, not a farmer).
Isn't most of the field work on a farm done in the spring (Plowing and planting) and fall (harvest)? Admittedly there's weeding and such to do in the interim, but is the demand for labor really any higher in the summer than the other seasons?
Of course this has to be considered in the context of pre-industrial agriculture when the school schedule was established.
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
Devereaux
Foxfier
Mama Toad
I suspect all it really is is a federal ploy to increase a de facto day care entitlement so more of the parents can depend even more on big schools and government. · 7 minutes ago
Yep. More time listening to the dumbest kid in class fail to get the conceptagain isn't likely to help the average kid, let alone the under served students.
But it doesn't have to be that way. New Orleans has proven that charter schools as the education "system" can invigorate the teaching experience and lead to actually educated kids. Ones who liked going to school and learning. · 4 hours ago
Devereaux,
Can you tell us more about New Orlean's charter system? What are they doing that others should follow?
Re: A Longer School Year: Just What Over-Scheduled American Children Don't Need
PsychLynne: ................
With regard to quality home life, I am a fan of kid-driven, non-electronic playtime. Managing the low level frustration that comes with boredom is good for kids (this sentence would not surprise my children : )
When I look around our affluent community, I see a bunch of over-stimulated, over-enriched children with busier schedules than me!
*We live in one the Charles Murray's "Super Zips" · 3 hours ago
I just have to share my beloved grandmother's response to my complaints that there was nothing to do (with that nice free time I grew up with): "If you're bored, you're boring!" (She said it with her strongest English accent, by the way!)