76 FACE TIME

Okay, my facebook friend, Steven Titchnell brought up something this morning. His opinion about an extended school schedule that I brought up was that it would up crime and trouble because kids wouldnt want to go year-round. I would like to give you all my opinion today.

First, I am only guessing at the actual schedule because it varies between each place that uses it. I believe it generally goes- 8 weeks on, 2 weeks off and an extended (4 to 6 weeks) break around holidays like Christmas and July 4th. Taking that with a grain of salt, I would like you parents to consider whether you think there would be any benefits to this type of schedule.

First, I brought up that I think the kids would retain more of the instructed material because they have less extended breaks, specifically the ridiculously long 2 and a half months during the summer. Second, they would look forward to having a nice break every 2 months, almost like a "spring break" several times a year. Third, teaching plans would be able to "flow" and instead of a typical 6 week term with a subject, you would have more time to cover it and then move to the next. Fourth, snow days would be easily made up by going the same number of days missed during the 2 week break. Fifth, summertime is traditionally a time of sheer, ungodly boredom by the second or third week, so I feel the kids would be looking forward to going back and not such a pain for their parents for half the summer. Sixth, I think calling a "weather day" would be easier because of point number four and the knowledge that it would be made up without affecting the lesson plans.

These are the biggest ones that I could think of. I know some teachers may gripe about not having their huge summer break, but I think some of them will agree with me, at least on some points. This posting had nothing to do with anything Obama said, in fact, I didnt know until this morning that he has been advocating year-round education, so please, try to leave the politics out of this.

I stated in a facebook posting that I really get tired of listening to the bitching that goes on and yet, when it comes time to put things like this to a vote, it is squashed quite heavily. For crying out loud, what do you people want? Change requires sacrifice sometimes. I see a lot of mothers concerned about snowy or icy roads being dangerous and our current superintendent seems to be willing to take chances with our kids and our teachers. Well, here you are. I already said it: snow days would be a non-issue because they would be easily made up and for that matter, a quick review of past weather patterns averaged out by snow days for the last, say--20 years, would give the board a pattern to put their 2 week break for that section in. It would illiminate at least some of the snow days. Freak storms like we just had would be able to be made up as I have already said.

Your summer vacations would pretty much stay the same as well. Most larger companies are typically off at least part of the week during July 4th. The summer break of 4 to 6 weeks can be easily scheduled for this time. Most of you with that type of job use that week to go somewhere anyway, right? I'm not fishing for you people with weird schedules or liberal time off, I used to work that kind of schedule and 85 percent of the people we know were off to some vacation spot that week.

Trouble with the kids, in my opinion, would eventually go down. I think a little more time at the beginning of a child's education, spent on a subject that some are having trouble in, would translate to a better student and less frustrated child down their educational road. You ALL know what I'm talking about. A child that may not be able to grasp a subject as fast as the others is frequently left behind after a short while. I'm not blaming teachers. They have to move on because they dont have the time in their learning plan for an extra week or two to make sure a child "gets it". That child is left frustrated and often it develops down the road into a "trouble child". You all know damned well what I'm talking about because you've ALL seen it. That child may not be able to put it into words, but they know they cant grasp a concept, the others have and now they feel lessened. They feel angry and then they begin to act out.

Eventually, as the system is implemented, less and less children will fall behind and be shuffled through the system. Even you teachers out there have to notice this happening. Again, it's not your fault, it is an antiquated system that is geared toward the majority. I generally try to give both sides of an argument, but I feel too strongly about this. I know the details of my schedule are not exact, but I think I gave you the concept, albeit briefly. I hope you and I see this change made in our lifetime. I wish it would have been in place for my boys. I think test scores will improve and I think kids attitudes will improve. What you do at home is up to you. Most of you reading this spend time with your kids, that's not the ones we're worried about, it's the kids that dont get enough one on one with their parents and care-givers. One hour of sit-down meal and talk time at night, even with one parent(assuming the other may be working a weird schedule) would show the kids that their parents are interested in them and give them a little less to worry about.

Make your own minds up on this one, but I really think an extended schedule is the way to go. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go argue with some people that think I look like Kevin James. I dont, you know. He's richer, but I look better. And his gut's bigger. Thbbbbb....