DCPS Survey - Increase Instructional Time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As much it could be convenient for me, I am not excited by longer days and longer year, especially for elementary school. 8.30 to 3.15 is already a pretty long day of little kids, and end of August to end of June is already a long year.

I grew up in Europe, my elementary school was from 8.30 to 12.45, Monday to Saturday, only 5 grades (1st to 5th, I learned how to read and write at 6), the school year never started before September 15 (the first few years was actually October 1) and usually ended mid June (with less than a week for spring break). we actually did great and I remember elementary school as an idyllic time. we did not have more subjects, I had no idea what DNA meant in elementary school, but we had a strong foundation in my language, history, geography and in math with some science. We built on that foundation in MS and HS. My impression is that here kids do tons of stuff but everything is rushed and does not stick. my kids was thought many different ways to do a division and at the end she did not know how to do a division. I was thought one method and practiced it and I still know how to take a piece of paper and a pencil and do a division if I need it.

I am sure kids who are otherwise on the street with little support would benefit from it, but all other kids I am not sure. quality is more important than quantity.

"taught" not thought, sorry for all the typos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:longer year would be great--let's join the rest of the industrialized world with a non-agricultural school year and hopefully higher PISA scores.

Having been educated in Europe, let me say that the main difference is not year length per se, but the breadth and depth of the curriculum. Every year (that I recall) we had 6 or more subjects, including things like history or science or religion/ ethics. If DCPS is planning to have a similarly rigorous and challenging curriculum, THEN we may catch up with the rest of the industrialized world.

Has anyone seen any specific proposal about what DCPS would do with 10-20 extra days a year?

I haven't. Kaya Henderson has been talking about it publicly for a few years. Some selected news clips:

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/education/2015/10/28/dc-schools-chancellor-talks-wusa9/74777272/
http://wamu.org/news/14/08/26/dc_extends_the_day_at_25_schools_hoping_that_more_time_means_better_scores

Thanks.

No real "beef" there, other than there was a pilot last year at 20 or so of the "not very good" DCPS schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am mixed on this. If the "extra tim" really is to explore more arts and music etc then great. I think the reality is that its just worksheets, drills, busy work to get the slowest kids up to speed so they aren't hurting test scores. I just don't see the benefit for my kid. Maybe if the school committed to no more homework in elem school it would be ok.

High school student's parent perspective here. I agree with this PP. I have not one ounce of faith that DCPS would do anything creative or worthwhile with either extra hours or extra days. They already seem to shut down the learning process entirely once the test cycles are over, leaving the last few weeks of school to movies, goofing off, and cleaning tasks that paid staff or parent volunteers should be doing. Extra hours or days will just be filled with more remedial-type worksheets and other busywork.

I would prefer that my kid have time after school for music, sports, and other activities on his own, and in the summer, to have a summer job and pursue other interests. Anyone who has been through the college application process knows that DCPS kids are already disadvantaged in applying to colleges because of inadequate counseling, a sub-par curriculum, generally inferior extracurriculars (some schools are much better than others), and very old-fashioned teaching and administrative approaches to learning. Even the top DCPS schools graduate "A" students who have somehow never written a research paper, presented and defended a portfolio of work, or carried out a long-term group or individual project demonstrating depth of knowledge in a subject. The last things these kids need are 1) more time spent on this sort of academic approach, and 2) a new schedule that makes it harder for them to pursue the extracurricular and summer activities that they need to be competitive college candidates and to become skilled, happy, creative, well-rounded adults.

I think the vast majority of "yes" responses will be from elementary school parents who want more free daycare. I remember craving that myself in the early days, but you may come to regret your "yes" vote when your child is bored stiff in an unchallenging DCPS middle school or high school. Hard to think ahead that far if your kid is in preK, but the years really do fly by.

Some very good points there, thank you. I guess what matters is whether DCPS has a robust proposal for that extra time, for ALL kids and for ALL grades.

[Anonymous]

I'm all for a longer school year!

[Anonymous]

We don't need a longer school year. DCPS needs to stop having 4 day weeks. 1/2 day for records keeping? An entire day off for parent-teacher conferences that are 15 minutes long and don't start before 8am or occur after 5pm? I think there was only one full week of instruction in the month of October.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm all for a longer school year!

I'm all for thinking before posting!

[Anonymous]

I would like a longer school year based on my limited knowledge. I would especially like to see what Raymond EC is able to do with that in the next year or so.

[Anonymous]

I said I wanted a longer school day and a longer school year.

[Anonymous]

I don't want a longer school day but wouldn't mind a longer school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am mixed on this. If the "extra tim" really is to explore more arts and music etc then great. I think the reality is that its just worksheets, drills, busy work to get the slowest kids up to speed so they aren't hurting test scores. I just don't see the benefit for my kid. Maybe if the school committed to no more homework in elem school it would be ok.

OP, here. This is exactly why I'm concerned about DCPS extending instructional time. I have no faith that it will benefit my child or even those who are behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I definitely like the idea of a longer year. It has been proven to help students retain knowledge and if it gives them the chance to slow down a bit and allow more time for play during the year- awesome!


That being said, OP.. why are you upset? It is a survey asking your opinion. Give your opinion on the matter, attend any future meetings or whatever, etc. They are gathering data at this point.

I said I wasn't thrilled, not upset. Yes, I know it's just a survey, however, I feel as though DCPS already has an agenda that's not being shared. I must say, I admire your faith in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I definitely like the idea of a longer year. It has been proven to help students retain knowledge and if it gives them the chance to slow down a bit and allow more time for play during the year- awesome!


That being said, OP.. why are you upset? It is a survey asking your opinion. Give your opinion on the matter, attend any future meetings or whatever, etc. They are gathering data at this point.

OP again. Where did you read/hear that this was a goal of DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely like the idea of a longer year. It has been proven to help students retain knowledge and if it gives them the chance to slow down a bit and allow more time for play during the year- awesome!


That being said, OP.. why are you upset? It is a survey asking your opinion. Give your opinion on the matter, attend any future meetings or whatever, etc. They are gathering data at this point.

I said I wasn't thrilled, not upset. Yes, I know it's just a survey, however, I feel as though DCPS already has an agenda that's not being shared. I must say, I admire your faith in DCPS.

You must have some faith if you send your kid to DCPS.

In another note, I was quite pleased to see the new 2ndgrade bike program this year. Would love to see them start it earlier (I understand why it's later as of now). I would like to see them to incorporate more arts and pe based programs. I would like them to teach financial literally starting in 5th grade as well. If DCPS will truly use this for programs like this, I'm all for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't need a longer school year. DCPS needs to stop having 4 day weeks. 1/2 day for records keeping? An entire day off for parent-teacher conferences that are 15 minutes long and don't start before 8am or occur after 5pm? I think there was only one full week of instruction in the month of October.

Completely agree. There are so many 4 day weeks in the calendar it's ridiculous. 1/2 days are a complete waste of a school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need a longer school year. DCPS needs to stop having 4 day weeks. 1/2 day for records keeping? An entire day off for parent-teacher conferences that are 15 minutes long and don't start before 8am or occur after 5pm? I think there was only one full week of instruction in the month of October.

Completely agree. There are so many 4 day weeks in the calendar it's ridiculous. 1/2 days are a complete waste of a school day.

+1 I am against a longer school day of school year. Plenty as is. DCPS needs to use the time it already has to do a better job. And that's not a knock on teachers. I mean stop requiring that so much damn time be devoted to preparing for assessments. Stop treating our children like lab test subjects. Let teachers teach. Stop filing the calendar with so many half days where 8:45-12:15 is worthless. I suspect that This extended day/year talk is less about greater and richer educational opportunities and more about serving needy children who could stand to minimize their time at home. And if there is any truth to that then lets talk about that and about the sort of wrap around services these children need so that we can make it happen. My children need the education he receive after school and during summertime too. Their time at home is full of learning too...not just academics but the life skills they need.