DCPS Survey - Increase Instructional Time
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Anonymous
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I'm not thrilled about this. I received the following email/survey via my DC's elementary school:
In DCPS, we know that with more instructional time, students not only get more experience reading, writing, and doing math, but they also get more time to explore art, music, PE, and their own interests. Our students thrive when they have exposure to a variety of learning environments both in and out of the classroom, so DCPS is continuing to explore how can we ensure students have the time for core subjects and enrichment opportunities each school year. As we think about the Fiscal Year 2017 budget and DCPS' priorities, two strategies to increase instructional time that we have considered include 1) increasing the number of days students attend school throughout the year, and 2) increasing the number of hours in a school day. As DCPS researches and considers increasing the time spent in school, we want to know what our families think about these strategies, and if they were implemented, how families would like the increased time in school to be used. Please respond to this quick survey to let us know what you think. |
Anonymous
| What part don't you like OP? Longer days or longer year? I personally like the longer year so we can minimize summer camp time. I would love for this to happen. |
Anonymous
| Yup. Would love, love, love longer school year. Give more time off throughout the year if need be, but research has shown that the US standard of long summer breaks is a serious impediment to learning. |
Anonymous
| Agreed. Would love a longer school year. I would particularly like a longer school year if it were devoted to instruction in areas that were not reading and math. I'd like to see more emphasis on social studies and science at the elementary level. |
Anonymous
I agree. I filled out the survey to indicate that my preference is longer year. I also noted that I would like to see longer recess and longer lunches. You can improve academics on an empty stomach and without some play time. For those who want a longer school year, I suggest you fill out the survey. Otherwise the decision will be made for us. |
Anonymous
| 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. |
Anonymous
+1. I'm with you. If this is just to catch up in math and reading, it can be even counterproductive, as research clearly shows that play, music, exercise, and other activities are key for development, and with a longer day/ schoolyear there'd be even less time for that. If the extra time is devoted to learning new things, like arts, music, science...then great -- but the email didn't clarify the use of the extra time, so I'm a bit suspicious. |
Anonymous
| 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. |
Anonymous
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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. |
Anonymous
| Both is fine with me. School day could end at 4pm instead of 3:15 and the school year could go into mid-July. |
Anonymous
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? |
Anonymous
| More time in art, science, PE, for lunch and play would be great. |
Anonymous
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 |
Anonymous
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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. |
Anonymous
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. |