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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]In other parts of the world, ES kids have 2 blocks of recess 25 min each in 6-6:30 hrs of school. In those schools of less developed countries everyone understand young kids need outdoor play.
[/quote]

Source?

I agree that kids need outdoor play, but one hour out of 6 hours of school?  That leaves 5 hours for instruction.  If they eat lunch, that is 41/2 hours.  [/quote]

The source are self experience and family members living there. Lunch is 45 min[/quote]

So, that is 4 hours and fifteen minutes for instruction.

And, if self-experience and family members are your source, could you share which country?[/quote]

NP - There are wonderful resources on the internet that compare educations around the world.  See below for links. Here is Switzerland for instance.  Now I know Switzerland/Finland  do not equal the complexity of FFX (huge and diverse), but it isn't FARMS or ESOL keeping this system from being great, we tell ourselves that, so that we can feel good about overpaying for taxes and property, in the right neighborhoods.

As long as our schools isn't a high FARMS, pat on back, our children are getting a great education, but are they really?

I loved this quote from the article re Finish schools, which I think pretty much sums it up for a lot of better school districts in our area, “Children from wealthy families with lots of education can be taught by stupid teachers,”.   No offense to the hard working folks of our VA schools, but there may be some truth to in what I see (anecdotally) going on is some of the "better" districts - - identify the troublemakers early, shuttle them into special ed or special schools, or medicate them, so everyone can just go on autopilot.  Meanwhile more affluent parents, or at least those not living paycheck to paycheck can supplement, with outside tutors etc.  Oversimplification? Perhaps?

I have always been of the mindset that you don't really need 8 hours a day to teach a child anything.  Their attention spans are short, so why 7 hours, especially for the younger set.  5 hours a day of high quality instruction for it all (math, arts, PE, music, language, and mathematics), if done efficiently and creatively should be more than enough. I really just don't get it.

[u]The school week in Switzerland[/u]

Cantons set their own timetables although most cantons and municipalities have core times with children usually going to school in the morning from around 8.30am until 11.30am and then from 13.30pm until 16.00pm. Primary school days are shorter than secondary school days.

[u]The school year in Switzerland[/u]

In Switzerland the school year starts between mid-August and mid-September, has two terms or semesters and around 12 weeks holiday a year.

[u]Education in Switzerland[/u]

Education in Switzerland is relatively high. Switzerland is currently ranked 9 out of 65 countries and economies in the OECD/PISA 2012 survey of educational standards amongst 15 year olds.

[u]Finland[/u]

“Children from wealthy families with lots of education can be taught by stupid teachers,”

"Teachers in Finland spend fewer hours at school each day and spend less time in classrooms than American teachers. Teachers use the extra time to build curriculums and assess their students. Children spend far more time playing outside, even in the depths of winter. Homework is minimal. Compulsory schooling does not begin until age 7. “We have no hurry,” said Louhivuori. “Children learn better when they are ready. Why stress them out?”

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/why-are-finlands-schools-successful-49859555/#JwBs775DK4PlyFCB.99

https://www.expatica.com/ch/education/Education-in-Switzerland_100021.html

http://www.oecd.org/pisa/[/quote]

Does Switzerland offer a lot of recess? They have a mid-day break but that isn't something the school pays for. My experience from that country is that the kids come home and have lunch at home so the school doesn't pay for the break or the food. Does Switzerland even bus children to school four times a day or is that on the parent's time and dime to get them to and from school? [/quote]

And as noted they don't pay for kindergarten. Making the point clearer that FCPS should not be paying for kindergarten either if what kindergarten parents really want is less classroom time.[/quote]

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