Extending School Hours In Australia Essay

A lot of parents are shaking their heads at the consideration of a four-day school week, and a longer school day. Shorter school weeks or longer school days are reasonable solutions when there is a shortage of funding, or possible budget cuts coming to the school district. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and school board members.

To the counter-argument, Ballenger & Kneese say it best: “Of what value is there to a community of having most of its classrooms unused for fully 25% of the possible school days each year, when America 's students need more, rather than less, education?” As it stands, concerns concerning loss of learning over the extended summer break remain prevalent. Changing to a year-long school schedule would close that learning gap, allowing students higher retention. However, as Gabrieli states in Koonce (2015), even schools that add “25 percent more time each year – or the equivalent of three extra years of school for students” (p. 236) can achieve this increase merely by extending the school day with no adjustment in summer breaks. Expanded hours and days “can ensure at risk students keep up academically; develop attachment to school through such activities as sports, arts, and drama; and develop the beliefs and behaviors consistent with success” (p.236). The proponents of expanded learning time (ELT) may attest that “the greatest opportunity that expanded learning time offers for improving academic achievement comes from being able to better individualize instruction—putting the right teachers with the right students and focusing on the right skills” (Koonce, 2015). ELT allows students to learn that “through hard work, they can excel through the odds, but that [success] requires time” (Koonce, 2015). Supporters of expanded learning time argue that there is a sizeable benefit from

Many schools across the America have tried implementing year-round education. However, some school districts that tried YRE go back to the 180- day schedule (Sardo-Brown, Deborah, and Michael Rooney 1). When year-round education is proposed most of the time opposition is met. In 1992, parents of a possible pilot school were surveyed on their thoughts. 59% of the parents responded. There was an overwhelming amount of rejection. Just 10% of those surveyed favored YRE where 83% were against (Sardo-Brown, Deborah, and Michael Rooney 1).

Year-round schools have gained popularity among the United States, being a very communicated topic within middle class communities. These schools are generally argued about by whether they are beneficial or not. While there are many advantages to year-round schools, there are some disadvantages as well. A few of these disadvantages include the expenses of the schools, the schedules the schools provide, the involvement within the schools, and the actual effectiveness of these schools.

The disadvantages of year-round schooling are just as important as the advantages. Cost and benefits in learning show through the massive 98% of students that attend nine month systems. When a school is running a/c and heating all year this cost will equal the expense of a new

From the early 1900’s through today, America society as a whole has embraced the nine month general education school year. As we progress into the future, we need to look for more efficient ways to educate the general populous. When we initially went to a nine month school year, there were a multitude of reasons. As we look at the reasons why we began to utilize a nine month school schedule, we need to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of transitioning to a year round school model. While we continue to grow and expand as a nation, we need to reevaluate our current school model. From this, we will look at why schools should transition to year round schools, and abandon the

There is also concern regarding how this extended time will effect students and educators. Students could be subjected to twelve hour days, when considering travel and after school activities (Anderson, M., 2014). Many parents are concerns their child will not have enough time to play, or spend with their family because of the demands of the longer hours. Children are already exhausted by current schedules and many parents and apposing individuals fear “burning out” students (Anderson, M,. 2014). New Jersey parents are also worried about their children being in over heated classrooms and missing out on summer fun. (McGlone, P., 2014). Some parents even stating that two moths off for the summer

Industries such as business and medicine depend on extreme methods and forward thinking ideas. To be a successful enterprise, one must be willing to take risks and try new things. Within the last century, education has attempted to take a leap of faith by completely flipping the traditional school schedule and idea of summer vacation upside down. Just as with any idea, there are advantages and disadvantages as well as supporters and opponents. Each district must look at their own individual needs and evaluate the trials from schools that have gone before them to decide if year-round schooling would benefit their school.

How would the population react if the schedule that structures many peoples’ entire year were to change? This change is a reality for a growing number of families across the country as a method of improving primary and secondary education through year-round school. Although many have come to accept or even embrace year-round school in an effort to help students retain more material, year-round school would actually disrupt the learning environment, be potentially detrimental for students and their family’s financial health, as well as that of the schools, and could take away from family and personal time.

Allocated school and class time, instructional time, and academic learning time. Allocated school and class time are hours of non-instructional activities. Instructional time should be devoted to formal instruction and learning, but not with poor teaching inattention. Lastly, is academic learning time when the students are actually learning. The important and obvious distinction makes in clear why and extended-time proposal must focus on providing the kind of time such as instructional and academic time, rather than just adding hours in general. Extending and improving the use of instructional time could undoubtedly benefit all students. But studies suggest that extended time may matter more for some students than others. Poor and minority students are less likely than their more affluent peers that benefit from resources out of school. Evidence from the beginning school study (BBS), a long study that began in 1982 by sociologists Doris Entwisle and Karl Alexander, shows that lower-income lose ground to higher-income children over time because of what researches call summer learning loss.

While one group is on break, the rest of the groups are in school, and they continue to rotate so that as many students as possible can attend. In a four-track school district, student capacity is increased by 33%. In an extended year system, the required number of days that children must attend school is increased from 180 to up to 240.

Year round education (YRE) is implemented in 436 U.S. school districts with very few complaints. In fact, school districts that have been participating in YRE and extended school days (ESD) are raving about the benefits in pupil's achievement level, their new found enthusiasm in learning, as well as the many programs that exist in the extended day promoting the decline in latch key children.

Following parents’ demands and school needs, some schools want a longer day. DeKalb middle school in Atlanta already offers after-school enrichment programs and wants to offer all students the extra hours of instruction. Marion Anders, executive director for DeKalb middle school, is doing some things to reform the school. He is working on educational programs, where students spend at list five hours per day in core academic subjects. Also, he asks for additional funds to pay teachers extra to tutor low-achieving students in reading and math (Madison 16). Therefore, some

Some people think that we should have an 8 hour school day. Having a longer school could help

Therefore, an extended school year will allow teachers to use class time more effectively. It will provide more time for students to understand the material needed to be successful. It will also keep children busy, so they will not have as much time to get into trouble. Our future depends on having intelligent, highly skilled, well- rounded students and citizens. By spending more time in the classroom it will give students an opportunity to be successful in the global