When you're a kid, you love looking at the monthly school calendar and seeing the upcoming field trips, the early dismissals and the days off. As a parent, you might enjoy seeing some of those things.
But when the pandemic hit and all we heard about was how the poor children were missing out on so much learning and were falling behind (and still are), wouldn't it stand to reason that they need to double up on the classroom time to catch up?
There are some afternoons that we go to the gym at noon and leave at 2 p.m. Oftentimes, there are high school students coming in as we're departing. That means they left school before 2 p.m. The school day does not end at 2 p.m. -- at least it didn't when I was a kid. Yes, there might be breaks or "spares" where kids have an empty spot in their schedule but, again, why give them time off if they're allegedly so far behind? That's not serving their educational needs.
Think about your job: when you're falling behind on tasks or have a deadline fast approaching, sometimes you work through lunch, sometimes you come in early, sometimes you stay late. That's the responsible thing to do.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for breaks. Teachers need a chance to recharge and kids need time to unwind and do things other than homework. But after the pandemic, with the learning loss so many students experienced, can they really afford to keep operating on the same old schedule? I think the answer is a resounding no.
The pandemic threw a wrench in everything. Remote learning, while a valiant effort, simply wasn't the same as in-person instruction for many students. Gaps in learning emerged and some kids fell behind significantly. Now they're back in the classroom but they and their parents -- and soon society -- are dealing with the fallout.
So, what's the solution? I believe it's time to seriously consider extending the school day and implementing some form of summer learning.
Imagine a school day that's just an hour or two longer. That extra time could be used for targeted interventions for students who are struggling, enrichment activities for those who are excelling, or even just more time for teachers to provide personalized attention. It's not about cramming more information into kids' heads; it's about providing them with the support they need to catch up and thrive.
Teenagers should be prepared for the working world. And in the working world, you don't get nearly four months of holiday time per year. (Spring break- 1 week, Christmas- 2 weeks, summer- 2+ months, and days off throughout the year.) Plus, you work an eight-hour day as an adult (typically -- I realize different careers and industries have different scheduling, but you know what I mean) so get those teenagers ready for a third of their day consisting of work.
Now, I know the arguments against this. "Kids need a break!" "Teachers are already overworked!" And these are valid concerns. But you can't let them paralyze us into inaction. You need to be creative and find solutions that work for everyone.
I've heard of some school districts pushing to start classes later in the morning because kids aren't fully awake or productive in class if it's too early. Excuse me? Then force them. But when schools are catering to whiny kids, you're already setting them on the wrong path by allowing them to call the shots. (And then you wonder why they act like pushy little entitled assholes when they get older.)
Ultimately, it comes down to priorities. Are you really prioritizing your child's education if you're sending them back to school with less instruction time compared to before the pandemic, despite the learning losses they've experienced? I don't think so.
Limiting unnecessary days off is also crucial. While some days off are unavoidable, administrators need to be more mindful of how many days they're taking away from instruction time.
I believe that by rethinking the approach to school breaks and embracing a more comprehensive, year-round learning model, it can help kids not just catch up, but also leap ahead. It's time to stop clinging to outdated traditions and start prioritizing the future of the children. Have the tough conversations and find solutions that truly serve their best interests. The future of our society depends on it.