Will a longer school year translate into higher test scores?
Arne Duncan, the Cabinet secretary charged with overhauling America's educational system, is studying programs that keep kids in school longer to boost their academic achievements.
Duncan said American students are "at a competitive disadvantage" because the United States has shorter school years than other countries such as India and China.
While it is true that kids in many other countries have more school days, it's not true they all spend more time in school.
Kids in the U.S. spend more hours in school (1,146 instructional hours per year) than do kids in the Asian countries that persistently outscore the U.S. on math and science tests — Singapore (903), Taiwan (1,050), Japan (1,005) and Hong Kong (1,013). That is despite the fact that Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong have longer school years (190 to 201 days) than does the U.S. (180 days).
My question to you: Will a longer school year translate into higher test scores?
source: cnn, yahoo
Duncan said American students are "at a competitive disadvantage" because the United States has shorter school years than other countries such as India and China.
While it is true that kids in many other countries have more school days, it's not true they all spend more time in school.
Kids in the U.S. spend more hours in school (1,146 instructional hours per year) than do kids in the Asian countries that persistently outscore the U.S. on math and science tests — Singapore (903), Taiwan (1,050), Japan (1,005) and Hong Kong (1,013). That is despite the fact that Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong have longer school years (190 to 201 days) than does the U.S. (180 days).
My question to you: Will a longer school year translate into higher test scores?
source: cnn, yahoo
Tags: a, american, better, compete, economy?, global, help, in, longer, school
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Hanson on
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I believe that this issue of longer school years is not going to lead us to the proper answers. We need to increase the performance and results of our national educational system. To do this we don't need to look at the systems of other countries and try to replicate them. By simply doing this, we will fail. We can force our children to attend school for longer days and school years all we want. But, if we do not immediately reform the substance of their education - this will be a waste of time and resources. Instead, we need to look at other countries who's children perform better through out their educational process and study the entire culture that results in that success. Over the centuries since our founding, Americans have become increasingly complacent and lazy when it comes to education, (and many other areas). The only true solution to our current educational mess will be a complete 180 degree cultural shift. The good news is that there are some models of this shift in existence within our country. We must enforce much more strict discipline in our schools not only on student behavior and actions - but on the students over all experience in the educational experience.
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Permalink Reply by Eugene on -
Great point! I agree, the bigger problem here is a cultural one. I do think, however, lengthening a school year could help a little.
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Permalink Reply by Carlos Martinez on -
hell no kids hate school anyways they'll hate school more if they"re there longer. and the more you hate something the less effort you put into it. and i think taking a leaf from asian countries to better our curriculum is very important
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