Time in the Classroom

I like this article on core curriculum because I don’t quite understand why
there is so much time wasted on non essential education and so little time
afforded to the important subjects. We are so busy teaching children how to be
social, we forget that they don’t know where their state is in comparison to
five others, or that events occurred before they were born.

As for teacher planning, what happened to homework? If kids have to
spend hours and hours doing rote homework, why shouldn’t teachers have to spend
time planning?

If more independent study could replace homework, and more
teachers were willing to read kid’s work, the education result would be
outstanding. Judy

Our View: Don't shortchange students on school days

2005-08-16

If you're under 18 and go to public school, you're in luck: Many of you will spend fewer days in school this year. (State of Washington)

The state Board of Education has waived the 180-day requirement for 70 school districts -- including Northshore, Federal Way, Seattle and Tacoma. Students will spend from one to five fewer days in class in those districts and teachers will receive more planning time.

``As long as students learn what they're supposed to, it doesn't matter if they did it in 175 days as opposed to 180,'' rationalizes Larry Davis, state board executive director.

Sorry, Larry, but it does matter. U.S. students slip lower every year in the worldwide academic race as other countries accelerate their education programs.

According to William L. Bainbridge, University of Dayton professor and president of an education research firm, here's how we stack up during the final four years of secondary school,
* U.S. students spend an average of 1,462 hours on core subjects -- math, science, language and social studies.

* Japanese students spend 3,190 hours on core subjects.

* French students spend 3,285 hours on core subjects.

* German students spend 3,628 hours on core subjects.

It shouldn't be a battle between classroom time and teacher planning time. ``The waiver days have not hurt education; if anything, they have helped,'' argues Pat Eirish, state Board of Education research and assistance program manager.

Our state Constitution says education is the paramount duty of the state. Let's live up to that and give our children more time in class, not less, to succeed.

If that includes giving teachers more time to plan, then it's up to the Legislature to provide school districts with the money for that as well.