Is it time for a longer school year?

"Kids who have learning disabilities but because parents don't want them "to be treated differently" are lumped into the same classrooms as everyone else and they struggle and fall behind. Many act out as a result. A teacher cannot cater to 30-40 kids individually"

Finally someone hits on two of the most important issues in the school system. How the hell do we expect teachers to teach the average student anything while having to divide time among students that should be in classrooms catered to their needs. Nobody wins when they are all lumped in together. When adults with learning disabilities are identified theyare given special programs and education to either get them on par with average or get them educated as far as possible to survive on their own if at all possible. Why do we not give this to kids anymore? We are not doing them any favours.

On top of that the biggest problem today is that parents are failing their kids. You can get pissed at me if you like but think about it, kids need parents to sit and read, play blocks and games, just sit and talk to them - not work three jobs to give them soccer "lessons" and every damn toy known to man. I realize some parents have to work three jobs to feed their kids - I understand it is not easy but those parents that are working just to feed their kids are also the same parents who seem to make a concerted effort to make time for their kids and make sure that those who watch them do the same. It seems from observing the kids in school that those who have everything but parents have very little respect and have more behaviour issues than those that have real parents.

No matter how long the school year is it is painfully obvious that kids are getting left behind.

After reading this blog "frustrated parent"...I completely agree with you.
I am a parent who only works part-time. Could I use the extra money from working full-time...definitely! No doubt about it. However, as a parent, I have chosen to put my children ahead of everything and everyone else. Do I have money to put them into soccer, baseball or whatever? No. However, I have the best kids I could have ever dreamed of. They are getting top marks in school and as a family, we enjoy each others' company on family outings. The fair or whatever. However, I also realize I"m in the minority when I hear other parents talk.
The thing I don't like...if I need to call a teacher, which has happened to me periodically, I always seem to get "attitude" from the teacher. Teachers tend to lump parents in the same category. Well, I'm NOT a typical parent, and that drives me crazy. However, teachers don't slow down enough to realize that NOT all parents are the same. Give us a chance and don't get defensive before you even say "hello" to us.
I DO realize that my children are getting "lost in the shuffle" because the education system in Ontario is bad. It's a REAL mess. However, to any teachers who want to complain, why aren't you taking your issues to the board and DEMANDING help?? It IS your career, isn't it?

As a former student, parent and now grandparent I have always maintained that a LONG break serves no purpose. Children need routine and consistency. Reforming the education system is LONG overdue. What direction that would take is as varied as the towns, cities, and provinces that the schools are located in, but it is time for a serious discussion on making the change.

Experiments in schooling students for 6 short days, 4 long days, open classes, or learn at your own pace have been tried and some found successful. It is time to implement these successes on a broader basis.

Despite poor economic times private schools have not declined. There are parents willing to pay for a greater education. Perhaps public schools should ask themselves, why?

I think a longer year is better for many reasons.
1. Most North American kids may look forward to their breaks, but not to get sun and play outside. It is more common that they spend the summer in front of the television. Taking kids to school would make sure they stay active and spend time around their peers, not in the living room.
2. Most kids also forget everything that they learn the year before, if the breaks were shorter and higher in frequency, retention of what kids learn would increase. Not to mention that most teachers are always rushing to finish teaching the full curriculum required before summer holidays etc. Simply said, learning will improve. Your kids will be smarter for it, and fitter!
When I was younger I always wanted a break from school, and summer always seemed to drag on and on when if finally came. What would be wrong with shorter breaks more often? It's not like family vacations take two months anyways. It might be better for the whole family if students has shorter breaks between school. Everything costs money and why should money be an issue now? It's always been an issue and nothing has changed.

Private education is necessary if you want your kids to actually learn.

I was just thinking the other day that school years should be shorter. I mean, honestly? 12 YEARS of going to school for pretty much the whole year? Lets be honest people, 2 months isn't that long at all. Students would start feeling overwhelmed. You all talk about the benefits to parents and teachers, and, hypothetically, students, but you don't think about the stress it would put on the student. Highschool isn't the same since we were there. From what my kids tell me, its horrible and the rates of depression and suicide among teens have never been higher.

I myself am currently enrolled in a public highschool. On one of the previous comments someone said that during the summer breaks kids just watch TV. I know I can't speak for everyone, but during my summer break I never watch TV. Unless there is something interesting on the history channel on. I spend my summer reading books mostly and listening to music. The books I read are usually about history or classics like 1984, or Brave New World. The only time I really watch TV is after school because by the end of the day I'm usually exhausted and I don't have the energy to do much else.
Also, they said we should spend more time around our peers. This person obviously doesn't know what a highschool is like. Pretty much everyone in my school besides my friends are all racist buttholes with no respect for anyone or anything, and think getting drunk, smoking pot, swearing, and wearing slutty clothes makes them cool.

It is absolutely time for year round schooling.....My children have just spent almost two weeks of absolutely non productive time for the end of the year...then have to waste time with necessary review in two months...we no longer have children helping on the family farm. Regarding the argument of family vacation...well that may be the reality for those who have the financial ability..however for most of us...this is not a reality to take trips on March break...to take a month's vacation in summer...we struggle year round...

Here's a different thought to the whole year-round schooling - why not set up a national summer daycare system with educational teachings for the younger children in existing school buildings? Kids would still have a structure of going to school, yet the schooling program does not have to be as intense as the rest of the year. When the kids get wiry they can get outside and play to burn off the energy. They also have the freedom of going on trips with parents or summer camp when possible, without an fear of missing out on valuable school lessons. A summer school program with more hands on or physical activity can be created. Homework for children or teachers could be reduced as well as the year is extended, taking pressure off throughout the rest of the year. This could give back more evenings and week-ends to students and teachers in their personal life.

For the high school kids, they can learn some responsibility by getting a summer job or volunteer in their communities. Thinking back several generations most teens contributed to society, and did not spend the summer hours entertaining themselves with idle activities.

This is certainly not a complete answer. But there are a couple of clear message from the above comments; everyone wants family time together in the year and children to have opportunities to learn. So why not spread out education over a year and allow more breaks between and a flexible summer attendance? Parents may consider taking their children on holidays during the new "between term" breaks and not necessary focus on the summer months? This would help out parents, and employers too, by taking a break from the work during non-traditional times to enjoy life.

Sure some money needs to be spent to make this happen, but is it not worth it if is educates our future generations?

I agree a teachers' job is not easy and stressful, just as any other jobs. Some teachers are very dedicated and good in their job, I recently met a few. Some are not, just as any other trade, the adminstrator of the public school need to behave as a private organisation as in college and uni or private school, survey need to be conducted to find out whether the teacher is doing his/her job well "accountability" not for dismissal but for improvement. I have to obtain a testimonial survey from my clients on every job I finished. I love to see a teacher's comment and mark my child's writing and my child is not marking his own work. I remember a past dedicated teacher (a well liked teacher by parents but not all students) giving our child a number and we received standardised email weekly on my child's work, short and precise. Suspension is given easily in Canadian schools and the child is given a holiday for being naughty or not attending school, still makes no sense to me. "We need good teachers,not longer school hours."

What a load of crap. Some of the best times of my life was spending time with my family and going camping during the summer.
Most of the worst times of my life was spent in school.
That being said kids need the summer off to enjoy themselves due to teh fact that only part of a persons education is based in school and education, the other being learning about the real world by experiencing it for themselves and they can't do that in a damn classroom.
Leave the school system at the hours it's at now and if you want to improve our children's education start by getting more teachers andhaving smaller classes and programs custom built for everyone in school.
For example alot of students hate sports and gym so why not offer alternatives and also home ec should be brought back as teaching kids how to maintain a home would do wonders for keeping the home clean plus everyone should know the basics of cooking without running the risk of burning the house down.
Basically if you keep students in class longer your just gonna make them bored for longer if anything shorten the time they are in school and make better use of the time they are there.

what the hell? ok so u think this will help it wont . there is enough obesity in our country we dont need more.

I have worked in various fields and have taught as a teacher. Teaching is perhaps the easiest job that I have had and it pays very well. For this good salary, teachers work each day except for a two month period during the summer, two weeks at Christmas, one week for march break and four days for Easter. We have 8 professional development days which for the most part teach teachers very little but it is a time to meet and greet with colleagues. And then there are snow and weather days and teachers do not work on these days. Yes, some work must be done at night or at the end of the school day. And every so often teachers meet with parents and are expected to phone parents (although most parents tire of this intrusion but administrators can boast about pr and parents can not say they were never contacted by the school) at least once a month. To become a teacher one needs at least four years of university, many teachers have six or more years of formal study and many do research for their subject and other areas informally. Does a teacher need four years of university to be a good teacher? Not really, unless at the high school level teaching maths and sciences. Are there problems with students and parents? Yes, this does occur but for the most part this is not a problem for most teachers. A greater problem exists for teachers because of bad management at the school and district levels, union that represent both teacher and manager, and internal systemic dysfunction originating at the top.

I was shocked by canadian schools - long summer vacation and school only from 9 to 3:30. In my country we go to school from 7:30 until 5 and then go to private academies to learn more maybe until night. Canada's test scores are not good. Canadian parents need to support real education like math and not playtime everyday. this is why canada is not good.

if canadian system is so good why is my 8 year old ( grade 3 three in my country) needing a tutor because he is bored in grade three class here? school tested him and said he is doing grade 5 level work but he must stay is grade 3 because of his age. he is so bored playing in class - the first week he reviewed basic shapes and counting - in my country he was doing division. it is a waste.