Should Americans Spend More Time in School?
One of the many changes Obama wishes to make is making the traditional 180 day school year longer. Americans spend a month less time in schools than other educationally advanced countries. Should the school year be longer?
This may be the only solution to the attenuated American high school education standards problem.
In the U.S.A, the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001" exemplary instruction in reading and math. A “highly qualified” teacher was required, in every American classroom as per this law; by 2007. However highly teachers are expensive, deadlines are hard to meet(ask President Obama),etc and so, the failed implementation of this law has invoked the reauthorization debate.
While the NAEP(National Assessment of Education Progress" reveals that American students are performing very well in reading, mathematics and science; most international tests and studies tell a different story. For example, American students suffered in these subjects when compared with students of 46 other countries in the TIMSS(The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study). American students also fell behind peers of 20 out of 30 countries when tested with The Program for International Student Assessment.
One reason for this could be globalization as prodded in the article referenced/extracted below; however the fact that students from other countries spend more time in school and with teachers is more likely the troublesome root of the problem.
While other logical strategies have failed after being employed under the no child left behind act; this may be America's last resort.
"The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” measures the proficiency of fourth, eighth, and 12th grade students in mathematics, science and reading. During the period 1990-2005, NAEP test results showed positive performance trends. In contrast to the national standards measured by NAEP, a comparison of U.S. scores against international standards is not as positive.The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) test was developed by education professionals from many countries. In 2003, students from 46 countries took the test. U.S. scores lagged behind those of other nations. Another international education assessment tool, the Program for International Student Assessment, tests 15 year olds from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member countries on math, science, and reading literacy. In the latest test in 2003, U.S. students scored below the international average and did significantly worse than students from 20 of the 30 participating countries.Some experts believe the United States is losing its competitive and comparative advantage because of globalization and the associated gains achieved by other nations, the ICAF study pointed out."-
There is no evidence suggesting that longer hours in school will improve productivity. Most research suggests that American students are generally burned out because of education pressures; taxing and frequent testing and so forth. Certain universities require fresh high school graduates to take a year off before freshman year because of a national lethargy stimulated by over-testing, too much pressure and no relief. More time in school will not reinvigorate students as desirable and may plausibly worsen or exacerbate the issue at hand.
Add to that; rising college tuition costs and a constant difference between high-school alumni and college alumni incomes and you get a depleting incentive to go to college. Financial pressure can be hugely demotivating for high-school students who worry about getting loans and paying them off; especially given the current economic climate.