Obama proposes extension to school year

November 23, 2009 • Lee Hollman  
Filed under Local, National, News, Regional

With the country’s test scores plummeting in comparison to other nations, President Barack Obama has proposed a new year-long education program as a means of combating the nation’s falling educational standards.

During a press conference in March, President Obama commented on the faults of the traditional education system.

“Despite resources that are unmatched anywhere in the world, we have let our grades slip, our schools crumble, our teacher quality fall short and other nations outpace us,” Obama said.

Studies show that the highest amount of above proficient students in the Unites States is 51% of students in Massachusetts, while the country of Singapore has a level of over 70%.

Obama stated that to be able to succeed in the 21st century, educators would need to adapt to a new academic calendar.

“We can no longer afford an academic calendar designed when America was a nation of farmers who needed their children at home plowing the land at the end of each day,” Obama said.

The President also referenced the shortcomings of the US educational calendar as compared to the competition.

“That calendar may have once made sense, but today, it puts us at a competitive disadvantage. Our children spend over a month less in school than children in South Korea. That is no way to prepare them for a 21st century economy,” Obama said.

Although Obama believes that a longer school year could increase the nation’s educational standing, both teachers and administrators believe that the system has its faults.

“I think it needs to have community support,” English teacher Kate Schultz said.

The program would likely pose problems to parents with children in multiple schools, and with work schedules that change during the summer, and would not accommodate their children being in school throughout the summer.

The year-long program may have numerous problems with students and parents, but would also have a large impact on the school budget.

“More school days would likely increase staffing costs,” Principal Jeff Zaspel said.

The increased costs of maintenance, utilities, and lunches could also  pose a problem during the current economic downturn.

“With funding as tight as it currently is, I would be surprised to see the school year lengthened,” Zaspel said.

The higher cost of the year-long program may prove to be a burden in today’s low-budget schools.

Discounting the current economic situation, a year-round school system could greatly improve the educational climate of the whole nation.

“I think year-round school would be a great investment in our youth, and I do believe we could accomplish more, and perhaps offer more innovative programs more customized to student needs,” District Superintendent James Fitzpatrick said.

Unlike the current system, the proposed year-long system features a series of short breaks, which could allow children to remember more of their studies.

“It would take a lot less time to get in to the school groove,” Schultz said.

Fitzpatrick also believes that a longer school year could be achieved in a way that would not affect students negatively.

“I think it would be good to have more time with students in a school year, and I think you could do it in a way where there would still be adequate breaks throughout the year,” Fitzpatrick said.

If the program is used properly, a prolonged school year could prove beneficial to students, teachers, and parents. Even though the amount of days in the plan still isn’t decided, both Obama and administrators agree that the school year needs to be prolonged in order for students to be educated properly and to help the ailing United States educational system.

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