Mr. Joe,
An idea came to my mind, the kids are already at school, hold days longer. Instead of getting out at 3:00pm stay till 7:00pm or later. You save the cost in fuel for busses and the schools are already warm and ready. Winners all around. Or it could be done later when it warms up and daylight is later. I'm sure there's many reasons why not, but I had to ask. Thanks for your community service.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
I'm an adult and I tend to get a little cranky around 6pm. LOL! I can only imagine an irritated kid at school at 7pm. I don't think they would accomplish enough for it to work.
ReplyDeleteA good idea, but not sure you'd be able to hold little kids attention for those extra hours.
ReplyDeleteTimes like these homeschooling looks better and better, but with both spouses working in this economy, not many families can do that.
im sorry but school at night or school on saturdays is just not an option. that is a can of worms we do not want to open. give it a rest, school is going to go into the summer a little bit. when i was in school it happened to us a couple of times, nobody died. these ideas to stay until all hours of the evening, whos going to feed the kids by the way? and going in on saturdays are ridiculous. give it a rest.
ReplyDeleteAnd I suppose you think that it isn't important to have your kids home to have dinner with the family? The kids won't perform well, having 11 hour school days will be too hard on them. They need to be home in the evenings with their families; family time is just as important!!
ReplyDeleteAww, good idea....but forget it, they would have to eat supper at school. And I know mothers would be jumping at the chance to pack 2 meals for their kids. :-)
ReplyDeleteHey, the way I see it is, if you can pack them a lunch you can also pack them a late snack and or dinner.
ReplyDeleteI'm not suggesting this idea would ever fly but they could extend the days somewhat.
Oh, that's right, the wet pants liberals would have a fit and say it's something like slavery.
What about kids involved in after school activities (all my kids have private piano lessons after school)? What about supper, you going to feed them at school (it is a long time from 12N to and a supper well after 7PM)? What about homework(some kids are on a bus an hour or longer)? etc, etc,etc
ReplyDeleteanonymous 1:13, what aboput having the teachers have them do their homework right there in the after hours. As for piano lessons, what about weekends?
ReplyDeleteThey do make adult diapers too, you know.
What about taking the Spring Break away? Let them have off Good Friday, as usual, but let them return to school that Monday and go the rest of that week. Just a suggestion and I don't work in the school system so I admit I DO NOT know how things changes get accomplished.
ReplyDeleteI could see extending the day maybe an hour, but much longer would be too much the the students to handle. Everyone needs time to unwind at the end of the day. Students still have homework to complete when they get home, so they would have no time to relax with a 12 hour day resulting in poor performance.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the after school activities as well.Instead of extending it to 7pm,why not extend it an hour a day for like a month? That would make up time for a few days worth at 1 hour per day.That would make up some of the time so they wouldn't have to go to school til July.Sure,they'd still have to make up a few days,but not nearly as many.
ReplyDeleteWow thats a terrible idea
ReplyDeleteHere are a couple of reasons why: 1) Why don't you donate your time and try to maintain the focus of 30 kids til 7pm. I'll even let you choose the grade level or your choice. 2) You teach a 100+ kids in a day and get off around 7pm. When you get off grade 100+ papers before bed, and then try having a life on top of that.3) How much more tax payer money are you willing for dish out to pay overtime for the teachers. Can't have them working 60 hour weeks and not getting overtime.4) Do you postpone all extra curricular activities during this time period or do you have basketball teams getting off practice at midnight?
ReplyDeletejoealbero @1:12, I see things politically just about down the same lines as you, but the wet pants liberal comment here is a bit much. Seriously, it's a matter of common sense. Why don't you show up to school for those days and work 7 to 7. Deal with everything that goes along with teaching as well.
ReplyDeleteMy day here starts at around 6:00 AM. My day, (7 days a week, mind you) ends around 11:30 PM. I have been dedicated to delivering news and information for FREE to you for the past 5 years now.
ReplyDeletePlease do NOT suggest I put in a hard days work.
NO.NO.NO
ReplyDeleteKids need 'relax' time.
Kids need 'family' time.
Parents need 'family' time.
I don't even agree with getting homework.....
What about WORK snow days. The city of Salisbury was under a state of emergency last Thursday. My boss says if I want paid for work thursday, I must take a vacation day! I'm sorry boss, but the CITY GOVERNMENT said NOT TO DRIVE on the roads!!! So I should get paid without having to take my vacation time!
ReplyDeleteNo comparison Joe
ReplyDeleteCan't do that....they HAVE to play sports with their low GPA!!!
ReplyDeletei dont think the fact that i feel school until 7 pm or on saturdays is acceptable makes me a "wet pants liberal" my feelings have nothing to do with being politically correct. its is ridiculous that everyone is crying because school will be a few extra days. they arent even "extra" because the kids were at home this whole time having time off. duh. i think the idea stinks because kids riding the bus that the school district provides will not get home until 8 :30 given the ridiculous way the school districts have mapped out the bus routes. im tired of all the bs, get over it
ReplyDeleteMy only concerns is some of the schools don't have A/C and get quite stuffy and down right hot where it seems cooler on the outside....That is my issue...but I will of course send my kids to school on whatever they decide...what else can you do?? you can gripe moan groan and complain...but its not going to solve anything...you don't have to send your kids...just make sure you do realize you will get in trouble if its over the allowed time off....well that is my 2 cents
ReplyDeleteAnd he has to put up with me the whole time, try that for a couple months and see how ya feel.
ReplyDeleteMy idea was 2 hours extra per day, that takes the school day to 4:30 or 5:00pm depending on the school. That is not 7:00pm, do the math. Also I am a "wet pants liberal" according to your twisted logic.
ReplyDeleteNot a good idea....You obviously do not have any children in school.
ReplyDeleteIn the long run of life what difference will these days make in anyones life. Not one darn bit.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Doug! Any of us that attended school had to go through similar situations and if you are reading this you are still alive!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat will happen is parents will have vacations scheduled for the mid to end of June and kids simply will not be in school that last week or so any how!
Oh my....you are going to get some of the "overworked" teachers fired up with this one!!! I think that today the students should of had off and the teachers could have gone for an early "professional" day that they are suppose to have in March, then the kids could have gone on that SAFE day in March to make up one of their days. I am so sick of hearing over the last 10 days that it is in there "contract" that they cannot go past June 18th. Sone, (not all) of these teachers need to get a dose of reality!!! My husband gets up and goes to work in every type of weather all year long. Actaully, his business closed for the first time ever last week. He would have loved to had the last 10 days off. Guess what I am getting at is it doesnt matter when or who chooses when we are going to make these days up, some of the WCBOE employees are going to whine and cry!!!!
ReplyDelete1:15- They dont call it Good Friday in school anymore, nor do the pray or have to say God in the Pledge. Thats why its Spring Break and not Easter anymore. Get the trend??? Christmas is next......then I guess we can make up a day there too huh?? I just dont see where 5-10 days is so detrimental to our children's education. A little more Jesus and little less on time need would be welcomed.
ReplyDeleteTil 7 pm is a little bit much. Maybe an hour a day. If you have them in school til 7pm they will not be able to get their homework done nor have time for dinner and a bath or any play time at all. There is a few months left of school so an hour a day would make up the missed days in no time at all.
ReplyDeleteI am very much not for this at all. My children have a very strict routine, and would not stand for it being broken. My children are used to eating dinner at 5:15 and going to be at 7 and they are 6 and 9. I will be one that if they suggest this to raise hell and so would my husband.
ReplyDeleteLengthening the school days does nothing. Changing 1/2 days to full days does nothing. The students have to be in school 180 days. If it is a half day that ends at 12:50 for middle and high school--that can be counted as a full day. If the students were to stay until 3 that still would be counted as 1 day. The last 3 days are 1/2 days only so they can say they were in school and being 1/2 days counts as a full day. No learning will be done the last 2 weeks of school anyway. Movies are watched and games played. The only way to make these days up is to get rid of professional days, shorten the spring break, and add on to the end of the year. AS much as we, as parents, don't like the longer year--that's what it will have to be.
ReplyDeleteJoe, i have to say that extended school hrs would simply be a waste of time. Has any of these people spent anytime in Wicomico County Public Schools? I have and these kids dont give a damn about anything... the majority of the middle and high school kids have been arrested for God's sake. take a look at the kids on the free lunch line and the kids that get free summer school.. they are the same kids the majority of those kids are bad news and you think teachers want to spend more time with them? as for the parents that disagree they just dont want to take the responsibility to manage their own kids and the others have a bunch of lazy over weight kids who it would be too hot for them sit in school and sweat a little bit.
ReplyDelete3:16 pm your sole purpose in life is to piss people off right? I happen to have kids in Wicomico County Schools. They do give a damn about their education. You are also wrong--the majority of the high school and middle school kids have not been arrested. Do NOT judge all kids by the actions of some. There are a lot of very GOOD kids in WCS. Yes there are some bad apples in there too, but don't say that they are all bad. I bet you send(t) your kids if you have any to private schools. Not everyone can afford this. Not everyone was born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Be thankful the kids are in the school attempting to get an education.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm about the only one that is glad my kids are back in school! Yeah I have a job and I had to bring my kids with me, thank goodness I can do that. School should have been open way before today, parents should have been given a choice to drive their kids to school, those who didn't...well their grades would suffer. I have been driving on the roads and I know most of you have been too. Heck if you live in a neighboorhood, get your shovels out and clear the roads as a team! My whole family and others pitched in on our road, and it was pretty clear the day after the snow. Do a little work.
ReplyDeleteAs for school not being extended too far into the summer because of no A/C...come on! My kids will be outside playing ALL DAY (their choice) in 90 degree weather, whats the difference then being in the classroom???? Oh I guess my kids actually not minding being hot are sorta the exception now to most with all the computers and video games, most kids now are too spoiled and pampered to work up much of a sweat!
Yea great idea...and instead of teachers having to work 70+ hours a week, now they can work 90+ hours and be paid the same. I'm sure we'd see some real, high quality teaching from those teachers! I'm 27. I think the only other time in my life that we missed any amount of school b/c of weather was 1996...we made the days up and life went on. Here I am today!
ReplyDeleteSend kids to school for six consecutive saturdays to make up the days.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Virginia and when we would have bad winters we would make up some school days on Saturday's. It was a rare thing, but so is the recent snow we have been having.
ReplyDeleteI have a great idea! Why not let the Board of Ed make the decision, right after the State BOE gives them their options. What ever the Board of Ed decides will have half of you getting on this blog, saying how irresponsible the board is and not caring about your kids. Whereas the other half will think the decision was the best thing to happen since sliced bread. This is just human nature. Just cool it you all, everything always works out in the end - be it right or wrong.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of time Wicomico County goes a much longer school day than is required by the state. Ohter counties count this time in order to apply it to make-up days. I wish someone would ask why that isn't done here?????
ReplyDeleteI guess I would have to quit my part time job then. I have to be there at 5:30 and both of my kids are walkers. Do I want them walking at 7:00 at night from school? Hell no!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have a full time job also.
All of you people suggesting longer hours have no flippin clue...it does not matter how many hours you go in a school year. MSDE says that you have to go 180 days unless districts are granted a waiver from them. Dr. Grasmick will be making her decision later in the week according to the Baltimore Sun. We could go for 20 hours a day and it wouldn't matter...just shows your ignorance on the issue
ReplyDeleteto 6:24pm
ReplyDeletewow! someone get their toes stept on. sounds like someone need a new job.
given how poorly the childern are learning in school at six (6) hr a day, mabe making the day eight (8)hr would help them learn better. given the large number of childern per class would give teachers more time per student equals high grades.
ReplyDeleteWe asked to have snow days waived back in '96 based on the fact that we go longer each and every school day than most of the other counties in MD. It was not accepted as a replacement to the days we had missed.
ReplyDelete7:16, that's what these idiots don't realize. It doesn't matter how long you go, as long as it's half a day it counts as one day. Going more hours in one day doesn't make up for another. Their options are go during spring break or extend the school year. Thank you for your understanding.
ReplyDeleteEven one hour a day is too much! My kids get on the bus at 7am they get off the bus after 4pm... thats a long day. Then they come home have homework and some studies. Personal time with their friends, family time (that I WON'T give up) and then getting ready to do it all again the next day! When my kids go to bed they crash as it is!
ReplyDeleteThis has happened before, many times, in many states. I am sure we can figure the best way to get around the time they have had off!