Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Extended School Year Would Have Dire Economic Effects, Critics Say
Fox News ^ | 9/29/09 | Cristina Corbin

Posted on 09/29/2009 10:00:08 AM PDT by Nachum

If the academic year gets pushed deeper into summer, as President Obama is advocating, the grumbling will not be limited just to students and teachers who will be forced to spend more days in school.

Critics say the president's call for a longer academic calendar and a shorter summer vacation will bring on a host of unintended consequences -- including increased costs for school systems, major cuts to the nation's hotel and tourism industries, and a serious blow to summer camp operators.

Obama says kids in the U.S. spend too little time in the classroom, putting them at a disadvantage when competing with students in other countries. The president has suggested that making school days longer and extending the school year will increase learning, raise test scores and close the achievement gap.

But while Obama's proposal is meant to improve education, critics say a curtailed summer vacation will have a dire economic impact on school systems, which could be forced to retrofit their schools for air conditioning, pay overtime to teachers and incur higher utility costs

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: agenda; bho44; bhofascism; democrats; economic; economy; education; extended; fubo; indoctrination; publiceducation; publicschools; school; unemployment; year
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-79 next last

1 posted on 09/29/2009 10:00:09 AM PDT by Nachum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar; NorwegianViking; ExTexasRedhead; HollyB; FromLori; EricTheRed_VocalMinority; ...

The list, ping


2 posted on 09/29/2009 10:00:48 AM PDT by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

More time to indoctrinate.


3 posted on 09/29/2009 10:01:59 AM PDT by manic4organic (We Are S0 Screwed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

Let me see here. My school district this year cut three days from our work year. Now, Obozo wants to increase the number of days and the number of hours per day that students are in school. So, those of us working in public education are going to be expected to work more time, but for less pay?????


4 posted on 09/29/2009 10:03:11 AM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier whose wife is expecting twins SONS.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

Not only that, but there will be a lack of kids available for summer employment.


5 posted on 09/29/2009 10:03:21 AM PDT by Pessimist (u)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

His rapidly falling poll numbers have convinced him that he needs more time to indoctrinate our kids.


6 posted on 09/29/2009 10:03:28 AM PDT by vg0va3 (I don't plan to quit the fight until it is finally over.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: manic4organic
I believe Obama should have introduced his proposal in his propaganda speech to students.
7 posted on 09/29/2009 10:03:48 AM PDT by MBB1984
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Nachum
Once again, the jOker opens his mouth before thinking.

WHAT A GREAT PRESIDENT WE HAVE...

...not...

8 posted on 09/29/2009 10:04:00 AM PDT by kromike
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

I would support year round school if it wasn’t for the fact that I know that most of the schools in America waste a lot of time as it is stepping outsides the bounds of “reading, writing and arithmetic”.


9 posted on 09/29/2009 10:04:28 AM PDT by Tamar1973 (http://koreanforniancooking.blogspot.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

Outside of the fact that it would devastate the tourism industry, consider the cost to air condition schools or the energy costs of running those air conditioners.

And talk to me about kids in Arizona and Texas riding to school on unairconditioned buses in the middle of July.


10 posted on 09/29/2009 10:04:55 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands ("Failed Obama Administration" (TM))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

I have come to the conclusion that WHATEVER this guys suggests we do, we should instead do exactly the opposite and we’ll be just fine.


11 posted on 09/29/2009 10:05:08 AM PDT by roaddog727 (It's the Constitution, Stupid!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum
Raising children incapable of competing globally will have even more dire economic consequences.

That being said, I think the problem lies in the quality of education American children receive, not the quantity.

12 posted on 09/29/2009 10:05:16 AM PDT by Drew68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum
"Barack Obama", says Michelle Obama, "is going to demand that you shed your cynicism, that you put down your divisions, that you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones, that you push yourself to be better and that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved and uninformed."
13 posted on 09/29/2009 10:05:24 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Ask not what the Kennedys can do for you, but what you can do for the Kennedys.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum

That’s the intent. Break the country and in so doing, indoctrinate!


14 posted on 09/29/2009 10:06:31 AM PDT by albie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum; All

“Obama says kids in the U.S. spend too little time in the classroom, putting them at a disadvantage when competing with students in other countries.”

This is actually a misconception.

While American kids spend fewer days in school, they spend more hours than even places like Japan.


15 posted on 09/29/2009 10:07:08 AM PDT by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: newgeezer

Interesting.


16 posted on 09/29/2009 10:07:13 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Love your neighbor as you love yourself.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nachum
All this will do is allow the crack-addicted "parents" more free time to pursue their habits, and the government will subsidize their daycare.

Besides, I thought our public schools were failing? If they suck for 9 months out of the year, will 10 or 11 months be a good idea?

17 posted on 09/29/2009 10:07:38 AM PDT by AbeKrieger (Islam is a trojan horse designed to infiltrate and bring down Western civilization.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: manic4organic

Don’t forget more time to waste, in my experience there could be a great deal more value added.


18 posted on 09/29/2009 10:07:56 AM PDT by phormer phrog phlyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Drew68

While quality is most assuredly a huge problem, the long summer break is as well. Most of the first semester each year is spent remembering all the stuff they need from last year to move forward. I think it would be a much better system to get 2 weeks or so off every quarter and let them go year round. It is my preferred method for homeschooling as well.


19 posted on 09/29/2009 10:09:11 AM PDT by wombtotomb (Equal opportunity does not mean equal OUTCOME!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Tamar1973
The simple truth of the matter is that American schools are basically taxpayer-funded day care centers, and extending the school year makes it easier to get more adults into the work force.

This is the underlying pressure behind all of these measures -- including not only extending the school year, but starting school earlier in childhood, extending the school day, serving more meals at school, etc.

20 posted on 09/29/2009 10:09:13 AM PDT by Alberta's Child (God is great, beer is good . . . and people are crazy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-79 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson