BOOOOOOO BARWACK OSAMA!

Well I loved my Summer vacation, but this may not be such a bad idea. They do this in some other countries.

Parents need to realize right now that there children are behind and all of us as a country are behind and to be able able to get back on track, will require more work… We are very lazy as a nation thinking that there thing is suppose to be giving to us… If not in the summer time then maybe children should start to have Saturday classes as well but I also think that we need better teachers and school system just in general…

Yes i do & we all should there is no such thing as having to much knowledge & children are like sponges anyhow so why not let them soak up the information they will benefit from later on in life rather than learning how to do the stanky leg : )

I do agree…if they plan to improve the curriculum for ALLLLL children priviledged and non priviledged…if they are going to provide books for class and take home use and really EDUCATE the children. If they plan to prepare them for more than tests but make it so that ALL of OUR children are able to compete with the world in colleges and in the work force…something needs to be done for our future and the future of our children!!!

HELL YEAH!!! that’ll take care of my daycare bill… and it’s good for them to learn more too…

Love the ideal!!

He isn’t lying. Education in the US is behind just about every other country, yet the US is suppose to be this big powerhouse.

Even with healthcare, why does every other country have universal healthcare except the US?

Make sure those schools are staffed with respectful, enthusiastic educators who are being paid living wages and believe in educating the youth of tomorrow. If not, it’s just a dumping ground, but I’m glad I’m done!!!

WHY ARE PARENTS KISSING KIDS ON THE MOUTH????
That’s wrong

YEAH GO THE SCHOOL.

@ me

did u get touched as a kid is that why its wrong?

@ me

Why is that wrong?

I wouldn’t be opposed to lengthening the school year but I am opposed to school on saturday. These are kids. If most people work M-F, we can’t expect kids to go to school 6 days. As far as longer hours in the day, I think we should provide more extracurriculars for our students so that they have other outlets in school than just class.

As far as universal healthcare goes, it isn’t something that is really very feasible in our country. We simply aren’t making enough money to support it. The reason why economists, including myself, dislike Obama’s healthcare plan is simply that it would cost too much. Our GDP (gross domestic product) is lower than our future spending costs, and the plan would leave our country in perpetual amounts of debt. That’s not the way I would like to leave the country to our youth to fix.

Great ideal, that will keep kids off the streets and less killing in the streets. I don’t wanna go to another funeral where a parent or parents have to bury their 13 or 17 year old child

YES most children and adults can barely read and write so I agree and support his proposition one hundred percent.

I am for Saturday classes, longer days, and shorter summers, better teachers(BETTER SALARIES FOR THEM TOO. THEY SHOULD BE PAID TOP DOLLARS just like lawyers and doctors. Some parents also need to do a better job, make them kids cut that tv off and put the x box down get off the couch and go out side and play but dang it you better be in the house before the streetlights come on and I better be able to see you in the window.

Although it will never be popular with children right now, it does need to happen. Other countries have been doing this for centuries and their children are far more advanced than ours. I think if this is enforced sooner rather than later, over the years kids will get used to it and summer breaks will be a thing of the past…

It not able what they kids want but what they need… If they do not want to make it permanent then should give it like a 10 year trial but something needs to happen… With children having children so young many do not care right now for there children being fully educated because it like having a doll baby and not a baby…

Child are learning right now how to make very unstable decisions, they are learning bad habits and there parent are a reflection of bad choices often as well… There are many adults that would also like to further there education as well and they can still be leaders as well… Educate should be open too all people who want to learn..

@RESURRECTED…..100% agree w/u

Summer vacation is a very outdated thing. It was created for when folks had to work their crops and needed the kids to help out.
My mom who is a school teacher had me in school in the summer for 1/2 days in all kinds of enrichment programs. It helped a lot. I was put in advance placement classes when school started. I wasn’t smarter than the rest of the class, I just seemed that way because I was ahead of them.
I think it would be beneficial to start doing that for all kids. even if the days are shorter.

I too loved summer vacation. The experiences I had at camp were very positive for me. But my mother also had foot in azz about education and I worked super hard in those 9 months of the year. With that being said yes, we are a country are far behind other countries in this world. Many children around the world know multiple languages, and are much more well rounded than our children. Our test scores are dropping and overall America is not in the place where it should be as far as innovation, technology. So if it will overall improve America as a whole, I agree with it.

I also think parents need to be more involved in schooling their children. We have to be involved. We have to sit their and do the homework, communicate with the teachers and administrators. Be involved in the classroom, find out what is going on. My daughter’s teachers have all my numbers and I call once a week. And I constantly remind them to call me if necessary. I feel more parents need to take an active role in their children’s education. It is not just solely the role of the government, or the teachers.

After becoming a parent, I totally have more understanding and respect for the phrase: “It takes a village to raise a child.” We all have to work together.

Im glad i just graduated from school. This dosent seem like a bad idea though. But umm… since when is school a safe place to send your kids? This will most likely make them angry and provoke them to act out in more wilder behavior.

Great idea! Maybe if this happened years and years ago I would be more than I am today!

I am not a parent yet but I am already thinking about what kind of education that I might want of my child… I am thinking of doing home school for my children through the elementary years and then they can start to intergrades with private or public education… All children seem to be learning in school these days is what the other bad and unruly children are learning from at home with from unbalance parenting… I see a lot of my friends who take the time to not expose there children to a lot of mess and then they go to school for the first time and some back in week knowing all of the mess that they have kept away from there for years,,,

LOL @ Lucy if teachers should get paid more than they need to have some type of testing stystem to throw out all the bad teachers and keep the good ones

@ TB

Because the US is solely Capitalist. If it cannot benefit an individual’s pockets or individual corporations pocket’s they want no parts of it. They don’t want betterment for the people overall, maybe just for a few specific people.

Supreme
You sound like me already have a plan even with no kids….

What do people do with summer vacation anymore? NOTHING!! Summer camps are a joke.
I did not grow up in America and I was an excellent student. After school in Jamaica, I had EXTRA LESSONS. Not remedial, but to excel. Summer came we went to Vacation Bible SCHOOL. No joke. We learned about the bible, had fun, but it was School. With homework, exams. And it was the church members who volunteered their time to do that.
When I eventually moved here, they tried to put me back in the fifth grade, saying my language skills were not up to par and my birthdate was not the right date, blah, blah, blah..
Three weekes later I was advanced to the seventh grade, because I tested better than ALL other kids on a standardized test. They originally didn’t want me to take that test because they thought I would bring the school average down. Thanks Mr. Mosca for recognizing and going to bat for me.
I now make a six figure salary, after graduating college 1 year early. Currently working on a PHD.
Summer vacations for the most part is wasted time. By the time a new school year starts, most kids had already forgotten everything they learned the previous. KEEP EM IN SCHOOL!

Im for it. Keep these young mofo’s in school longer, that way they are not out riping and running these streets by 2pm. I agree with the saying, “IDLE HANDS ARE THE DEVILS PLAYGROUND!” Keep them busy and educated.

kids need more reality based experiences. not more time in a class room having propaganda and useless facts shoved down their throats. if we’re going to make a change, it’s going to have to be more than just “more hours in the classroom”.

I think this is a great idea!!! extend the school year!!

Hell no. I think he needs to focus on the task at hand. He is all over the place!

top ramen shotta

That is what responsibility involves… It not the school systems who are failing the children which they still are but the parents who are the mainly responsible for there children reality based experiences

@resurrected yeah even though i wouldve hated to have my summer taken away if i was in school i really think its a great idea. During the summer i always forgot what i learned during the school year and it made it seem like the previous school year was a total waste because i always forgot what i learned! Even now i cant remember half the things i learned in school pertaining to math. The math was crazy in High School. Pre-Cal, Cal, then Pre-College I had no idea i didnt need those classes i ended up having 3 extra math credits because I took all my required math courses in junior high LOL

Nique

I agree with Sepreme with the home school things… I child has a lot of opportunities to be culturly involved with differnet people and exchanges if we are the parents are doing our jobs to expose them… I want to do this with my child for the elementary school yeas and then I will let them be more involved with the public or private school systems..

@Nique i totally agree but it wasnt many schools in my area, so i really didnt have a choice. i live in DC it was only 2 elementary schools and 1 junior high. They recently closed down one of the elementary schools and made it into a police station

@Supreme

Yeah the DC public school system is a complete mess. I totally understand where you are coming from. I wouldnt trade the oppurtunites I had in MO county for anything. Although, I know some ppl didnt take advantage of it as well as they should. But in every school(public/private) there are the problem children that can make the enviroment very difficult-including the teachers who allow those things to take place. Its crazy that teachers have become that afraid of students!

@resurrected yeah i agree homeschool during the elementary year, because when the kids are older if theyre exposed to that type of behavior they would know how to handle it better and ignore it. When theyre younger their brains just eat up whatever their fed. A child is born with a fully developed brain. how the brain matures further depends on the environment around them.

no…no funding = more cuts….again obama is making stuff up….he know can never happen.

No WAY! We as teachers do so much for the children and we are rarely thanked for it! Parents think that we are babysitters and want nothing to do with their own children! Parents should spend time with their own children teaching them manners during those off times so that us,teachers, can spend more time teaching and not dealing with bad behavior. Take responsibility PARENTS!

I don’t agree with saturday school, but a shorter summer vacation and maybe an extra 2-3 hours per day yes.

EXCELLENT IDEA! Holidays,winter,summer and spring breaks are more than enough time off. Start this up NOW!!!!!

All the people from foreign countries in my classes in college were at the top of the class, and hit the ground running their freshman year. Why? because they were in school longer than we were. With longer school days and school calendars, we could bring back the arts, real health and physical education, and better math and science programs! I can’t believe we might actually reform our crumbling education system! GO OBAMA!

Supreme

Girl you sound like me a sister with a plan I want my children to know how to handle themselves proper and not wanting to follow behind other children.. I was never a follower and don’t want for my child to be either… Yeah I am going to be up on that brain before it slows down…lol… I also live in DC as well and don’t like the school system here…

I HOPE OBMAMA SEE THIS ONE THROUG, BECAUSE THIS CAN’T DO NOTHING BUT HELP IN 1OR2 WAYS.

If this happens, I think we should also follow some counttries and take an entire month off from school and work! Now I know this will never happen…but I just wanted to get my 2 cents in.

I do kinda like the ideal but trying to make kids stay in school like that could cause a high drop out rate, more fights in school, kids picking on kids, etc. So I am concern on how this would turn out.

@WOW I totally agree with you. I think if the governement decides to have school year round their will be more kids dropping out of school. I think it is unfair to the kids who parents DOES spend time with their children, help with homework, and stay involved. This is babysitting!! What the article doesn’t state that although over seas students are only in school 20% more than us they have less class curriculum. They only focus on Math and science. When they go to college that is when they focus on most subjects. For instance, if you want to become a historian you will learn all about history in college for your degree not in k-12. College/University is also cheaper over there and Europe students go to any university there for free..

SCHOOL DOES NOTR TEACH U TO THINK IT TEACHES YOU HOW TO THINK THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A WAY TO INDOCTRINE THE NEXT GENERATION I PROMISE BY 2020 THIS WILL BE A SATANIC SOCIETY

There are obvious ups and downs to either side of this story. Ultimately, our school system, like most other government run programs is horribly inefficient by pretty much any method of measure. If I am going to take away my kids extra-curricular activities just to make them sit in a classroom longer, than I better see some results. IN order for that to happen, there needs to be real CHANGE in the way schools do business. Isnt that what the president promised us? So far the only thing changing is our defecit. Please see my blog where I wrote extensively on ways to actually fix the system without significant changes in expense.
Solidtableleg.blogspot.com

-A Concerned American

the people who are agreeing to this must be stupid. do you know that most students will drop out of school at early ages because of how long it may be. i will be so sorry that i voted for him if he does this and now that hes in there i cant do anything about it and hope that this dosnt fall through and his four run up or hopefully the Lord goes to him and tells him how dumb it sounds.

–a student who is willing to drop out of school

HELLL NOOO!…
if they do this then kids will definitely drop outta skewllll

This is not a good idea. Teachers are underpaid and overworked already. Parents need to start working with their children at home. Schools are becoming babysitting service. 60% of the parents don’t care about their children receive a good education. They just don’t want to be bother. What Obam needs to do is allow states to pay teachers bi-weekly rather once a month. Good teachers are leaving the profession and going to be nurses where they can pay their bills. My mom is a teacher for 28 years, and now she is hating it!

@Lisa, so what? your mom leaves teaching and there are ten teachers out there looking for a job. What you said makes no sense.
Switzerland had one of the best educated children/adults of all Western Europe and the have one of the longest school year, also send children to study and fun camps during their short summer.
As you could see from the various Town Hall meetings this summer American are inherently stupid, so keep them in school longer to dull that stupidity.

@ drenk and tb
I shouldn’t have to explain this but
They are kids, they don’t really know the risks(viruses) and they are being subjected to these risks by an authority figure.
There should be informed consent (i don’t think they are informed,neither am I sure that they consent).
Suppose superhead kissed her kid on the mouth you would have no problem with it?

Some of you really need/ed this, Spell check damn-it!

Oh, yeah.
This is an issue that matters less than Beyonce’s tore up weave and the recent nuptuals of KK and LO. You wonder why this country is going to shit?

In HS and college, I went to school year round even though I didn’t have to, so in a way I see nothing wrong with kids spending more time in school. However, during the summers, for a few weeks, kids should have the option to attend some sort of educational camp instead of traditional school in addition to a two or three week vacation. This way they won’t get burnt out. Now here is the question, how would we fund this? With so many cuts to education with a traditional school year, in some areas summer school has been cut out, how is this going to work? How are we going to pay teachers for 12 months when we can’t even afford to pay them for 9 months, in some instances? It sounds good but there are a lot of obstacles to overcome. I would be willing to pay for my kids to attend a year round school but many aren’t or can’t afford to do so.

This time will allow for more specialized and individualized instruction for the students on their level. If this program is done correctly, the extended hours will: provide remedial work for the kids who needs it (struggling in reading, math and science), tougher work for the kids who need it (on or above grade level). Clubs and organizations will also meet during this time: drama, art, chess, swimming, foreign languages, etc.

Hell nah!! I’m a teacher and we are already underpaid and overworked!! With budget cuts and funding issues, how in the world are you going to keep schools open for longer periods of time? When does the accountability fall back on the parents?!? Work with your damn kids @ home!! Most of the reasons parents are agreeing to this is because their cheap butts don’t want to pay a daycare bill! Don’t have kids if you can’t afford them.

I’m sorry but I’m going to be a teacher and I do not agree with some of this. It just doesnt sound like it will work, some of the schools I have visited don;t even have textbooks for all the students, so how are they going to be able to afford having these schools open longer.

I also think it will be too much for the kids, because they are just kids. They can barely make it the 7 hour days now, so making the day longer will wear them out.
I do think that summer vacation does do damage to kids (kids getting into trouble bc the parents dont give them anything to do, and forgetting information so by the time august comes we have to do a lot of reteaching).

But I think that the responsibility needs to go to the parents. I remember during the summer, my parents took my sister and I different places around town, like the art museum, the science center… It didnt seem educational to me then, but looking back, I did learn a lot. I know some people dont have the resources (time or money) for this, but that doesnt mean you cant spend 10 minutes a day with your kid reviewing math, or going over flashcards. Make your kids do book reports every week, its not that hard, libraries are free…

What I dont like is reading these posts with people saying they like this because they wont have to pay daycare bills..these are the same people who drop thier kids off at school and dont look back, dont show up to parent teacher confrences, dont do anything to try and better their kids, but want to complain when the school is failing. Parents need to step it up! It takes a village to raise a child, but we aren’t going to raise them for you…

No. Bad idea. It’s not about quantity, its about quality. Kids are already burnt out after the seven hours they do already. A first grader should not be in school from seven thirty till five o clock. They should go to bed at 8-8:30 so that leave a very small amount of time for family. What if they have karate or piano? Thats just not a good move.

I understand that a lot of kids are failing but a lot of kids are doing very well. The dividing factor is the parents. High acheiving kids usually have parents who back up the teachers by making their children study, read, do homework, bring books and materials to school everyday, and behave in class.

We keep manipulating the teachers and the students and we keep missing the mark. Maybe its time to make parents step up their game.

If we cut out all the half days, which screw up the schedule of most families anyway, we could easily gain a couple of more weeks a year. They also don’t need two weeks at Christmas, winter break and a spring break – that’s a month right there. Change it to one week for Christmas and spring break. That’s another 2 more weeks in school.

The teachers union will never let this fly.

Well even though I’m not a parent yet I think its a great idea. I’m working as an English teacher in S. Korea now and in most Asian countries as well as the rest of the world children are in school for longer days and summer. I’m not working in an area that has an economical advantage at all. Actually these parents work hard for the necessities as well. Like others said, when the kids get to college and are competing with children from other areas of the world they can barely keep up (I was there myself as a Univ. of Michigan alum). Alot of our kids are ill-equiped once they graduate HS.

Furthermore, I’m sorry but the kids if they want to be successful they would just have to deal. These kids I work with not only go to school 8 hours a day, they then go places called Hagwoons or academies after school for Math, English etc. They are preparing to be Doctors and Diplomats (I had a 3rd grader tell me he wanted to be a diplomat my mouth dropped that he even knew the word in English). The kids basically got a few weeks off for summer… and they were still going to their academies. If we want kids to be at the top of their classes and ahead of the Chinese, Japanese, etc kids then they have to put in the same work point blank.

i currently live in japan (im in the military) and the kids here go to school 6 days week, and school doesnt get out until about 7 pm here too…

gtfoh, no ones giving you any tax money back..lol..that was funny tho. after reading all of the comments i would have to say i agree. i think teachers that do not want this shouldnt be teachers bc it shouldnt be ALL about the pay. i agree that the gov’t does need to find a way to fund this AND teachers should make more money but again if there are teachers that dont like this then sounds to me liek you shouldnt be a teacher bc its not a passion of yours. i had a teacher by the name of ms johnson that use to stay late for kids that wanted to ahve that extra time and the school didnt pay her extra for it,s he did it bc she cared. so along w/ more money for them should come some kind of rating system to ensure not only that they are properly doing their job but that they actually want tod o their job. if you look at the comments from the ppl living overseas you can see that those esmall kids can do it so why can’t ours? its because of the parents. we want our kids to have play time. how exactly is that a benefit to them? im not saying they should get a chance to play but again how is that helping them in any of their future endeavors? it willl not be too much for the ones that enter the system that way, it will only be too much for the ones that have been condtioned ot be lazy. now i do agree that parents need to be more involved, if they were more actively invloved it wld help their children tremendously. i guess i can see it form both sides but i think its a cood idea. let them have a /few/couple of two week vacations throughout the yr but year round school will be good for the kids. if theyre droppin out bc of it that falls back on the parents

YES>>>

YES>>>>>>>

UPGRADE US OBAMA!!!!!!