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| Winter Break; Too little time learning? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 17 2005, 10:30 PM (386 Views) | |
| tomdrobin | Feb 17 2005, 10:30 PM Post #1 |
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Member
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I've got a couple grandkids living with me, and am helping raise them. I knew that Monday, was a holiday (presidents day). But, found out the kids don't have school Friday, nor Monday and Tuesday. They are referring to it as a "Winter Break". It seems to me that with all the breaks and half days, that our kids are getting short changed on their education time. I would be interested in hearing from some of our European members like Mrs S and Cornelius on their education systems in their respective countries. Other than having to deal with kids all day, teaching sounds like a real part time occupation in this country. |
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| cmoehle | Feb 18 2005, 05:47 AM Post #2 |
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Chris - San Antonio TX
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My impression--I see the same with a senior in HS--is it's more and more federal regulation forcing teachers to spend time away from class. Couple that with federal regulation on testing forcing teachers to teach to the test, there's little time left for quality learning, i.e., learning how to think, not what to think. Through junior HS my son was on a year round program. I really liked that because while the breaks were more frequent they were never long enough the kids lost focus on school. |
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Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order. --Barry Goldwater | |
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| Colo_Crawdad | Feb 18 2005, 07:49 AM Post #3 |
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Lowell
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I cannot speak for the "European system," but I can speak for Colorado. Our students do have today and Monday off as "winter Break." They used to have only one of the two days off for the "President's Birthday" weekend. I must add that Colorado, and I suspect other States, have laws demanding a particular number os teacher-student contact days and hours. The result is that, regardless of various breaks,those days and hours of learning must happen in a given school year. Whit we have seen here is a reduction in length of some "vacations" and more shorter "breaks" such as this weekend. The shorter "breaks" are probably much more educationally sound that earlier longer breaks. Again, this only speaks specifically of Colorado. Lowell |
| "WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US." --- Pogo | |
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| DanHouck | Feb 18 2005, 07:55 AM Post #4 |
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Land of Enchantment NM
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This may be of interest. http://www.educationnews.org/students-need...r-school-ye.htm Dan |
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| cmoehle | Feb 18 2005, 08:09 AM Post #5 |
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Chris - San Antonio TX
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Lowell, I guess I've heard that too, that the longer breaks are getting shorter to accommodate more short breaks. Sure seems they're out too much. Interesting article, Dan. Compared to Japan we are lackadaisical. But they are fanatical: From kintergarden up most spend all day in school, stop on way home for special classes and tutoring, eat, and go out fr another special class or tutoring. Most all of Saturday is spent in special schools. Extremely competitive in terms of getting into the best schools. Watching them when I was there I always wondered if they ever stopped to play. Holds true till they reach college at which point the education and work careers are set pretty much for life so they can relax and do little. --Wouldn't wish that on American kids. |
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Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order. --Barry Goldwater | |
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| Colo_Crawdad | Feb 18 2005, 08:21 AM Post #6 |
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Lowell
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Just something else to place in the mix and about which to think. One of the hurdles that secondary education has faced when attempting to increase the length of the school year is the opposition by businesses to lengthening the school years. A number of States have even passed legislation that says school cannot begin prior to September 1 and must adjourn prior to June 1. The legislation has has consistently had the support of businesses who wished to employ secondary students in tourism and other summer recreational endeavors. |
| "WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US." --- Pogo | |
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| brewster | Feb 18 2005, 08:24 AM Post #7 |
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Winemaker Extraordinaire
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Japan sounds way too far off the edge, but here in Canada, the school year is getting far too short as well. When I was a lad, and dinosaurs still roamed, we were supposed to put in 200 days a year, 9AM to 4PM. Now, I don't think they get in 150 days, 9:30 to 3. And I don't think there's any new technology that stuffs info in any faster than in my day... |
My Favourite CampsiteBow Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, Alberta | |
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| MrsS | Feb 18 2005, 02:30 PM Post #8 |
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Hessia/Germany
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Vacation time in Germany is 13 weeks per year, splitted in: 6 weeks in summer 2 weeks in spring 2 weeks in autumn 3 weeks christmas School starts 8pm, the end depends on how old the kids are: Elementary 20 hrs/week in first grade to ca 26 in fourth. Secondary up to 35 hrs/week. All-day-schooling is increasing, but it`s still minority..of course because of monetary reasons...does that sound familiar to you?? |
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Anneliese | |
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| jackd | Feb 18 2005, 02:37 PM Post #9 |
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Member
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Here are some number I googled: Number of school days/year: Japan:220 East Asia; 208 South Korea: 222 Denmark: 200 Germany: 220 Australia:190 U.K. 190 France: 180 Canada: 182 Cuba: 220 Brazil: 200 Switzerland: 192 U.S. 180 |
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Walk in front of me, you lead me, Walk behind me, I lead you Walk beside me, you are a friend. | |
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| MrsS | Feb 18 2005, 02:44 PM Post #10 |
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Hessia/Germany
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What?? I suerly should move.... :lol: |
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Anneliese | |
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| jackd | Feb 18 2005, 02:49 PM Post #11 |
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Member
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....220 days.......not that Germans are slow learners,....they only learn more thing
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Walk in front of me, you lead me, Walk behind me, I lead you Walk beside me, you are a friend. | |
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| MrsS | Feb 18 2005, 02:53 PM Post #12 |
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Hessia/Germany
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Obviously not... Thanks |
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Anneliese | |
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| jackd | Feb 18 2005, 02:55 PM Post #13 |
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Member
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I noticed your "suerly" but who am I to correct you?
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Walk in front of me, you lead me, Walk behind me, I lead you Walk beside me, you are a friend. | |
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| cmoehle | Feb 18 2005, 03:04 PM Post #14 |
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Chris - San Antonio TX
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I didn't notice it. Jack, interesting list. Puts US at the bottom. Like our test scores. Now I wouldn't infer cause and effect but the coincidence is uncanny. |
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Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order. --Barry Goldwater | |
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| MrsS | Feb 18 2005, 03:14 PM Post #15 |
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Hessia/Germany
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I`ve also heard that. They seem to be under permanent pressure, and the suicide rate among kids is high...higher than it is in western nations. And I think Japanese kids are extremely adepted. No, I guess I prefer our lazy ones... :lol: |
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Anneliese | |
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