Education

OmahaBlueDog

(10,000 posts)

4. I like what OmahaBlueKid1's HS does

Sun Jan 13, 2013, 01:20 PM

Jan 2013

She attends a high school with "block system." In a typical high school, kids have -- call it 7 -- classes all / most of the year for 50-60 minutes a day. In her school, you do 4 blocks in each half of the school year for 90 minutes. So in half a year, you take what, in conventional schools, is a year's worth of English, math, whatever. She has less homework and gets more out of the classes she takes.

There are downsides. She's a band kid, and they want band kids to take a music block all year long. That means 4 years of band in the block system is the equivalent of 8 years in conventional schools. I don't like that. Also, there can be significant time gaps between taking phases of a foreign language or math class. On balance, though, I like it.

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Will longer school year help or hurt US students? (AP/Yahoo!) [View all] OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 OP

Less testing, longer days, four day classes with Friday lab day. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #1

At the elementary school level, I favor all year round school.... Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #3

The problem is that the tests, if misused, don't measure performance OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #6

It's a challenging problem.... good arguments can be made for a year round school. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #8

What do they do with them now? Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #10

Better ( and harder) question: What would be best for them? NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #18

When I was a kid our summers were just as important as the school year proud2BlibKansan Jan 2013 #22

Need options for parentless and/or poor kids. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #25

I like what OmahaBlueKid1's HS does OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #4

This debate had been going on JimDandy Jan 2013 #2

I think schools should be open year-round with tri-mesters of a consistent duration & interims also patrice Jan 2013 #5

Given current obesity levels, I can't go with "less sports." OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #7

more PE = more Physical Education & that would include things such as dance, yoga, gymnastics etc. patrice Jan 2013 #9

OBKid1 says the kids like the tape programs OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #14

Oh, yeah, right. duffyduff Jan 2013 #20

Wrong on most counts. & Hypothesis: you haven't actually taught, because you patrice Jan 2013 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author savebigbird Jan 2013 #35

Your assumptions about scheduling & contracts appear to be limited by something. patrice Jan 2013 #37

This message was self-deleted by its author savebigbird Jan 2013 #40

Many more events like Newtown, you won't be able to GET them to go to school. Frustratedlady Jan 2013 #11

Wake County Year Round model mzteris Jan 2013 #12

Floating Classes -- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #17

We had plans in place mzteris Jan 2013 #28

Great for schools with central air. noamnety Jan 2013 #13

+1 OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #15

Texas could just reduce the 45 testing days we're going to have the next 90 days, mbperrin Jan 2013 #16

Lousy idea duffyduff Jan 2013 #19

Probably the only thing I agree with Arne on. proud2BlibKansan Jan 2013 #21

+10 NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #23

Teachers are already overworked as it is. duffyduff Jan 2013 #32

ThiswillhurtEducation AProgressiveThinker Jan 2013 #24

Our students are lazier? OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #26

The best kids are better than ever exboyfil Jan 2013 #29

Bad, bad, bad idea bluestateguy Jan 2013 #27

What is wrong with letting kids be kids duffyduff Jan 2013 #31

Because they don't. proud2BlibKansan Jan 2013 #33

Uh huh. And the public is going to pay for this? Not likely. MichiganVote Jan 2013 #30

I've worked longer school years. LWolf Jan 2013 #34

This message was self-deleted by its author savebigbird Jan 2013 #36

3 weeks MINIMUM. I think we should also be asking ourselves why things can't be more patrice Jan 2013 #39

This message was self-deleted by its author savebigbird Jan 2013 #41

I worked some interesting calendars in the 90s. LWolf Jan 2013 #42