Obama says: More classroom time for our students?

S.C. Ellis

9/27/2009

I just read where President Obama is suggesting that our children need more time in the classroom; longer days, more days per year and even have the schools open on the weekends! Yet our school districts are getting cuts in financial support and teachers are being laid off. Just how does Obama suggest that the school districts do all this? Where is the money going to come from for these longer days? Does he plan to have babysitters or teachers with the kids when they are on these extended days? And the weekends? Who will be there to see that the kids are indeed safe since he says the school is a safe place for them to go on the weekends? As a retired teacher I am very much aware of the time that a teacher spends now in grading papers, preparing lessons, etc. among other things, such as documenting student achievement, that the education system requires of its teachers. Are teachers going to be compensated for this extended day on top of all the extra hours they put in now? Yes in other countries schools are open longer and on Saturdays for half a day. They do have longer school years but in some of those countries, Taiwan where I lived for 5 years, the teachers are highly regarded by the students, the parents and the community as well as the culture. Sorry to say, teachers are not thought about the same way in this country. It will be interesting to see just how this all works out!

YourLetters Feedback NOTE: Views expressed below do not reflect the views or opinions of The Bay Net, Bay Media Services, Inc. or the employees of Bay Media Services, Inc.

Be The First To Comment On This Letter!

This feature is only available to registered members.
Register for free today to take full advantage of The Bay Net's features!

To Register: Click Here

Already a Registered Member? Log In Below:

Username: Password: