Written by Stephen Goodale
President Obama this past week proposed a plan to federalize education and lengthen the school year for all grade-school students.
The plan has many students, parents, teachers and administrators scratching their heads and asking questions. For instance, where is the funding going to come from? Can students and teachers handle a longer school year, both physically and mentally? Will a longer school year improve test scores?
Lori Klein, instructor of political science at Harding University, says it all comes down to funding.
“It’s called under-funded mandates” said Klein, “where the Federal government proposes a plan to state and local governments without the funding to support it.”
A cheaper alternative to lengthening the school year, would be lengthening the school day.
Mike Wood, assistant professor of education at Harding, says to lengthen the school day, not add days, is the most efficient way to do things. “It’s more cost effective,” he said.
Searcy High School Principal Claude Smith favors a longer school day, especially for high school students. “It would be a detriment” to elementary school children to keep them in school longer.
Teachers and students also favor a longer school day with a three day weekend. Searcy High School Social Studies Teacher Rhonda Chatham favors four, eight-hour days with a three-day weekend.
“It will give our AP students more time to work on their assignments,” Chatham said.
