Longer School Days: Helpful or Hurtful?

Geofrey Canada believes that the reason for little academic improvement, black-white achievement gap, and declining SAT scores are due to both the school day and school year being too short. "Without additional time," Canada writes, "it is virtually impossible for students behind grade level - particularly poor and minority students - to catch up." A longer school day would be able to provide students beyond the basic math, english, and science, as well as teach the subjects that have been cut back or completely cut out of the curriculum. These range from social studies to arts and physical education. 

The article also believes these longer school days will help families. Many families consist of two working parents or a single parent providing support for the family. Longer school days will prevent parents from placing their students in after-school care or staying home alone. This will cut teenage crime and drug use, and instead educate students more thoroughly and give them and outlet for exercise and self-expression through various elective courses that are otherwise not able to be fit in the traditional school day.

As a future teacher, I am very torn on having a longer school day. Growing up, I was extremely privileged and lived in an area with some of the most renowned high schools. Because of this, my public education was extremely good. I had all of the required core classes as well as foreign language and electives like art, health, physical education, and music. This all took place in a regular school day. If my high school represented most, we would not need to have longer hours. However, this is not the case. Many school districts are being faced with low funds and budget cuts, not enough materials and books, and students coming from poor backgrounds. The teachers barely have enough time and means to get in the basic knowledge needed to succeed in the real world. This is completely unacceptable.

I'm not sure though how successful longer school days would be without increased budgets though. Teachers would need to be paid more, staff would be required to stay longer, and staying longer means more bills. Power, meals, supplies. I think it would be more appropriate to try to utilize the normal school day better before attempting longer school hours. 

schlbell. (nd). Retrieved from http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/schlbell.gif
Canada, G.  (September 27, 2011). Should the School Day be Lengthened? New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/09/26/should-the-school-day-be-longer/help-for-parents-and-society