Improving Education: 300 Hours Added

I’m fired up!!! It’s been a while since I stepped foot on my soapbox, but it’s about that time again!

I really wish our educational system was better. In fact, I wish our educational system was the best in the world. I wish our children had the promise of a better future because we prepared them not just to the best of our ability, but in the most successful way possible. I guess I will keep on wishing…

I recently heard about an initiative of adding 300 extra hours on to a school year as part of a pilot program located in the Northeast in hopes that students will become more successful; well, the goal is better test scores, let’s be honest. [You can access articles here or here- What I find quite funny about the second article is that at the bottom there is an ad entitled, “Want to be a teacher?” Whether it be poor advertising or dry humor, it sure sums up the article in my opinion!]

You can also take a glance at a video from news station WGRZ , but I must warn you that you will have to wait through the advertisement to get to the pressing topic. Education is so important, yet let’s wait to talk about it after this brief announcement from our sponsors. What is our priority here? Education should be conveyed as “Top News” stories because they affect the children that are our future- end of story; no pun intended.

We can continue to throw money at different aspects of education hoping it will be the magic recipe to turn everything around. We can even extend our school year with fingers crossed that it will produce better results. Although I appreciate the good intentions, I can promise that it will not have positive long-lasting results. I can say that with confidence after reading this statement from the aforementioned ABC article: “In many cases, they would be using the extra 300 hours a year for things there isn’t enough time for during a regular school day, such as trying out personalized learning technologies and studying world cultures, healthy living, foreign languages, fitness and healthy living, and even scrapbooking.” (Haigh, 2013) I am so glad students will be exposed to scrapbooking. That extra 300 hours is not only well planned and funded, but man is it purposeful and data-driven! Where is our focus?

I can see how providing courses that round a child out is of benefit, but let’s not use government money to raise our standards of education for courses in fitness and scrapbooking. I AM FURIOUS. I do not work long hours on a frozen pay scale to hear that there is money being pumped into a program called “Time for Innovation Matters in Education” that at the root of it masks a summer camp agenda. In addition, not once does the article cite evidence that these programs add educational value or enhance student’s intellectual performance or capacity. Is that not the aim of improving our educational system?

The root of our problem in education is that teachers are under-prepared and unsupported. We need preparatory courses that throw teachers into the classrooms right away instead of memorizing theories from famous educators in a lecture hall on campus. We need professors that are current teachers sharing their daily educational experiences  while they convey the content to the class. We need patient, encouraging cooperating teachers that provide specific, targeted feedback on instruction so that we can improve. We need quality teachers applying and being hired in all districts across the nation. We need knowledgeable coaches to join teachers in the classroom our first few years to provide in the moment cues to better a lesson in efforts to shorten the learning curve and get students achieving higher, faster. Lastly, we need to retain our most effective teachers by pouring our energy and support into helping them continually grow to best meet student needs. In other words, stop placing tangible resources in a school and expect them to work miracles. Teachers are your resource. Pour YOUR very best into teachers, so that TEACHERS can become their very best in efforts to prepare our FUTURE to develop into their very best. No textbook or single program will make a difference. Teachers make the difference. Start there.

I have been a passionate educator in the state of North Carolina for 8 years. I worked hard through college to gain the skill and knowledge to teach elementary students. I went on to teach third graders during the day and attend school at night to attain my Master’s degree in Curriculum and Supervision. I love what I do so much that I desired to continue to hone my craft and achieved National Board Certification in 2012. If that does not state my commitment to my profession and our future, I don’t know what would- it certainly is not from the decision makers who are pumping insignificant programs into our schools. What’s next? Yoga, pottery, and tiddlywinks?

Do you feel adding 300 hours on to a school year is an effective way to raise student achievement? Why/why not?

[*Disclaimer: There are many other articles and videos on the web that I did not attach to this post. Feel free to search this topic on any web browser and you will find lots of information to support your very own opinion. I merely chose the sources mentioned above because they spoke to me personally and solely represent my own stand on this issue.]

About the author, Gretchen

I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.

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