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October 4, 2009

A longer school year, day?

Justin Reynolds:

A longer school year for American students? It would be the ideal reality if the Obama administration has its way.

Earlier this year, according to the Associated Press, President Obama said that, while an unpopular idea, longer school days and longer school years are necessary to deal with the challenges of a new century.

Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, recently told the Associated Press that America's "school calendar is based upon the agrarian economy and not too many of our kids are working the fields today."

"Young people in other countries are going to school 25, 30% longer than our students here," Secretary Duncan said. "I want to just level the playing field."
While students in other countries might spend more days in school, students in America, on average, spend more hours in school each year, the Associated Press reported.

Dr. Gary Richards, superintendent of schools, said he doesn't necessarily agree with the President.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at October 4, 2009 1:22 AM
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