tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post7806867454941695562..comments2024-03-15T02:09:23.712-06:00Comments on for the love of learning: First Grade in Finland: Every Day is a Half-DayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15047405950514440042noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-66512313517415387932014-02-07T18:03:34.444-07:002014-02-07T18:03:34.444-07:00I presume in Finland there are lots of stay-at-hom...I presume in Finland there are lots of stay-at-home parents to supervise the kids after school during their uninterrupted play? If that were the case here, terrific! Of course, it's not. Too many kids (and disproportionately low-income/minority kids) would spend that time playing video games or watching TV. Better to have them in school longer hours, as long as those longer hours are being used wisely.<br /><br />I'm a public high school teacher in MD, and I'm all for extending the school year and school day--but only to add time for additional recess (for all grades) and "specials" (which I put in quotes because I don't think they should be special--I think music/art/P.E. are as important as core subjects).<br /><br />The superintendent of my district is proposing a schedule change that would have high schools starting 50 minutes later and increase the elementary day by 1/2 hour--for more "specials" time, he says. I hope it can happen that way on both counts!Holly Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15526988069265615318noreply@blogger.com