It will be interesting to hear the board discuss the shorter school day recommendation from the administration at tonight’s school board meeting. Here’s the item as it appears on the agenda:
14.
PRIMARY SCHOOL SCHEDULE – Sanfilip
Proposed Action: That the student and teacher schedules for all Primary Schools, except Franklin Edison, Northmoor Edison, Roosevelt Magnet and Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center, for the 2008-2009 school year shall be as follows:
| 1. |
Student Schedule |
9:15 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. |
| 2. |
Teacher Schedule |
8:15 A.M. to 3:15 P.M. |
The Superintendent is authorized to make such individual Primary School accommodations/variations to this schedule and any necessary Middle School changes to accommodate this schedule as he may deem necessary. Such changes shall be reported to the Board of Education. This school schedule shall be for the 2008-2009 school year. During the month of April, 2009, the Superintendent shall make a further or permanent Primary School schedule recommendation to the Board of Education.
The conclusion I’ve reached after hearing from board members and administrators is this: The administration chooses research to support whatever proposal they advocate rather than advocating for something based on research. See, I had always thought that they were looking at educational research and then pushing for change based on those principles. But this recent episode has made it clear that it’s really the other way around.
If they want to bring in Edison schools, they select research that “proves” the educational benefits of a longer school day. Ditto for putting a school in a park-like setting or situated on 15 acres. But, if the budget needs trimmed, and they decide they want to shorten the school day, they’ll go out and select research that “proves” the benefits of a shorter school day with block scheduling.
Bottom line: I believe they choose research that supports their ends, and then try to sell it to the school board and their constituents as something that’s been developed through thoughtful reflection and a thorough review of “best practices.”
Does that sound harsh? If so, please explain how the administration can simultaneously justify a longer school day for some schools and cutting the school day for others, and have it all based on best practices and educational research. I mean, they’ve spent years trying to convince the public that a longer school day is vital to improved academic performance, and now, all of a sudden, that’s out the window and a shorter school day is advocated… but only for some schools.
I think parents (and, frankly, school board members) deserve some honest dialog and clarity from the school administration. Because it sure looks like plans are being made solely on the basis of budget issues, and being propped up after the fact with educational “proof” of their effectiveness.
Note to District 150 parents: The next time you feel compelled to express your concerns to District 150 board members, just go find a brick wall somewhere and talk to it. There are a number of benefits: you can hit it and not get arrested, you can do it any time instead of just 6:30 every other Monday, and the most important thing of all — you’ll get the exact same results.