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When one analyses math and science performance in comparative studies
such as the TIMSS that is quoted by both sides of the aisle in Congress,
the most obvious difference and there are exceptions (Sweden) is the
number of teaching days. Tom Trail has much detail about the number
of teaching days. Basically at the 4th grade the U.S. is close to
the top, by the 8th grade close to the center and by graduation close to
the bottom in scienc and math. Number of days does not mean more
hours/day. Sleep studies show that the "sleepist decade"
for humans is biologic age 10-20. Another more
practical example is the practice of the piano with this question: Will
the average piano student do better practicing one hour a day seven days
a week or one day for 7 hours? Our industrialized competitors
average 211 days of instruction. The 180 school year was the
longest school year in 1906 and was started in Mass. However, the
best US students (top 10%) are in the top and our college and university
system is by far the best in the world and that is where we make it
up. Lester Thurow of MIT (economics) has much written on this
subject. I agree with Tom Trail that we should have a 200 day school year
and I agree with Governor Mark Warner about taking care of the kids who
do not go to college by offering skills training. jerry
<br><br>
At 06:54 PM 5/22/06, Shelly wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns
= "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><font face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times">Ask yourselves, "are our schools
being utilized to their fullest potential?" <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times">All the politicians that claim they
are pro education and who also care about the tax payers is going to be
the politician that gets my vote because he/she came up with a program
that gets all the schools on a 12 month, year round system without having
to raise taxes. We already have billions invested in the infrastructure
(schools) that is not used year round with the present school system. It
is time we use said infrastructure year round to gain the full use of our
taxed investment. It is not 1859 anymore. It is 2006. Lets start
educating our youth like it is 2006 so that our students can compete in
the global economy.<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times">Phil Roderick<br>
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