In class on Monday, we discussed the highly controversial issue of elongating the school day. By making the school days longer, students would spend more time in classrooms and presumably completing much more school work in one day. While I was quick to correct these expectations stating that students learn just as much, if not more, from extracurricular activities, which lengthen the school day, Becky brought up an excellent point that while extracurricular activities may benefit high schoolers, they do not apply to elementary-aged children.
Why is it that elementary schools do not offer after-school programs for their students? Aside form MCAS tutoring sessions that are common in Mass schools, most elementary schools offer little to no opportunities for their students to be involved in sports or reading groups or clubs after school. It is true that many child sport leagues exist, but is this enough? I personally think children would benefit from science clubs or math clubs, or even reading clubs. Students may even develop a newfound enthusiasm for different subjects and enjoy the socialization provided that is typically regulated in the normal school day. Instead of making the school day longer, why not have after-school clubs where students can apply what they've learned in their classrooms all day to increase their understanding and improve the school climate?
What sorts of activities do you think elementary schools could adopt to increase learning without implementing a longer school day?
hi! I responded :)
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