Las Vegas Sun

November 14, 2009

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Letter: Public schools need longer days, year

Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 | 7:17 a.m.

I am responding to the Las Vegas Sun's July 28 editorial, "Teaching to the test," regarding the teaching of reading and math in our schools.

Yes, spending more time on these core subjects is very important, especially to at-risk youngsters. Yes, an integrated instructional model would be a very effective approach and, yes, again, teaching science, social studies, etc. , is crucial to both motivating students and enabling them to become educated citizens who create and participate in the continuum of life.

The variable that you didn't consider is that the amount of time to teach children who struggle to learn core subjects can vary tremendously and, in fact, all students need more time in these subjects.

The ultimate question that educators and communities must decide is whether they want to continue a 19th-century agrarian calendar for school attendance or move to a model that supports life in the 21st century and is more consistent with our global competitors.

Are 180 school days and 5 1/2 hours a day sufficient to do all that we are asking of students and teachers? The answer is a resounding "No!" Until we rethink our model for education, excellence will be beyond the reach of most students.

Jane S. Kier, Henderson

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