Extended School Day.....ugh

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Registered: 03-27-2003
Extended School Day.....ugh
10
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 4:35pm

End of the year.....yeah!!! Sam is loving Karate, his reading is getting much more immediate, he had a private lesson at swimming to get back into it and he's started trying to swim under water without prompting or pushing....totally voluntarily......wow!!!

He came home with this nice little packet with his report card and a book to read for the summer "club" and a note explaining their plans for extending the school day at his school next year.....what?!?! Apparently there was some talk about this in the city newspaper (which generally sucks so we don't read it) and mention of it in the Title 1 Survey which I didn't recall taking. I remembered after talking to Sam's friend's Dad.....there was 1 ? about an extended school day in it.

The application for funding was supposed to be in April 27th; they're waiting to hear back from DOE whether they can go ahead with the plan. The day will be from 730 am to 330pm......the high school gets out at 230pm, by the way and starts at the same time....so a 5 yo Kindy kid will have a longer day than the 16 yo high schooler......explain that one to me.

This school opened the year Sam started Kindy and has been labelled under performing since. So I guess they're thinking is that if they keep the kids at school longer, more learning will be done. I can tell you right now that Sam will absolutely need an aide in the class if they're going to expect him to hold it together that long in a mainstream classroom. And homework will likely be out of the question. They'll probably have to have him do it at school, if they want it done.

The Autism advocate I talked to today said that alot of people will probably like the idea because of the increased instruction time and more time for kids to be in a more structured environment. I can just see Sam falling apart as soon as he gets home though. And he's started taking a mini dose of his meds when I pick him up that they'll have to give him if he's still in school at 2pm.

I was already worried about 3rd, but now I'm trying not to completely freak out since it may not happen. I can understand the pressure on them to get their numbers up, but I'm just not so sure this is the way to go. All I can think about is kids losing it by the end of the day and the time not being very productive. It looks like morning is going to be where most of the instruction will take place and afternoon will be for enrichment, science, social studies, and remedial learning.......lunch recess will be extended by 5 minutes......whoopie!!! The time could be helpful for Sam, but he'll be useless to me for any school-type activities after such a long day.

sigh.....not looking forward to summer any more. I'll be on the phone trying to find out the cut off time for this decision and likely meeting with the Principal in Aug. to discuss my trepidation of the extended day and mainstream classroom on Sam.....I'll likely hear, "let's see how he does first." And I'll be fighting for some proactive accomodations instead of reacting if he can't handle it.......!!!!!F* F* F*!!!!

Big deep breath.......maybe he'll be fine......I think he can, I think he can....

Chrystee

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Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 5:06pm

Chrystee,


That is a horrendously long day!

-Paula

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Registered: 04-07-2003
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 5:26pm

I wouldn't be too sure.. Many of those parents probably be thrilled. Unpaid child care, throw the kid on the bus early get to school. Parent into work by 9.
High school students probably get out earlier because of after school jobs and to get those younger siblings

Rina

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Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 8:41pm

Wow, I would feel the same way about this extended school day thing. I mean my god, there already in school for 6-7 hours as it is, and then to come home and do homework that sometimes can last for 2 hours.

How stupid. What, they want to burn out our kids??? What about putting that money into helping the ones that need the help, so they can lift their scores up higher. Or giving all the kids more individulized help during the school day. Heck lower class size or add more teachers and aide's to the classroom....

What a bunch of nincompoops!!! lol (sp?) on nincompoops

Lainie

Avatar for nutmegspice
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 9:56pm

Re - booty smacking.....

He's done it once and ended up straight in time out and hasn't even attempted it since......

I talked to his Psych. about it too and I'll be taking a much harder line on any personal space issues from now on; he's just way too old to get away with any of that now.

Chrystee

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Registered: 09-13-2006
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 11:09pm

Sheesh!

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Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 11:21pm
That was great Evelyn! I'm worn out just reading all of that!
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Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 06-19-2007 - 11:48pm
Evelyn, that was VERY well written!
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Registered: 03-04-2007
Wed, 06-20-2007 - 12:00am
This is one of those "solutions" to fix our educational system that just chaps my hide. When Oprah had Bill and Melinda Gates on her show to talk about school that were showing successes, it was schools that had 10 hour days and weekend work. For elementary school kids. What kind of life is that? and will they be burned out on "education" at 12!
Now help for kids who don't have home support or need specific tutoring, (may be a place to help kids after school hours),may make sense, but just doing the same thing for more hours doesn't make sense. Argh. There has got to be some other parents out there with common sense (does your area have a special ed PTA?). I have a friend here who's child's IEP has her leaving school 1.5 hours early -- maybe that could be a set up for your child (the school provides the transport since it is in her IEP).
Kara
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Registered: 09-13-2006
Wed, 06-20-2007 - 1:21am

"I'm worn out just reading all of that! "


Yeah,

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Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 06-20-2007 - 9:36am

ROFLMBO, I need that group too!

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