Making Longer School Days

Chicago wants a longer school day.  When comparing a high performing suburban school teacher's day with an inner-city Chicago Public School teacher's day, the instructional time is the same, take out lunch, recess, and bathroom times.  Each state mandates a required number of instructional minutes per subject, which Chicago Public Schools honors. 

So why does CPS have the "shortest" school day?  Chicago Public Schools teachers and students have a 20 minute lunch, when other districts typically have 45 minutes.  Chicago teachers take their break at the end of the day, allowing an earlier dismissal.  Therefore, should the day be "extended", that break will be moved from the end of the day to the middle of the day.  The result is no change in instructional time with students.  Students may be given recess during this time. 

In my opinion, the longer school day is intended to keep kids off the street.  Schools can only do so much when it comes to nation accountability.  Teachers are dedicated to their students, but a line must be drawn when it comes to responsibility.  If the neighborhood is not safe then that needs to be addressed (See previous post on Parent Accountability).  After school programs are offered, but many have recently been cut due to budget.  Some financially comfortable schools offer additional pay for teachers to host extra curricular activities.  That seems implausible since CPS just denied their teachers a pay raise.  It appears Mayor Emanuel's solution to keep kids off the street is to have a longer school day by forming the public opinion that Chicago lacks instructional time.

Extra recess leads me to the next concern.  Chicago just denied their teachers a 4% pay increase.  In a letter to his teachers, Mr. Vitale, CPS President, reasons that due to the $5 million deficit, pay increases will only put the district in further debt.  However, if the school day is expanded and the teachers' break is moved to the middle of the day, who will monitor students during this time?  Obviously the district cannot afford aids, especially when paraprofessionals have already been displaced.

Chicago Public Schools are being chastised on many blogs for omitting recess.  While recess plays a vital role in social skills and exercise, many schools are forced to skip recess.  I have had to bring my class inside early because of a shooting and chase in the neighborhood.  Other times, we were unable to use the playground because shredded glass, dirty needles, and filthy diapers littered the play area.   

At this point, a longer school day will extend recess and lunch, NOT instructional time. If teachers are held academically 'accountable', don't expect babysitters.  A longer day should be for instructional/collaboration time...how many of you would offer to work longer hours without supplemental pay?

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