Ken Schram: I don't buy it

Ken Schram: I don't buy it

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Story Published: Sep 28, 2009 at 7:57 AM PST

By Ken Schram

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Longer school days?

Shorter summer vacations?

President Obama is of the mind that American kids don't spend enough time in the classroom.

He's saying that in order for U.S. school kids to face the challenges of a new century the demand for more time in school is obvious.

The president is advocating for lengthening class time, wants schools open late and on weekends and wants to stretch the school year into the summer because kids no longer have to work in the fields.

I'm not buying.

From a pragmatic view, where's the money for all this supposed to come from?

From a philosophical view, what's this going to do for class size?

How's it supposed to cut an atrocious high school drop-out rate?

Kids in some countries that outscore the U.S. on math and science tests may have longer school years but at the same time they have considerably shorter school days.

Much of what President Obama is suggesting is a dressed up version of the no child left behind law put into play during the Bush administration.

No thank you.

Keeping kids captive in the classroom is not the answer to what ails education in this country.

When it comes to schools, the president's suggestion is not so smart.

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