Let's get serious about extending the school day

Let's get serious about extending the school day

Sent to the Chicago Tribune, June 10, 2011

It was inspiring to read Jean-Claude Brizard's bold suggestion that Chicago extend the school day ("A push for longer school days," June 10). Proposals to extend the school day by 30 minutes or even an hour, however, fall far short of what is needed.

Let's push ahead and consider an even longer day.

A study published in the Journal of Irreproducible Results in 1991 concluded that a 21-hour school day is optimal, with continuous classes and no breaks, except for two breaks for meals and one lavatory visit. Among the many advantages would be fewer discipline problems and quieter classrooms because of sleep deprivation, which "lessened the students' rebellious impulses."

The researchers also intend to do studies to determine whether food is really necessary for school children.

Stephen Krashen

Original story at: www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-oped-0610-brizard-20110610,0,273588.story