Longer school days, shorter holidays!

Most students around the world would say that they spend far too much time at school, when there are loads more important things to do, like watch TV, update your Facebook status, or maybe even read a book! But as the UK education Minister considers shortening holidays, and lengthening school days, it seems right to look at the loopy lessons from around the world!

The school day in Brazil runs from 7 a.m. to noon, and students typically go home at noon to share lunch with their family. Lunch is the most important meal of the day in Brazil. Breakfast? Why bother?

In China, students are expected to spend their summer holidays studying for entrance exams! They take summer classes and swat up, preparing for the 7:30am to 5:00pm days!

This is the reason, says Michael Gove that ‘Asian schools are more successful, and we need to follow in their footsteps.’

This is not just problematic for students, though; this will also have a great effect on the lives of teachers! If this goes forward, they will have less time with their families, and have to spend more time preparing for longer lessons.

In a poll, it was revealed that 47% of voters like you wanted to keep the education system the same. 24% of you wanted to have no holidays, but only attend school 3 days in a week, 10% thought that going to school 6 days in a week would be great, and the rest simply wanted to be home schooled. No-one wanted the same as Michael Gove!

Miss Francis, the head teacher at the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School said, ‘My personal view is that schools should have the flexibility to adapt the length of the school day to suit the needs of their students and location.  As many of our students have quite lengthy journeys to school I would not want to lengthen our normal school day. Holidays provide students and staff with the chance to re-energize.  I feel it is important to try to retain the 5 or 6 week summer holiday.’

So, with so many people opposed to Gove’s plans, will this go any further than just an idea? We will have to wait and see!