How much learning is really happening in Saturday school in Asheville City Schools? I ask because I’ve heard, and read, about what went down last weekend, and it didn’t sound like much learning at all.
Last Saturday was a make-up day because the city schools have missed several days due to snow and wintry weather. The make-up day was two hours shorter than a normal day, and I’ve heard from a few loyal readers, who told me that the day mostly consisted of playing games, reading and, in some cases, watching a little movie.
The Asheville Citizen-Times, in its coverage of Saturday school, ran a photo of one class, whose students were shown lounging in their pajamas. The teacher had deemed the day “pajama day.” I’m sure you can learn in your pj’s, but it doesn’t really seem conducive to a hard-working atmosphere.
Here’s a quote from the story:
“I kind of like it because we get to get out early, and we still get spring break, and we did a bunch of fun stuff like go to Spanish and drama and play games, and then Mrs. Payne’s husband brought us a treat, and now we’re reading and I really like this book,” the 9-year-old said breathlessly.
That all sounds great, but it underlines my point — Saturday school is treated more like a vacation than a real learning day.
I’m sure there were many teachers in the school system who approach Saturday school with solid learning plans and a serious approach that focuses on getting tasks accomplished. But after hearing from a few folks, I have to wonder.
15 Comments
grumpydad, I do trust ACS and Buncombe County Schools to make better decisions about local, weather-related matters than the Raleigh-based General Assembly. I don’t agree with every decision that the city and county systems make by any means, but I think in this case, they have a better handle on local issues.
In terms of when to delay or cancel school, I can see where it’s a really tough call. Because of our unique geography, not every part of the county or city gets the same amount of ice and snow. Yesterday, the roads were completely clear in West Asheville, but dangerous in Swannanoa. I thought the decision to cancel school for county schools was over-reaction, until I drove to work in Swannanoa and almost slid off the road due to ice. No way I’d want school buses on that. Again, not saying the school systems always make the right call, but I’m very glad it’s not a call I’m in charge of making.
So tell me again what "real" learning looks like? Should students be sitting up straight in their neat rows of desks listening quietly as a teacher bestows knowledge upon them? Educational research says otherwise.
Teachers are having a hard enough time creating continuity in their classrooms with all these snow days, delayed openings, and early releases. Let’s not bash them for creating a positive environment for learning in which a nine year old breathlessly says incredible things like, "I really like this book."
SW, I would agree with you that the General Assembly is not the best judge of how to set school calendars, but at the same time do you really trust Asheville City Schools to make better choices? They’re afraid of their own shadows, much less a chance of snowflakes falling from the sky.
Large chunks of school funding is often directly tied to butt-in-seat hours, which is why you get crap like straight-A students who miss X days being sick having to take summer school even though their grades were perfect.
Unfortunately, IMHO, this just teaches kids that the quality of their work/education isn’t really what counts, it’s time put in. Although I suppose to some degree it’s reality training for corporate work, lol. Then again, it can’t hurt to give students a reason to enjoy school once in a while.
This discussion would benefit from a series of questions: how much time is focused on instruction and learning during a regular school day? How long do you think a child’s attention span lasts? How much time is used just keeping children busy during a normal school day?
The truth may be a bit shocking. The actual instruction and learning new material in school is accomplished in less than 2 hours. There is a significant amount of time reviewing information and the remainder of time is used keeping children busy or entertained.
The reality of life is no one can "focus" for 8 hours a day. Most of the learning can be accomplished in a short focused period. Saturday school can accomplish just that task.
James,
It’s a 1st and 2nd grade class!
My guess is that some students learned something on Saturday while some didn’t. To some extent, it depends on the teacher–and, I’m guessing, how irritated they might be feeling about Saturday school.
At the school where my husband teaches, it sounded like it was a pretty regular (half) day for his kids. Word came down from the principal’s office that there would be no "specials" (eg, gym, music, art) or recess that day. Only 2/3s of his students showed up though.
The real problem, IMO, is that the NC General Assembly instead of individual school districts mandates when the school year begins. It seems like a no-brainer that this should be decided on a local level. Schools in WNC could start earlier in August, knowing that they will have to miss days b/c of weather, and schools on the coast or the Piedmont could start after Labor Day if they wanted.
The class you mention is a first grade one at Isaac Dickson Elementary. They had a good day from what I gather,including a cool discussion w/ one parent about China, where he had recently lived. I believe that is what the "treat" was all about. My fourth grader’s class worked hard as well from what I hear. The pajama day idea is actually a good one- gets the kids excited to be there as it is not exactly an easy sell to get kids ready for Saturday school. I applaud IDES for their efforts at making this weird situation the best it can be!
My son goes to Isaac Dickson, the school sporting the PJs on Sat. They sent the kids home with a bag lunch, as all the city schools did, so no instruction time was "wasted" eating. I agree that it just a numbers game – getting in the 180 days required by our state govt. Its not ideal but what is a better solution, besides an earlier start to the school year which isn’t going to help us now? I don’t want to go past June 11 or over Spring Break. And adding more time to the school day isn’t going to help – law of deminishing returns.
I am a father of two daughters whom are in the custody of their mother, living in South Carolina. I only get to see my sweet girls every other weekend for 48 hours. That time is rare and precious. Only 4 days a month! How sad.
Thank God my kids are not facing Saturday make-up days, or it would destroy their opportunity to spend quality time with me. I get them out of their Walmart routine and take them interesting places here in the mountains.
I’m sure there are many parents of kids here in the mountains who are losing out on their rare time to spend time with those kids who live with the other parent.
Also, in reference to Murphy’s post, lunch was 25 minutes, also as usual, not 45 (or an hour, I’m not sure which he’s saying). Considering kids go to school for 4 and a half hours, that left 4 full hours of instruction.
My son goes to North Buncombe Elementary.
Yes, his class had pajama day. They have them probably once a month, the kids enjoy it and they do their regular work (I don’t see how what you’re wearing is contrary to a constructive learning environment).
I can also report that, as far as I am aware, every class in session at NBE had regular class schedules with the exception of recess, as is the norm on EVERY OTHER early release day.
I’m not sure why the city schools would be pissing away valuable instruction time, especially with EOG tests looming, but I’m sure it’s not the norm.
Ken and Murphy, thanks for your insightful comments.
J,
We had this same discussion at work – one of my coworkers has a child at Hill Street.
They wore pj’s, played games, and watched "videos" … (maybe the same school you reference).
But her parents called the school to inquire why "normal" activities weren’t the order of the day.
They were told (by who I don’t know), that there really isn’t time in a half-day to get everything done … they have lunch too; for 45 minutes.
So, they go to school for 4 hours (1 hour of which is lunch) – and only 3 hours is actual "schooling".
Apparently its a case of a butts in the seats that matters more than the actual content of the day ….
This Saturday school "solution" is an embarrassment to all. Classes at the elementary schools only go until 12:00. Just like on early dismissal days, it counts as a full day. Why should this be acceptable? I know that local schools are required to have 180 days of instruction. ACS officials act like that rule is unbreakable, but then it’s perfectly fine to only teach for four hours instead of six hours? They’re obeying the letter of the law only.
ACS created this jam by cancelling school on many days when school could have been held. Administrators should realize that a light dusting of snow on a road does not make that road dangerous for everybody. Asheville residents should be able to drive on roads like those. School officials seem to be mortified that any child could ever be injured because of school being held on a day when the roads are the least bit snowy or icy.
Recently, the Citizen-Times ran an article about how the Wilkes County school system is dealing with this. Basically, they teach fewer days per year, but the days are longer. I hope that the ACS officials read that article, and I hope they’re trying to figure out how they can do better in the future.