A longer school year? Students say: Don’t go there

04/07/2006

Students give senators their take on the idea of expanding the school year.

Norman Draper, Star Tribune
Last update: April 06, 2006 – 10:35 PM

So, what do students think about a proposal to add five weeks to the school year? The Senate Education Committee got an idea Thursday as members of the committee’s Youth Advisory Council sat in on discussions of the proposal.

The idea, which is being pushed by Minnesota school superintendents, doesn’t stand a chance of passing this year and has slim prospects for passage even in the years to come. That’s partly because of the cost—$700 million a year in extra teacher pay and programming costs, not counting air conditioning—and partly because of lost summer vacation. Even the proposal’s chief Senate author, Geoff Michel, R-Edina, noted that his stance has made him unpopular among his own four daughters. But proponents say at least some additional classroom days are needed if Minnesota students are to compete with students from other countries who are in school a lot longer. Here’s what some Youth Advisory Council members had to say:

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR THE STUDENTS OF MINNESOTA WHEN WE’RE ALREADY ONE OF THE TOP STATES IN THE NATION?

- ELIZABETH STEYER JUNIOR, MINNESOTA STATE ACADEMY FOR THE DEAF

DOES THE $700 MILLION (IN ADDITIONAL COSTS) INCLUDE AIR CONDITIONING FOR THE SCHOOLS? I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF IT’S LATE JUNE OR JULY AND IT’S 95 DEGREES AND HUMID OUTSIDE, AND IT’S CALCULUS CLASS, I WILL NOT BE PAYING ATTENTION. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT.

- DYLAN KELLY SENIOR, HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL, ST. PAUL

LET’S USE THAT MONEY AND MAKE THE TIME WE ACTUALLY HAVE BETTER. LOWER CLASS SIZES AND BETTER TEACHERS.

- ANDREA HENKEL Senior, Stillwater High School