National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education, Washington, DC.
Year:
1995
No of pages:
8 p.
Abstract:
This article summarizes the report of the National Education Commission on Time and Learning, which recommends educational reform based on improved management of academic learning time in the school day. Five false premises underlying the current management of school time are identified: that students arrive at school ready to learn in the same way on the same schedule; that academic time can be used for nonacademic purposes with no effect on learning; that yesterday's calendar can continue to serve students' needs despite enormous changes in society; schools can be transformed without giving teachers the time they need to retool themselves and reorganize their work; students can deliver world-class performance within the time-bound system that is already failing them. The United States school system is compared to systems in Japan, Germany and France. Recommendations for improving academic performance by changing the school time schedule are suggested. (jpb)
