"Best of the Fischbowl 2007"

I decided to do my blog on 180 Days? . This blog post was posted on April 13, 2007. I was surprised to actually see this topic because in the Mobile County School System, we just had the option of voting on the new school year calendar for next year. And of course all 3 options had to have included the 180 Instructional days stipulation. I honestly didn't realize we had that stipulation, until discussing our calendar options with another teacher.

As we were discussing our options for the new calendar year, we talked about the early dismissal days that we once had before the holidays. At one point in time before major holidays, like Christmas and Thanksgiving, students were allowed to be dismissed 3 hours early. We also talked about when we were in school and how we would get out early after each quarters major exams. But not only do students NOT get out before major holidays now, they also do NOT get out after the end of the quarter exam test, like the CRT's. The main focus these days are on making sure students are in an instructional setting for 180 days and no less.

But the blog 180 Days? shed some serious light on how 180 days are used so quickly. When you take into account all the test days, absences from both teachers and students, days used to review for final exams or CRT's, final exam days, days used for holiday celebrations, field trips, etc., those 180 days used for instructional purposes deplete down to about 120-125, give or take. And after viewing the slide show, those other 60+ days aren't used for instructional purposes only. But teachers aren't to blame. Working in the school system, I noticed that we have some hard working, dedicated teachers. And they are great with students. But, there is soo much pressure being placed on them to teach and cover more material in a short period of time. And it's solely to get students prepared for those major end of the quarter test/exams. Teachers have to push, push, push for students to learn all this material so that the scores on their test, e.g. CRT's, are acceptable. Unfortunately, students become bored and burnt out with school.

So 180 "instructional" days to teach is very needed but I don't think it's being used in the proper way. It's hard to say schools shouldn't have days to celebrate holidays, or have pep rallies. But as much as the year's focus is on testing scores, those days are well needed and deserved. Personally, I believe those other 60 or so days aren't "Wasted on the Way" as the song implies by Crosby, Stills, and Nash . Especially when the teachers have been instructed to cover and push for more material to be covered in half the time. This is a questionable topic and I'm glad I was able to view this blog post.