DENVER -- American schoolchildren need to be in class more -- six days a week, at least 11 months a year -- if they are to compete with students abroad, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said yesterday.
"Go ahead and boo me," Duncan told about 400 middle- and high-school students at a public school in Denver. "I fundamentally think that our school day is too short, our school week is too short and our school year is too short.
"You're competing for jobs with kids from India and China. I think schools should be open six, seven days a week; 11, 12 months a year," he said.
Instead of boos, Duncan's remark drew an unsurprising response from the teenage assembly: bored stares.
The former Chicago schools superintendent praised Denver for allowing schools to apply for almost complete autonomy, which allows them to waive union contracts so teachers can stay for after-class tutoring or Saturday school. He also applauded Denver's pay-for-performance system, which some Democrats and teacher groups oppose.
He visited at the invitation of Democratic US Sen. Michael Bennet, who was formerly Denver's schools superintendent and introduced the pay-for-performance plan.
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Yeah, why should teacjers be held responsible like everyone else WITH A JOB ?
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