Summary:
The Education Secretary, Michael Gove, said the school day should be lengthened
and the length of traditional holidays should be cut. He says the current shape
of the academic year was created to fit the needs of an agricultural economy so
the pupils could help their parents to harvest. Nowadays this system only damages
the children from poor backgrounds, who need to spend more time at school. Unlike
the National Union of Teachers who want a shorter school day, Mr. Gove wants
schools to operate between 8.30am until at least 4.30 pm and have a four-week
summer holidays to prevent the children from suffering and academic dip.
Words: 107
Own opinion:
I agree with the fact that the system could be changed to fit the current way
of living in a better way, but I do not believe that the best way to do this is
to lengthen school days and to shorten the holidays. When looking at modern societies,
also other aspects should also be taken into consideration. School could, for example,
start a little later, because adolescents need their sleep in the morning. Traffic
jams are a big issue, so this could also be an argument to start after rush
hour. Holidays could be planned more flexible, to not have to go in high season.
So I think Mr. Gove’s way of looking at it, is a bit simple.
Words: 120
Source:
Graeme Paton (2013, April 8). Cut length of school holidays, says Michael Gove.
Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10003772/Cut-length-of-school-holidays-says-Michael-Gove.html
