…with Gary Moss

There’s a joke of sorts among educators who are too, too aware of the hectic calendar adopted by most public school programs across the country. It explains quite clearly why we continually hear, in the media, that the ranking of US students among students from other countries is dismal.

We all know for certain that children are very excitable and have many things on their minds. ((Half or more of all school children come from broken homes; many kids come home from school to an empty home (their parents are working).) They are always thinking ahead, planning all those fun, after school activities and weekend plans. The NEA tells us, “That accounts for the reason that Mondays and Fridays are commonly referred to as ‘The Dead Days’ in teacher circles.” On Mondays, after returning from the weekend, students are consumed by sharing stories with friends about their weekend adventures. Similarly, on Fridays, the frenzy of anticipation clouds students’ minds and makes them pretty much useless and unable to absorb even the simplest math, science, or language arts concept. Some teachers have had limited, minor breakthroughs for periods of about 5 minutes when they used the entertainment sections from the LA Times in lieu of textbooks, on Fridays. The TGIF attitude that pervades the general public has infiltrated and indoctrinated our youth.

If that was the worst of it, it wouldn’t be so bad. However school, like the work place, is subject to the schedules and celebrations of the greater community. Every month has one or more holidays that demand recognition and attention in the form of day assemblies, and days off (this is especially good training for those who will go on to Union jobs and government service.)

Presidents, from the time of JFK, have expressed the importance of physical fitness of our youth. And even though many PE programs have vanished due to necessary budget cuts, two strategic recess periods are the general rules today in most schools across the land. Unfortunately, most of this time is spent by student hanging out and playing handheld video devices.

Most schools today have a computer class once or twice a week for students. It is the norm that most kids finish their typing assignment in 2-5 minutes and spend the other 25+ minutes surfing the web and showing friends how to access Facebook and/or porn sites.

But fret not. There is a day that comes once each year when there are few, if any, distraction. That day is on the second Tuesday in March. The best teachers know this and and are prepared with ‘The Mother Of All Lessons.’

And hopefully you child is not home sick on that day.

(The same thing applies to most scrabble players when it come to making time to study.

Playing frequently is not the same as studying.

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