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Traditional nine months school calendars were developed more than 2 centuries ago to benefit an agrarian society in which young people were needed to work on the family farm (Roellke 1998). Because America’s society is no longer dependent on an agrain society, calls for improvement in America’s school calendar. Year round education is divided into two categories, “single track” and “multi-track.” Single track year round education is a plan in which all students attend school on the same schedule of instructional sessions and vacations. The most popular single track calendar is known as the 45-15 schedule. Students attend school 180 days. these 180 days are divided into five nine week blocks. After the nine weeks is up, the students are out of school for three weeks (Roellke 1998). On the other hand there is a multi track year round education. The main difference between multi-track and single track is that students are divided into three, four, or five groups. Each group has a different schedule of instructional and vacation time. Multi track systems are most popular in schools which are known for overcrowding. The two major benefits of year round education are alleviation of overcrowding and improved student outcomes. By alleviating overcrowding, multi track schools report better utilization of facilities and equipment, fewer discipline problems, and increased student meal participation (Roellke 1998). Jefferson County Schools in Colorado, with an enrollment of 78,000 students in 1989, operated under a multi task schedule for 14 years, resulting in real cost savings of $87.7 million in bonded indebtedness (Roellke 1998). Year round education also has improved student outcomes, too. Declines in the dropout rate and improved school attendance are two important indicators of year round education success. Because the long summer vacations are alleviated from the calendar, students who fail a class have the opportunity to repeat the class more quickly (Roellke 1998). Because the class is quickly recovered, the student will more than likely have higher grades in the class previously failed. The last advantage is introduction of the year round calendar in statistically significant improvement in time-sensitive aspects of student satisfaction within the set of a high school studies. Example Driver’s Education. (Winters 1995). End of the year “burn out” is avoided when the year round calendar is used. Although there are many advantages of year round education, there are some disadvantages, too. Some of these disadvantages include being in school during the hot moths. Air conditioning would cost more to for schools to run having to cool the schools during June, July, and August. Students wouldn’t ever have the opportunity to hold a full time job in the summer months. Some families take vacations during the summer. year round education would prevent any long vacations during the summer time. In my opinion, year round schooling is a good idea if the school is having problems with overcrowding. Call me old-fashioned but I like the summer vacations. The next recent trend in education is school uniforms. Every since Clinton’s State of the Union address in 1996, America’s attention has turned to school uniforms. There are many advantages and disadvantages concerning school uniforms. School uniforms are a recent idea the are supposed to improve “academic performance, student discipline, and school morale as well as a decrease clothing costs for parents” (Caruso 83). Caruso explains that school uniforms are also expected to increase the attendance among students, reduce distractions in classes, increase students self-confidence and esteem, and also reduce crime, violence, and gang activity (84-5). School uniform’s also promote learning. Caruso explains that “when all students are wearing the same outfit, they are less concerned about how they look and how they fit in with their peers; thus they can concentrate on their schoolwork. Although school uniform’s have many advantages, the disadvantages include “forcing uniforms among students is a violation of the First Amendment of the United States of Constitution (Caruso 86).” Also, uniforms aren’t a guarantee to decrease violence or gang activity. Other critic’s of school uniforms say “the primary cause of violence among student’s must be investigated and must begin to be remedied. (Mukamel 1998). Mukamel also states that instating uniforms in school’s “is like putting a small bandage on an enormous wound, instead of attempting to find ways to truly deal with the Long Beach, California was the first to institute a mandatory school uniform policy. Caruso gives the facts of Long Beach school’s: “Fighting fell by 51%, weapons possession by 50%, assault and battery by 34%, [and] vandalism by 18%.” Some more results come from Whittier Elementary School. Whittier has had a required school uniforms for 5 years now, and statistics show that the attendance has increased each year School uniforms are very cost-efficient and comforting for parents. Scott Jensen states that: A recent Knight-Ridder Newspapers story on school uniforms calculated the cost of one typical urban public school teenagers school outfit for one day at $140. Contrast these cost with the $25 average price of a Long Beach Unified School system uniform. Caruso explains that “uniforms would also carry over to the following year, provided they still fit, unlike a students current wardrobe that needs to be constantly updated to keep up with changing fashions” (85). In my opinion, school uniforms are a good idea in big city schools. In the schools around here though, there are other alternatives to school uniforms. These alternatives 1. Since school violence mirrors that of society at large, schools should seriously confront and discuss issues of racism and cultural conflict. 2. “Safe corridor” programs should be supported to protect the safety of students 3. School entrances should be secured. 4. More extracurricular activities and clubs should be established. 5. Open-miked assemblies should be held on a regular basis to give the students the opportunity to express themselves. 6. Programs to help students find part-time jobs should be established. 7. Conflict resolution techniques should be taught. These alternatives should be exhausted before school uniforms are considered. The last recent trend in education is computes in the classroom. Because the world is rapidly becoming more technology based, the issue with computer in the classrooms has become a big topic, also. As with anything there are different points of view. There are some advantages and disadvantages to computers in the classroom. Computes in the classroom can be a good thing if they are used in the proper way. Computers provide students a chance to learn and research anything. Children literally have the world at their fingertips when they are connected to the internet. By linking educational modules and other course materials to the Web, you can give students the ability to work anytime, from anywhere, so that they are not restricted by the walls of a classroom, the bindings of a book, or the capabilities of a single lecturer (Millard 1998) Computes also give the children a opportunity to be teachers themselves. Because the teacher isn’t available for every student, a frequently used idea within classrooms with computes is, the teacher will teach two or three students. These students will teach other students and then this will have a snowball effect. In the end, almost every student in the classroom will have an opportunity to teach (Issues Regarding..1998). These are only some of the many advantages of having computers in the classroom. Like always, there are many nay-sayers, too. The critics of technology being used for instruction have very valid points. Jonathon Zophy explains in his words that technology shouldn’t replace teachers. He says, “I will assert that passive viewing and listening or even exchanging electronic sound-bytes are not substitutes for eye-to-eye human interaction as a part of the learning process” (1998). In my opinion, computers in the classroom is an rapidly growing idea. Technology is faster growing and is trickling down to our children. Children must have the knowledge of the newest technology and the best place to teach children this is in our schools. Although critics have their side too, computers must be accepted because they are already All in all, teachers must have the latest and greatest information on recent trends in education. They must also have the knowledge to apply this information. Students that are planning on becoming teachers and teachers that are currently employed should always keep themselves up to date. The latest recent trends I have found are school uniforms, computers in the classroom and year round education. Bibliography: Caruso, Peter. “Individuality vs. Conformity: The issue behind School Uniforms.” National Association of Secondary School Principles. Sept.-Oct. 1996: 83-88 Jensen, Scott. “New Bill Would Let Wisconsin Schools Dress For Success.” http://danenet.wicip.org/mmsd-it/lljenltr.html (11 November 1997) Millard, Millard, Don Lewis. ASEE Prism. “Grab students' attention with multimedia,” v. 8 no4 (Dec. '98) p. 26-9 Roellke, Christopher. “The Evidence on year-round education.” Kappa Delta Pi Record. Spring 1998. p. 84-8 Unknown. “Uniforms are not the answer to school violence.” http://home.sprynet.com/~jimyates/march02.htm (20 March 1999) Unknown. “Issues regarding computers in the classroom.” http://www.peg.apc.org/~dmorgan/issues.html (20 March 1999) Winters, Walter L. “A Review of Recent Studies Relating to the Achievement of Students Enrolled in Year-Round Education Programs.” Sept. 1995 Second Edition Zophy, Jonathon. The History Teacher (Long Beach, Calif.). “Lost in cyberspace: some concerns about televised instruction,” v. 31 (Feb. '98) p. 265-75 Word Count: 1468
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