Long school day = More learning? Not necessarily
Recently we talked about how some American schools have made changes in the traditional school year. Their goal is to improve student learning.
Some have extended the school year, or reorganized it to avoid a long summer break. Another choice is to extend the school day. A new report from the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at
The traditional school day has not changed much in more than a century. Activities or special programs might mean a longer day. But younger children usually go to school from about nine o'clock in the morning until about three in the afternoon. Older ones are traditionally in school from about seven a. m. until around two p. m.
Some high schools have changed to later start times because of findings that teenagers learn better that way. But the new report says results have been mixed. Teachers say students are more awake. But students say the changes interfere with after-school activities or jobs.
By 2001, almost one-third of all secondary schools had some form of block scheduling（区段时间表）. The idea is to provide longer periods in the school day to teach basic subjects.
More class time should mean better results. This is the thinking, at least. Yet a 2001study found that secondary schools with traditional schedules had higher test scores by comparison. Schools with block scheduling did have higher scores in science, though.
In any case, the study agreed with earlier findings that students feel better about their schools in systems with nontraditional scheduling.
So how useful is a longer school day? Not surprisingly, the policy experts at
The experts say teachers must be trained to use the added time effectively. Professional development is needed. The report notes that simply adding time to a program that is not very good or very interesting will not increase student learning.
Community（社会） support is also valuable for any changes. And there is another consideration. Schools may need a lot of extra money to pay for an extended day.
Theme | New changes in American school year to 1 student learning. |
Main Changes | ● 2 school year;
|
Research Findings on the Changes | Long school time doesn’t 5 mean better results. Traditional schedules and block scheduling each have its own 6 as fas as test scores are concerned, but students feel 7 about their schools in system with the changed scheduling. |
Determining Factors | what educators do with the extra time |
Suggested Counter-
| ●Education leaders must change the learning environment while making 8 in school schedules.
|
Major industrialized economies are expected to see the biggest decreases, shrinking by almost four percent. The I. M. F. predicts developing economies will continue to grow for the year, but only by about one and one-half percent. 
Xinmin Evening Post reports that a much anticipated live concert of My only daughter, Sindu, looked frightened；tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl __31 with curd rice. She hates curd rice, but my wife believes it’s good for health and 32 her to eat it.
I 33 my throat, and picked up the bowl. “Sindu, darling, why don’t you take a few mouthfuls of it？ If you don’t , your mom will 34 at me. ”
Sindu softened a bit and 35 her tears with the back of her hands. “OK, Dad. I will eat―not just a few mouthfuls, but all of this. But you should…” Sindu 36 , “Dad, if I eat this entire curd rice, will you give me 37 I ask for？” “Yes, within 38 . ” I replied.
Slowly and 39 , she finished the food. Then she came to me with her eyes wide with 40 . “Dad, I want to have the hair on my head shaved（剃） 41 , this Sunday！” “ 42 ！” shouted my wife. “Sindu, darling, why don’t you ask for something else？ We will be sad seeing you with a clean-shaven head. ” I said.
“Dad, you promised! Was it not you who told me that we should honor our promises no matter what？” In that case, I had to 43 my promise.
44 her head clean-shaven, Sindu had a round-face, and her eyes looked big and beautiful.
On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. About to go, I heard a shout from a boy, “Sindu, wait for me！” What struck me was the 45 head of that boy.
“Sir, your daughter is great indeed!” Without introducing herself, a lady got out of the car, and continued “That boy is my son Harish. He is 46 from …leukemia（白血病）. ”She cried. “He lost all his hair due to the side 47 of the treatment and he’s afraid to come back to school. But,I 48 imagined Sindu would 49 her lovely hair to make him feel less different. She is a noble girl!”
I stood for a while, and then wept. “My little Angel, you are teaching me how 50 real love is！”
The happiest people on this planet are not those who live on their own terms（信条）but are those who change their terms for the ones they love.
31. A. filled | B. crowded | C. full | D. covered |
| B. forced | C. warned | D. allowed |
| B. cleaned | C. emptied | D. cleared |
| B. shout | C. arrive | D. call |
| B. swept | C. rubbed | D. wiped |
| B. wondered | C. stopped | D. hesitated |
| B. whatever | C. whichever | D. whoever |
| B. sight | C. time | D. distance |
| B. happily | C. carefully | D. painfully |
| B. tears | C. expectation | D. reluctance（勉强） |
| B. off | C. out | D. down |
| B. Available | C. Important | D. Impossible |
| B. stick | C. keep | D. tell |
| B. After | C. On | D. By |
| B. hairless | C. round | D. smart |
| B. differing | C. suffering | D. resulting |
| B. damage | C. effects | D. influence |
| B. always | C. once | D. immediately |
| B. sacrifice | C. contribute | D. drop |
| B. careless | C. hopeless | D. selfless |
A. to announce B. to be announced C. announced D. announcing
―What are you talking about ? My bike really broke down. 
A. generally B. extremely C. eventually D. gradually
―______, I think. 
A. to be intended as B. intends to be 
A. reused B. abused C. used D. useless