Do you really want to be in school longer?

In class yesterday we discussed ways to improve the education instead of looking at all of the problems with the education system. One group suggested to lengthen the school day. While I see the value in students having more time to gain knowledge and process information, does this really help their learning overall. This whole concept goes against Gatto's ideas in Dumbing Us Down. Gatto believes that students are in schools way too long. They don't have any time for themselves to explore the things they are personally interested in. Why would we choose to take away this time that students need to be individuals and discover the world on their own in ways that work best for them.
The group also said that with the longer school day sports and extra-curriculars would be included. Isn't this how schools already work? If students want to join an activity it is after school, an extension of the school day. Maybe they would require students to participate in an extra-curricular activity so they learn social, teamwork, and strategy skills that they don't always get in the classroom. Some kids though, don't want to participate in an activity and would rather go run around at home with their friends in the neighborhood. This is still a social setting that students are participating and they are independently learning how to work with others and the best way to play a game.
Currently, I am reading the book Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire by Rafe Esquith. Rafe is a fifth grade teacher in a very diverse school and classroom. He also believes in structured/guided learning outside of the classroom, but making it voluntary. He shows movies after school to have students learn about what a good, respectable film is and how to criticizes films so they can make these decisions on their own. This may not seem like something a teacher should be worried about when kids are telling you about how they watched Psycho or some other movie that is inappropriate for their age or just rotting their brains as they watch, as a teacher, you want to put an end to this. Some of these videos are optional and some are required. He also has a film club that is optional for the students to particpate in. He has problem solving time an hour before school starts everyday but this is optional as well. Even though this is optional almost every student is there everyday because they want to be there and have an interest in learning. Rafe is also the leader for the Shakespearan club that students can participate in. He takes this group on trips to perform and watch performances. These clubs and activities also teach students the same skills as the required extra-curriculars of other schools but the students choose to do them so they actually enjoy them as they are learning.
To me, this is the most important thing when considering lengthening the school day. Are students still going to be interested? I believe that the more you force students to do something, the less willing and interested they will be. Extended school days may result in losing students' attention and intersets, so by then what is the point? By giving students the option to do something extra but showing how interested you (the teacher) enjoys it and finds it interesting will make students more interested in the activity and willing to try it.

Why are we afraid of religion?

Yesterday in class we discussed religion in schools. Should it be allowed and to what extent? My question is why are we so afraid of discussing religion and why do we get so easily offended when someone doesn't support the same religious views as us? The reason many people came to this country was because of religious persecution in their home country. They wanted the freedom of religion. Because of this freedom of religion, we now have a variety of religions in the United States. It doesn't make sense that in a nation that has freedom of speech and expression, that we can't openly discuss religious beliefs without offending someone.
I don't think anyone has the right to force a belief onto someone else, so as far as schools supporting one religion over another, I don't think this is right. But why can't we teach children the facts about other religions from all over the world. Many of these religions exist in our country, students just don't know about them. Is it wrong to teach students about cultures? Religion is a huge part of someone's culture, so neglecting religion is neglecting a huge area that leaves a gap in cultural understanding. Teaching about religion educationally does not impose the teachers views on the students. It gives students the facts that they can decide what to do with. We also need to give students the resources and research knowledge to learn more about these religions if they want to. It doesn't have to be required but it should be available for students to learn.
Saying that religion should just not be discussed in schools in being ignorant. It is being completely oblivious to the fact that there are people out there that believe something different from you. What is wrong with that? Not everyone is ever going to agree on one thing. That is the beauty of our country. I don't think there should be prayers before a game this is forcing students to participate in religion when they may not believe that religion. A moment of silence is better because it can just be a time of reflection on the day, what needs to be done, how they feel, how they are as a person and friend, or a moment for prayer.
Sometimes, I think the schools try to take on too much responsibility and are worried about teaching students morals and values. To me, this is ultimately up to the parents. The school should worry about curricular knowledge. There can be education about different religions and their qualities but no one should be forcing someone to believe a certain religious practice.

Drinking Chocolate Milk? Might as well have a spoonful of sugar instead.

I was very surprised that Decorah High School participated in the chocolate milk challenge sponsored by the Midwest Dairy Association. I understand that it is promoting the drinking of milk to students, but CHOCOLATE, really? Chocolate milk has about 23g of sugar in 8 ounces. That is as much sugar in a 12 oz. can of your favorite pop. We might as well be promoting the drinking of pop to students. Sure milk has other nutritional values that pop doesn't have, but why drink the kind that is loaded with added sugar? White milk would have been a much healthier alternative in this challenge. It still promotes milk, but not the sugar.

I think the high school should have though about participating in this challenge a little bit more before they took it on. It makes sense that they saw the word "Milk" and immediately thought it would be a great, healthy challenge for the students of the high school. The thing that is not mentioned is that the students are most likely no enjoying the milk they are drinking, but more the sugar that is added to the chocolate milk. This challenge gets students to drink milk because they are craving, and almost addicted, to the sugar in the chocolate milk. The high school is promoting an unhealthy choice for students and is doing more harm than good by participating in this milk drinking challenge.

I find it a little ironic that the students were drinking a beverage that is not very healthy for their bodies, yet the money they won from this challenge goes to health and fitness programs. Promoting sugar to promote health. That's like taking one step forward and two steps back. The other prizes that students were awarded were also not really promoting health, which is the idea of drinking milk everyday. Some of the prizes were a pizza party with your friends and a 'prime' parking spot at school. Pizza is NOT a healthy food for anyone to eat and getting the prime parking spot just makes students walk a shorter distance into the school.

I am disappointed in the high school's decision to participate in this challenge. America already has a health problem, without participating in challenges like this. The school should really think about what they are promoting when they do things like this. They should be caring for students health and safety, but this challenge doesn't really show that they are. The high school is essentially contributing to the students' health issues.