Foster City Islander Article - 12-06-2006
|
Charter Public |
Phyllis Moore, President, Foster City High School Foundation |
|
Quality Time Matters
California’s Department of Education reports that, “More than half of students entering the California State University system are not adequately prepared in reading and math, while many California employers complain that high school graduates do not have the critical-thinking skills, the communications, or higher-level math skills they need to be successful on the job.”
California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell stated that, “We need to do a better job of making sure that all of our students are prepared after graduation for whatever path they choose—whether that path leads them to college or straight to a career.” To meet this goal, O’Connell emphasizes that, “We must improve our high schools from the inside out.”
Because we must rethink how we educate our children, we have designed Foster City’s tuition-free, charter public high school from the inside out.
A longer school day is a key part of our school’s design, because students who spend more time engrossed in learning achieve greater success in school. They get more excited about learning, grow to appreciate the value of education, and find clearer direction for their lives. Our school will be part of the nationwide movement to increase the amount of quality learning time when students digest knowledge, grasp concepts, and solve problems.
Our rigorous standards-based curriculum requires a longer school day, because students will need more time to master the more difficult material. Since students learn at different rates, the longer school days help make sure that all our children succeed in school and after they graduate.
A longer school day also provides the time needed to engage and inspire students with personalized learning projects, enhanced by real-world experiences and the personal support of teachers and parents. With this approach, students learn to think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively.
The short school day is a leftover from our grandparents’ generation, when children were sent home early to work on the family farm. Today, our children need more quality time in school to prepare them for the unpredictable challenges and intense competition of our 21st century global economy.
