How many hours per day should children spend at school?

(...) Also, I think the afternoon in schools should be dedicated to extra curricular activities for pupils and for teachers, lesson planning and professional development. (...)

(...) Just because a pupil leaves the school grounds it does not mean they stop learning or the teachers stop working.

Life itself is the biggest lesson.

I vote for 5 hours. Thats about the length of the average school day in Finland. The problem is, when you keep children in a school environment you are actually slowing down their learning from the wider environment around them in general life. You need to find the right balance. Also, I think the afternoon in schools should be dedicated to extra curricular activities for pupils and for teachers, lesson planning and professional development.

In the afternoon children often switch off and become disengaged. Scrapping the lesson(s) after lunch would be to everyones benefit in reality. Just because a pupil leaves the school grounds it does not mean they stop learning or the teachers stop working.

Life itself is the biggest lesson.

What time does school start in Finland? And how long are lessons?

I experienced school only in the mornings when I worked in Germany - still can't decide whether or not I liked it!

I think its not much different but they have a lot of time for their break. Its usually over an hour for break time to ensure children get adequate exercise. I don't know why but Governments seem to be under the impression children only learn when in the classroom when we should be teaching them to become independent learners who learn through exploration of the environment around them as well.

This documentary is not that long and will explain quite a bit about it.

[video="youtube;ZwD1v73O4VI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwD1v73O4VI[/video]

I agree, we should be making independent learners.

But with exams the way they are, I would literally go into a blind panic if I thought I'd be getting any less time with my classes. Bigger issues to be changed too if we're going to make changes to the school day.

In fact, it's strange having a fresh pair of eyes on language GCSEs. We have an Italian woman come in to school once a week to teach year 11 and she can't believe how much they have been babied. She was reluctant to put her name to the documents to say the work was all their own, because they need so much teacher input.

Sorry for the rather simple question, but I'm genuinely curious what everyone thinks. Note I mean standard hours, not "lessons", so your choice includes any time you may wish children to spend on assemblies and EC or other non-educational activities if you are so inclined. Please vote in the poll. Thanks!

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I vote for 5 hours. Thats about the length of the average school day in Finland. The problem is, when you keep children in a school environment you are actually slowing down their learning from the wider environment around them in general life. You need to find the right balance. Also, I think the afternoon in schools should be dedicated to extra curricular activities for pupils and for teachers, lesson planning and professional development.

In the afternoon children often switch off and become disengaged. Scrapping the lesson(s) after lunch would be to everyones benefit in reality. Just because a pupil leaves the school grounds it does not mean they stop learning or the teachers stop working.

Life itself is the biggest lesson.

1-2 hours is easily enough if they're taught well. If you cut the crap out of modern day schooling and just leave the important bits (maths/literacy) it doesn't take long.

I voted 7-8 hours, I think more time in school could be beneficial to both children and parents, if children had to stay in school for at least 9-5 then not only does that give more time for education but also for more extra curricula activities run by the school, it also benefits the parents in that it means that both parents (or in the case of single parents) can probably still take a full time 9-5 job as having to pick up their child at 3 wouldn't be an issue.