Longer school day and shorter school year

It is time to consider a revolutionary idea. Change the school hours from their current 8 A.M — 2:30 P.M. to 8 A.M — 4:30 P.M. This will add two hours daily or 10 hours a week to the schedule. This means about 360 more hours or about 42 more days of time spent in school per school year- at no additional expense. What are the benefits for doing such a silly thing?

Currently students are dismissed at 2:30 P.M. Within minutes the campus is deserted except for a handful of students who are remaining behind to play sports or practice drama. But the vast majority are already on the buses headed to an empty house. Finally about 5 P.M., parents arrive home.

Consider instead the school day ending at 4:30. Let’s not call it after school programs because it is not after school but an extended school day. Picture