Schools Considering Saturday Classes to Make up for Lost Time

Overwhelmed parents who have had enough of being stuck indoors with their children can rest assured — revenge may soon be on the way.

In the quest to make up for the time students have missed at school, a number of the country’s school districts are considering adding Saturday classes to the regular schedule. California Governor Gavin Newsom has suggested started the school year in July, while Maryland Senator Paul Pinsky has proposed making school a year-round venture.

But not everyone is on board with forcing students to spend more time in school. Knowing that students suffer “the summer slide” when they’re away for a few months, many educators think throwing too much at kids after the extended break would likely be counterproductive. “It occurs fairly rapidly,” says Brookings Institution educator Andre Perry. “A month away can have a dramatic impact on outcomes, so six months will certainly show up in the classroom in the fall.”

How do you think this should be handled? What’s the most useless subject taught in schools?