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PAGE 10 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY. MARCH 16, 1983 Too Much Learning, Too Little Time Crowded curricula are of concern to educators and trustees, parents and students alike. Extracts from an article published in the London Free Press explore some of these concerns, particularly as they relate to the London Board of Education, but these same concerns can be applied to The Waterloo County Board of Education. There are, give or take a few minutes here or there, about 1,890 teaching minutes in the average London elementary school student‘s sixâ€"day cycle and, increasâ€" ingly, the teachers who teach them believe they no longer provide nearly enough time to perform all of the duties and functions called for in the modern curricuâ€" lum. In the palance of the modern educator it is called the problem of the crowded and, some would say, runaway curriculum. So many people are making so many demands on the learning abilities of the modern child that the poor soul is beginning to run out of available classroom time to cram it all into his head. And to make matters worse, the educators, the politicians, the media and the folks at home keep on coming up with still more "great ideas" for filling those precious 1,890 teaching minutes. Barely a week passes without some pillar of the community suggesting that the world would be a better CBPNEJSTEGAR MALL put yourself in our place... post +d “omm j MARCH 14th â€" 19th, 1983 | Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. â€" 9:30 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. â€" 6:00 p.m. ; See one of the largest selections of 1983 power boats, sail _ / BOAT SHOW AT CENEST®GA MALL ELIZABETH WITMER T Rcd and safer place if only kids in school were taught better economics, politics, lifeskills or how to raise a family or draw up a personal budget. So many of those ideas have been squeezed into the school timetable over the last few years that the teachers are beginning to pant and plead for a respite. â€" o At the London Board of Education, where the crowded curriculum is already a matter of intense study by an inâ€"house committee, Director Madeline Hardy believes it is time for the community to recognize that its schools are no longer capable of delivering either the time or the super teaching that every great new idea so obviously deserves. "It is simply not realistic,"‘ she explained. ‘"The community insists on good basics in such subjects as English and math and teaching those basics well takes a great deal of classroom time. But the community also wants music, art, Frenchâ€"asâ€"aâ€"second language, library skills, lifeskills, physical education and family studies and each takes time. o o Breadth of curriculum is reducing depth of study. In that kind of expressâ€"train atmosphere, some teachers are beginning to show concern. Roger Macaulay, Program Superintendent for the London Board, worries about what he terms veneer teaching. ‘"The sheer weight of the new curriculum in some areas makes inâ€"depth study almost impossible," he said. ‘‘That is why we have sat down as an administration to try and come up with some answers." There is then the issue of better use of classroom time. Some educators insist, usually privately, that it is time to IATERLOO 886â€"55 School views Organizers were pleased with the results of Saturday‘s CPR training day at Kâ€"W Hospital. Approximately 100 persons attended the morning and afternoon clinics to learn to recognize heart attack symptoms, cardioâ€"puilmonary resuâ€" scitation and management of choking victims. Instructor Marian Smith demonstrates a technique for assisting a choking victim in the above photo. Pat Arbuckle photo l w , These qualified professional service facilities install GUARANTEED PRODUCTSâ€"A NAME YOU CAN TRUST WATERLOO GIBEL‘S SERVICE 109 Bridgeport Rd. East 885â€"5950 DISTRIBUTED mDPHP NV _ associate _ BRITTON AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY LTD.. CAMBRIDGE /WATERLOO ________ 70 Westmount Rd. North 886â€"2120 KITCHENER LOGELS AUTO PARTS (4G») WESTMOUNT AUTOMOTIVE HEARTY RESPONSE STANDARD MODULE IS THE "BARGAIN®® MODULE REALLY A BARGAIN? electronic ignition which module would you use in your own car? NOWACKS AUTO REPAIR LAKESHORE SERVICES MODULES AREN‘T LIKE POINT SETS. THERE‘S MORE TO MODULES THAN JUST "MAKING THE CAR RuN® MAPLE AUTO REPAIR 136 University Ave. East 885â€"6830 extend the school day so more precious minutes could be added to the cycle. But would that be popular with the kids who are already having their heads banged around in a classroom for upwards of five hours a day? Not likely. How about extending the sixâ€"day teaching cycle into a sevenâ€" or even an eightâ€"day cycle so teachers could crowd in more material? But then the timetable might become so spread out that it would lose teaching imâ€" pact. e Out in the field, some schools are already befBinning to experiment and to try some ideas that might lead to improvements because everyone admits that some decisions will soon have to be made. a A good teacher, insists Hardy, is obviously going to use his or her head in the classroom and adjust pace and tempo to the needs of the class. It is a point that is repeated by Principal Linda Peck of Northbrae Public School who sits on the board committee studying the issue. "What we are after are sensible solutions to a very complicated subject. I don‘t think there are any quick answers. What is needed is a lot of careful study because I don‘t think anyone really wants the schools to do less." In the meantime, spare a thought for Johnny and Julie as they plod out the door each morning for another day at the "office.‘" On top of the problems of growing up, the learning workload they carry is much larger and more complicated than ever before. Bit by bit they are learning to handle it, but frankly they could do with a break from the next person with a great idea for adding to the school day. Insist on the best... 575 Glenforest Bivd. 884â€"2530 116 Bridge St. East 7454751 465 Maple Ave. 743â€"6062 "BARGAIN® MODULE 4# H#B U ASSOCIATE