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Issue 544
Join the RTN Network! PAGE 16
March 19-25 2010
Classroom revolution by Jack Troughton PARENTS ARE being urged to support a campaign to revolutionise the school day to improve the education of youngsters attending Spanish state schools. Teachers and education professionals want to introduce a ‘continuous day’ across Valencia and scrap the current three hour break for pupils aged from three to 12. They maintain at present youngsters lose concentration in the afternoon – even falling asleep at their desks between 15.00 and finishing school at 17.00. The change would mean curriculum subjects would be taught in the mornings – usually from 09.00 until 14.00, with two short breaks – and allow the afternoons to be kept free for non-scientific subjects like music practice and sport. However, the schools would be open throughout the day and teachers would continue to work their full hours. PETITION
RTN golf winners Danny Herron from Javea & Linda Rees from Calpe, see page 61 for full story!
The Associacio Educativa - motto ‘Together for Education’ - is collecting signatures to petition the regional government to debate the issue and allow schools to ring in the changes. RTN was told the continuous day had already been adopted by schools in a number of the independent autonomies, such as Andalucía; Murcia; Galicia; Castilla La Mancha and the Balearics. “Not every school would want to have the continuous day but we want them to have the right to see if they want this system or not,” said members of the education association. Continued on page 4
what is the biz spain? find out next week...