Essay On Mandated Hours In School

Mandated minutes in elementary schools should exist for all subjects, not just P.E., because it is exceedingly important for all subjects to be taught to the fullest extent, some teachers only teach subjects that are tested or monitored, and in order to ensure equal education opportunities for all students, all teachers should spend the same amounts of time on each subject. California has already recommended two hours of language arts and 50-60 minutes of math to be taught each day (California Department of Education). They do not, however, have any recommendations on how many minutes of history, science, or visual and performing arts should be taught. Creating a law that mandates instructional minutes of all subjects can be immensely beneficial …show more content…
As explained by Craig Jerald from Reading Rockets, “Item teachers… teach only the bits of knowledge students are most likely to encounter on exams.” This demonstrates how there are teachers who are “teaching to the test” and not going into depth on all topics and subjects, only the ones that are on tests that are seen by their supervisors. This makes it all the more crucial to mandate minutes for all subjects so these teachers know that they are expected to and is necessary for them to teach every subject thoroughly. Additionally, curriculum is currently being narrowed and manipulated to match testing (Fair Test). Consequently, subjects such as science and history are pushed further and further aside to make way for math, reading, and English. All these subjects need to be equally, yet completely, taught, but these teachers who are “teaching to the test” are going to need a little push in the right direction and this law is that push they need. In conclusion, we have teachers that have not been teaching all subjects in every aspect, because they are “teaching to the test” and teaching only the things that are monitored by those above