The superintendent's secretary at the Moreland School District told me last Friday that their total district school days of instruction for students for the 2011-12 year is 176 days! So, that is down from the required 180 days. BUT, she didn't calculate all the shortened days in the calendar. That's the one day per WEEK when students in the public system go home half day basically. Summer school has been continually cut each year, and now teacher furlough days have been added to the reason for cutting school days. What is the message to our young people?  How do they justify this as education? Most of Asia goes to school longer each day, and even on Saturdays. A shorter school year simply means less academic learning is happening. How will this country prosper and stay strong without educated citizens? At PILA, our students go to school for 190 days AND in addition to the 190 days, they have 20 days of review with their teachers if the parents choose to do so. At PILA, we offer a year-round schedule. That means our students are in school for 11 months. Research has shown that year-round schools are effective and positive for students on many levels. The long summer break is an out-dated, and quaint notion that is not serving our children well. What do you think is the answer to shorter school days? What is your district or school doing about it?