Minnesota’s superintendents are proposing that the school year be extended by five weeks. The proposal is part of a legislative platform agreed upon by the board of directors for the Minnesota School Administrators.

Don’t panic yet, kids. This is just a proposal. It would require legislative approval and teacher contract renegotiating, and neither is likely any time soon. But it does provide a base point for a discussion about extending the school year, something this newspaper has long supported.

U.S. school children have been steadily losing academic ground to those in some other countries, such as China, particularly in the areas of math, science and technology. So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that China’s school year is 230 days, compared with 170-175 days in this country.

We’re not sure an immediate five-week increase in the school year is the right way to go. Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he’s warm to the idea, but it is sure to be opposed by the hospitality industry, which maintains that it needs teen workers throughout the summer months. And it is likely to be opposed by many teachers, some of whom use the summer months for training and to earn advanced degrees.

Perhaps an initial two-week increase would be more palatable to the Legislature.

But the time has come for the discussion concerning a longer school year to begin. Our students need to be academically competitive on a global level if our nation is to remain economically competitive on a global level.

&045; Post-Bulletin of Rochester