How about some more days in the school year?

I just read a couple of interesting posts at In Practice about the merits of an extended school year. His general premise is that if that would just mean more of the same for students, it wouldn't be at all beneficial. However, if more hours and days to work with could mean more time dedicated to sports, more arts, more science and social studies (all at the elementary level- secondary schools have a different situation), then he's all for it. I'd have to say I agree. I think having some nice contiguous weeks off, especially when the weather's nice, is still great, but a calendar that is more toward a year-round school with slightly fewer days off overall would offer some wonderful opportunities. Imagine:
... organized athletics (at the elementary level): team sports and/ or PE classes
... visual arts twice a week instead of maybe once a month
... weekly performing arts (musical theater, dance, orchestra, etc.). I was an art major, so naturally I support these. Realistically, I think increased participation in the arts is measurably, academically beneficial to kids. Plus it's fun, which increases the good associations with school that contribute to a good attitude about everything else at school.
... a school garden! This one is especially appealing to me. I live in a cold, high desert area and I love to grow food. Our growing season is very short: I can't put much in the ground before the first of June, and by the end of September it's about all over. While this means I could spend my own summer vacation tending my home garden, a lot of kids will never have that opportunity. If school were in session during the growing season it would make sense to include some biology lessons around growing food (not to mention the social studies involved). As it is, it's pretty much a snow covered world for most of the school year around here. Imagine the Inner City Elementary booth at the Farmers' Market every week during the summer! Fresh tomatoes and peppers!!!

This won't happen any time soon. All across my state, and especially here in my county, districts have had to cut days off of this school year in order to save money. Maybe five or ten years from now there will be a little more cushion in the budgets and some of this could be introduced. As a small step, just having a couple of extra weeks in the year could mean significantly more hours across the year of organized athletics, arts, and sciences.