What do the numbers mean to you?

We are all aware of the discussions surrounding education reform and ways we can improve education. These discussions can be both energizing and demoralizing. These discussions have divided our society on how and why we should be changing our educational systems. I don't have any intentions of addressing any of these issues in this blog post, but I do however want to share some numbers with you.



365 days per year / 24 hrs per day / 1,440 mins per day

Students spend 13 years in school from age 0-18

Age 0-18 / 365 days * 18 years = 6,570 total days alive

Age 5-18 / 365 days * 13 years in school = 4,745 days alive while in school

6,570 days * 1,440 minutes per day = 9,460,800 total minutes alive from age 0-18

4,745 days * 1,440 minutes per day = 6,832,800 total minutes alive while in school

350 minutes per day in a classroom for 180 days per year (total 13 years in school)

350 minutes per day * 180 days per year = 63,000 minutes in a classroom per year

13 years in school * 63,000 minutes per year = 819,000 total minutes in a classroom

819,000 classroom minutes / 6,832,800 total minutes alive while in school = 12%

*A kid sleeping 8 hours per night will subtract 2,277,600 minutes while in school

819,000 classroom minutes / 4,555,200 total minutes alive minus sleep time = 18%


If my math calculations are correct, it would seem that from the age of 5-18, the average student will spend roughly 18% of his/her life in a classroom. That means roughly 82% of a child's life from the age of 5-18 is NOT spent in a classroom. In my opinion as an educator, this is extremely pertinent information that is undoubtedly relevant when discussing the measures and the means of education reform.

What do the numbers mean to you...?