美国有线新闻 CNN 2012-12-08（打印版）

A lot of young people are out looking for a job but not working one. A new report says youth employment in the U.S is at its lowest level since the World War II. We're talking about people ages 16 to 24, the Annie E. Casey Foundation says that only half of them had jobs in 2011. And if you just look at teenagers, only one in four had a job last year. The year 2000, almost half of them did. The reasons, the lingering effects of the Great Recession. A lot of the entry level jobs the young people used to count on, like those at clothing stores or restaurants for example are going to more experienced or more educated workers. One side of that is that young people aren't getting the early working experience that would help them later on. Some organizations wanna give the students the chance to get that experience, but not through a job, at school. And not during regular classes either. This is part of something called the "Time Collaborative", and for around 2,000 students, it means they are gonna be spending more time at school.

We're talking about more than 40 schools in five states. Next school year, they are gonna be open an additional 300 hours, so it works out to about 90 minutes extra a day on average. It won't necessarily mean more time in science, or language arts classes, though that is possible. The organizer says the extra time could be spend on internships, on apprenticeships, or music or art programs. One goal will be to help lower performing students to do better. An analyst says the program could help increase test scores, but it can also increase the dropout rates. He said if the extra time looks and feels like the rest of the school day, then those at risk students might not go for it.

A middle schooler who spoke to one of our affiliates, said student don't want more time in school. She said students want to be get a break from learning. What do you say? We want hear your thoughts on this. Let's say your school adds the extra time, an extra hour and a half. How would you want to spend it, more academic, the focus on music and drama programs, getting internship or apprenticeship credit. Tell us and tell us only your first names on our blog, cnnstudentnews.com.

美国有线新闻 CNN 2012-12-08（在线收听）