We're no experts, but we think God might prefer that the Catholic children of Los Angeles get a little rest come June-time.

Nope. No luck for the weary. Cardinal Roger Mahoney tells City News Service today that “the elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are responding to this critical

national issue in order that our students grow up to be successful leaders in the global workforce.”

Aka, they're adding 20 more days to the school year and raising tuition at “as many as possible” of the archdiosece's 210 elementary schools —

home to over 52,000 kids throughout L.A., Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. By our count, at least 72 of those are in the city of Los Angeles. (Here, we Wiki'd archdiosece for you. You're welcome.)

What is this, China?

The (cringe) 200-day school year will begin Fall 2011. But before you get to pitying those poor overworked teachers, know that they're receiving a proportionate pay raise of 10 percent. Boo-ya. That's what happens when you make the good-headed decision to work for a private school.

All the specifics still need to be worked out — individual schools will choose their new schedules and tuition rates in the coming months — but Kevin Baxter, superintendent of elementary schools for the diosece, tells City News Service that no children will be left behind just because their families can't pay for the 20-day add-on.

“We want to ensure that no family leaves any Catholic school because of the increase in tuition,'' Baxter says.

So scurry along, little Angelenos, because Obama needs you to launch the next Sputnik. Or maybe you'll land a spot at the California Technical Institute: See “Obama Touts Caltech Research That Would Turn Sun Rays and Water Into Fuel.”

… Even if that means you'll only see aforementioned sun rays through the classroom window from now on. Bummer.

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