Some schools in my district started school last Monday, which was the 9th of July. They were in year-round school, where they had to go to school the same number of days as anybody else, but they had to go in summer. They might have longer breaks, but I still think year-round school would be horrible, for the students, the teachers, the parents, and even the district. (I had to write a convincing essay about how year-round school is better than regular school as an assignment, so I had to research it and learned even more bad things about it. I wanted to write how regular school was better, but I couldn't, but now I can!)
Why it's bad for the students: Part of the reason they do year-round school is that they think that kids will forget over summer break. But kids will forget whether it's over three months or three weeks. And studies show that kids in year-round school didn't learn anything more than kids in regular school. And they might even learn less because just as they get into a topic, there's a week long break and they have to review it all again. And most schools don't have air conditioning.
Why it's bad for the teachers: The teachers will always have to get ready for a break, and they can't teach as much because they spend more time reviewing. And they don't really get a break, because they will probably have to grade papers during the student's breaks.
Why it's bad for the parents: If the middle schools have the regular schedule but the elementary schools don't, then how would they schedule vacations or family activities? Or if the schools do "multitracking" which is where there are three groups of kids, with two in school and one on vacation at all times, then if some parents had two kids who were in different tracks it would be impossible to do stuff together.
Why it's bad for the district: It costs more to keep the school running year-round.
Now to send it to the school superintendent...
We have year round school here in Zimbabwe and I like it! Kids don't get bored as easy during the breaks like they do when they have 3 months. Families go on short vacations each break time unlike in the US where parents always say they are going to go on a vacation but never seem to go. And I don't think students forget as much so there is less review. However, it doesn't matter what system you have teachers work all year round, at least I do. SIGH
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we have summer break to do fun things together, but some days I wish we had year round school... days when you kids are CAH-RAZY!
ReplyDeleteMy school doesn't have air conditioning! Year round school would kill me!
ReplyDeleteThat's HORRIBLE!!!
ReplyDeleteYear round school is not a good idea in my opinion. What I think is that kids spend all year learning in school, and they have something to look forward too: summer. If they didn't have summer to look forward too it just wouldn't be as effective. Maybe they learn more, and maybe not, but either way, kids want to spend the hot season away from a desk and on vacation. And I'm pretty sure adults feel the same way. Emma, you're home schooled...
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