topic Re: Year round school, yea or nay? in Community Chat

Year round school, yea or nay?

Mominohio — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 15:43:02 GMT

The thread about school supplies got me thinking about the upcoming school year. My cousin teaches special education in a public school system here in Ohio. My son now attends public high school, but was in a small private school through 8th grade. Here in Ohio, most schools still do the summer vacation thing, with most schools out by the last of May or the first week of June, and they return anywhere from late August to after Labor Day.

While this can be quite a hot topic, lets see why people prefer one way or the other. My cousin wishes there was year round school here, and I do not. She thinks it would allow her more time off during other seasons of the year to do things she wants to do, as well as keep kids more focused.

The main reasons I believe in summers off are

Kids need to be kids. They need to play outside, swim, catch lightning bugs, go camping, take family vacations, etc. They have only one childhood and need to enjoy it.

Older kids need to work. Not just for money (as I think they should be paying for their own cars, gas, insurance, and spending money), but for experience in the work world, and to help them decide the what they want to do as far as education/work after high school. While many kids do work during the school year, many don't (not as many as when I was in school) because high school is now harder and more competitive. Many kids are taking college courses while in high school, and grades do come first. How are they going to work and earn money with the on so many weeks and off a couple all year long?

The main reason I've heard that people support year round school are

Kids don't retain over the summer, and there is too much review time at the beginning of the new year. I say if your kid isn't learning during the summer, you aren't doing your job as a parent. I always required lots of reading, trips revolved around educational and historical topics, and learning isn't confined to teachers and classrooms (think learning to cook, sew, fix a car, garden and can, raise animals for the fair etc.). If your kid doesn't retain or gain during the summer, it is mostly lazy parenting.

People will quote one study after another statistic about kids performance increasing with year around school, but kids and people are more than just their IQ and test scores. There is valuable learning to be done through other people and other institutions, outside the realm of the classroom, and it is parents responsibility to see it gets done.

So weigh in. And tell why you believe the way you do.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

Still Raining — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 15:46:38 GMT

Yes, something more approaching year-round would approximate what real life is like. Maybe a system with a summer big break and then two smaller breaks at Christmas and spring. This is done in some other countries.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

bells4me — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 15:47:19 GMT

I retired from the public school system in So California in 2007. The district I worked for was just about the only one in my area who did not have year around school. It still doesn't.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

brii — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 15:50:52 GMT

Nay.

There are only a few weeks out of the summer that they aren't involved in something related to either school or sports, as it is.

Maybe the pace wouldn't be so chaotic if it was spread out over a longer time period - I don't know.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

chrystaltree — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 15:58:34 GMT

What? You think the USA should wake up and join the modern world?

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

colliegirls — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:01:18 GMT

I have passed up schools for my children who are on a year round schedule. Being out in the summer is the only thing we look forward to all school year!

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

sunshine45 — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:02:14 GMT

i am definitely for year round school. it doesnt happen in our area and i only have one left in high school, but i think it would have benefited them quite a bit. there is too much unproductive time during the summer. kids can work year round. shorter breaks throughout the year would be so much better.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

JustJules — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:05:48 GMT

I experienced both types of schools growing up. I was in a year around system through 4th grade, then we moved to a different district and it was the traditional summer off system. I liked both, I think the year around system worked well for me when I was a young child. We had 3 different "tracks" A track, B track and C track and they would rotate as to when each track would be on vacation while the other two stayed in school session. It worked for my family because we could take trips throughout the year and it gave kids a break rather than having to endure a long school semester. The only bummer was when some of your friends were on a different track and then you didn't have the same vacation time off together. When I started middle school and then they transitioned it into a jr. high school, we were on the traditional school year with summer off schedule and that worked well too. I think there are pros and cons to both systems. I wouldn't want to be in high school and be on a year around system, it doesn't seem practical for some classes that progress throughout the semester and to break up that learning process would be distracting. JMO

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:10:37 GMT

I live in a state that is tourist-oriented from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Much of the labor utilized in these attractions and supporting services is provided by high-school students. I doubt the business lobbies would support a year-round school year for this reason.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

kinda silly — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:10:38 GMT

We all had summers off and now we expect our children and grandchildren to attend during the summer? That's not kosher. Why make life more difficult than it already is for them?

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

Qwackertoo — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:13:35 GMT

We've never done it. But my Mother who taught first grade did and she actually enjoyed it and the kids, from higher grades, their teachers didn't have that re-teaching the first few weeks to review from the previous year wasted . . . 3 weeks off every 9 weeks I believe the schedule was, nice break, not too long too short . . . the teachers were not sick as much nor were the kids so absenteeism went down. It did NOT last. Maybe 3 years at most. I guess it was a daycare / after school care nightmare for parents who both worked or single parents as the care facilities hadn't had time to adapt to the new schedule and were probably resistant to do so . . . so it just didn't work out. This was a VERY LARGE school district.

I think it would be better. Although the after school care needs more time to adapt for the full days that would come for those who need some sort of care those 3 off weeks.

Change is not easy . . .

I'm curious to see how it works this year with the elementary school sharing the buses with the middle & high school. Elementary goes in early gets out early. Middle & high go in late get out later. School district running out of money for enough buses for all so they are having to share. I guess fewer buses, less maintenance . . . perhaps . . . , fewer bus drivers working longer hours running two routes . . . but what about weather days when they ALL get dismissed early due to a snow or ice storm heading our direction OR chance of tornadoes . . . OR flooding from too much rain (the buses do travel rural routes for many children so that is always a danger) . . . or school is delayed opening to all the previous stated reasons. I think it might be a big ole mess!!! Good luck to the new superintendent whoever wins that upcoming election!

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

151949 — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:17:25 GMT

Since many kids now a days have to go to some kind of summer childcare because their Moms work what difference would it make - they may as well go to school all year.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

DREAMON — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:21:35 GMT

The schools would have to be air conditioned to remain open all year. Most of the Districts in our area do not have air conditioning in all of the schools....just the newer built ones.

I worked for the School District for many years and the temp was near 100 in areas of the school on hot days. Students were constantly being sent to the nurses office and many days the District closed early which is a such an inconvenience for working parents who didn't know their children were being sent home.

I like the Summers off for students. I couldn't wait till the summer when I was a kid and the same goes for my children. I wouldn't want to take that away from them.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

spot555 — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:21:51 GMT

That's so sad- schools have become glorified babysitters. If most people need this for their child, then maybe they should have thought about important issues before having them. It's their responsiblity to take care of their children- not the school system & the taxpayers.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

Brooklynny — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:28:32 GMT

When I was in (parochial) school, our school year began right after Labor Day and ended the third week in June. We were free for July and August, but we were never dismissed for the summer without a reading list...one from Column A, two from Column B, and we were REQUIRED to produce book reports on what we read when school reopened in September. Being a Type A student, I read all the books on the list. My mother would take me to the library weekly, I would take out the maximum of two books, read them in a week, return them the following week and take out two more until I exhausted the list. In addition, my father would buy books for me to read. I don't remember the publisher, but they were those small scale books mostly about science -- weather, astronomy/the constellations, sea shells/the ocean, etc. Summer wasn't all vacation/all the time; in fact, we couldn't afford to take "vacations" -- however, I had plenty of play time every day but had to do the work nonetheless. (Our "vacations" consisted of taking the subway to the beach at Coney Island a few days a week and during my father's two-week vacations in August, and we loved every minute of it.) All this, and English was not even my family's native language, and I wouldn't give up my childhood summers and school experience for the world. When I was 16 and eligible for what, at the time, were called "working papers," I immediately applied for them and got a summer job working as a sales girl in a local department/variety store. I did this for 2-3 summers and earned my own money for my own use. Learning is something that should never stop with the end of the school year or end with any formal schooling for that matter. Working a summer job teaches responsibility -- showing up on time every day, following instructions, doing the work expected of you, and getting paid for what you DO. No prizes, no awards, no parades. You get out of the experience what you put in. It's up to the parents to instill these values in their children; kids don't pick this up by osmosis. It's the only way to succeed in life regardless of the professional path taken in adulthood. JMHO.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

Mominohio — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:36:04 GMT

On 7/11/2014 Qwackertoo said:
We've never done it. But my Mother who taught first grade did and she actually enjoyed it and the kids, from higher grades, their teachers didn't have that re-teaching the first few weeks to review from the previous year wasted . . . 3 weeks off every 9 weeks I believe the schedule was, nice break, not too long too short . . . the teachers were not sick as much nor were the kids so absenteeism went down. It did NOT last. Maybe 3 years at most. I guess it was a daycare / after school care nightmare for parents who both worked or single parents as the care facilities hadn't had time to adapt to the new schedule and were probably resistant to do so . . . so it just didn't work out. This was a VERY LARGE school district.

I think it would be better. Although the after school care needs more time to adapt for the full days that would come for those who need some sort of care those 3 off weeks.

Change is not easy . . .

I'm curious to see how it works this year with the elementary school sharing the buses with the middle & high school. Elementary goes in early gets out early. Middle & high go in late get out later. School district running out of money for enough buses for all so they are having to share. I guess fewer buses, less maintenance . . . perhaps . . . , fewer bus drivers working longer hours running two routes . . . but what about weather days when they ALL get dismissed early due to a snow or ice storm heading our direction OR chance of tornadoes . . . OR flooding from too much rain (the buses do travel rural routes for many children so that is always a danger) . . . or school is delayed opening to all the previous stated reasons. I think it might be a big ole mess!!! Good luck to the new superintendent whoever wins that upcoming election!

Qwakertoo, our school system has always done the double runs with their buses. The older kids early and the young ones on a later run. It seems to work well, but you are right about their being a quandary with unplanned early releases in emergency situations (like weather). I suppose they just have to keep an eye on approaching storms, and get moving faster.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

nlwilliams — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:41:59 GMT

Yeah, keep em occupied.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

guatmum — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:43:12 GMT

If they air conditioned all schools, I would be all for it. I could teach new curriculum from day 1 instead of after the first two months. We could also have more short vacations, something like 6 weeks on and 1 week off. Without closing schools, teachers faced almost empty classrooms. Without summers off now, students could take part in the regular curriculum plus other types of activities such as camping, sports, etc.

Let's face it, summer vacation began as time off for children to work on family farms when our country was mostly agricultural. It was not a "vacation" but a time to go work in the fields. Most kids were glad to get back to school and friends. Now kids and families in our country have the word "vacation" engrained in their brains and it just reinforces the idea/attitude that school days are something to "get through" rather than a privilege and opportunity that will enrich lives and make brighter futures possible.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

lovesrecess — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:49:57 GMT

I taught in public schools for 36 yrs; I only got 8 wks off in the summer but the students got June, July, and returned 2nd week in August. I think year-round school is not a good idea; kids need a break but so do the teachers.....year-round is difficult for high school students because many are working to save money for college or to help their families during the summer.

Re: Year round school, yea or nay?

Qwackertoo — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:52:25 GMT

On 7/11/2014 mominohio said:
On 7/11/2014 Qwackertoo said:
We've never done it. But my Mother who taught first grade did and she actually enjoyed it and the kids, from higher grades, their teachers didn't have that re-teaching the first few weeks to review from the previous year wasted . . . 3 weeks off every 9 weeks I believe the schedule was, nice break, not too long too short . . . the teachers were not sick as much nor were the kids so absenteeism went down. It did NOT last. Maybe 3 years at most. I guess it was a daycare / after school care nightmare for parents who both worked or single parents as the care facilities hadn't had time to adapt to the new schedule and were probably resistant to do so . . . so it just didn't work out. This was a VERY LARGE school district.

I think it would be better. Although the after school care needs more time to adapt for the full days that would come for those who need some sort of care those 3 off weeks.

Change is not easy . . .

I'm curious to see how it works this year with the elementary school sharing the buses with the middle & high school. Elementary goes in early gets out early. Middle & high go in late get out later. School district running out of money for enough buses for all so they are having to share. I guess fewer buses, less maintenance . . . perhaps . . . , fewer bus drivers working longer hours running two routes . . . but what about weather days when they ALL get dismissed early due to a snow or ice storm heading our direction OR chance of tornadoes . . . OR flooding from too much rain (the buses do travel rural routes for many children so that is always a danger) . . . or school is delayed opening to all the previous stated reasons. I think it might be a big ole mess!!! Good luck to the new superintendent whoever wins that upcoming election!

Qwakertoo, our school system has always done the double runs with their buses. The older kids early and the young ones on a later run. It seems to work well, but you are right about their being a quandary with unplanned early releases in emergency situations (like weather). I suppose they just have to keep an eye on approaching storms, and get moving faster.

They are pretty good about but they do like to get in hours to at least 11:00 a.m. as I do believe that is the magical time they get to count it as a full day for their "federal dollars" and to NOT have to make it up . . . and they have to keep the bus students a little longer as they have to offer them lunch vs. the car riders & car drivers @ high school level. We just don't need any situations like poor Atlanta had with that ice storm last year. And they'll probably have a few more "misses" on the weather call due to acting earlier out of an abundance of caution . . . as it is . . . I'd hate to be the one to make those calls, IF it does nothing people aren't happy, IF it does something and they don't call it early enough people aren't happy . . . a fine line to walk on calling it and they are in the education business NOT the weather forecasting business.