Community Chat

[NoelSeven]

Are there any other countries that give kids about three months off?

Our system was designed when much of America was an agrarian society and kids were needed on the farms. Not so, now.

America has fallen behind so many other countries in education. There's no reason to be missing several months of learning.

[NoelSeven]

WaPo report from about 7 months ago:

"Scores in math, reading and science posted by 15-year-olds in the United States were flat while their counterparts elsewhere — particularly in Shanghai, Singapore and other Asian provinces or countries — soared, according to the results of a well-regarded international exam released Tuesday.

While U.S. teenagers were average in reading and science, their scores were below average in math, compared to 64 other countries and economies that participated in the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA. That pattern has not changed much since the PISA test was first given in 2000."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/us-students-lag-around-average-on-international-scien...

[QueenDanceALot]

I see no reason for kids to be off for an entire summer, particularly when Americans are falling behind so badly.

[QueenDanceALot]

How can summers be ""family time"" when the rest of the family is working?

[Marienkaefer2]

On 7/11/2014 NoelSeven said:

Are there any other countries that give kids about three months off?

Our system was designed when much of America was an agrarian society and kids were needed on the farms. Not so, now.

America has fallen behind so many other countries in education. There's no reason to be missing several months of learning.

When I taught school in Vienna, Austria, the school year started the beginning of September, and ended the beginning of July.

There were the normal breaks for Christmas and Easter (about two weeks), plus numerous religious holidays like the Feast of the Assumption. (Austria was a predominantly Catholic country). Not sure about that now..

The difference was, the school day began at 8am and went straight through until about 2pm, with a few 15 minute breaks scattered throughout. Students also attended school on Saturday.

But the school system was so different compared to ours...You can't really directly compare. I taught in a college prep school Gymnasium) and so the courses were academically intense.

Other schools had different schedules. Some accommodated for apprenticeships, etc.

I don't think it's so much the number of hours that students spend in class as much as the structure of the system.that makes the difference.

[scotttie]

I tend to agree with the year round school with week long or two week long vacations here and there throught the year. From my experience with kids and grands after the long summer the kids do get bored anyway.

Plus the first month or so is catching up on what they forgot over the long summer. At least that's what I have heard.

My only caveat would be that if they did go to year round that the time be spent working on true academics-- math basics, true science, etc. and not less important fare. Kids are coming out of school not even knowing how to use a ruler. That's a fact.

And while we are on the subject, in my experience, there are wayyyyyy too many interruptions during the school day for the classroom. Continuity on a lesson plan is important.

[QueenDanceALot]

Well, hey, why should they spend more time in school when all they need to know they can find on their Smart Phone?

[scotttie]

On 7/11/2014 Marienkaefer2 said:

On 7/11/2014 NoelSeven said:

Are there any other countries that give kids about three months off?

Our system was designed when much of America was an agrarian society and kids were needed on the farms. Not so, now.

America has fallen behind so many other countries in education. There's no reason to be missing several months of learning.

When I taught school in Vienna, Austria, the school year started the beginning of September, and ended the beginning of July.

There were the normal breaks for Christmas and Easter (about two weeks), plus numerous religious holidays like the Feast of the Assumption. (Austria was a predominantly Catholic country). Not sure about that now..

The difference was, the school day began at 8am and went straight through until about 2pm, with a few 15 minute breaks scattered throughout. Students also attended school on Saturday.

But the school system was so different compared to ours...You can't really directly compare. I taught in a college prep school Gymnasium) and so the courses were academically intense.

Other schools had different schedules. Some accommodated for apprenticeships, etc.

I don't think it's so much the number of hours that students spend in class as much as the structure of the system.that makes the difference.

Well said.

[QueenDanceALot]

Around here the kids are off plenty during the "regular" school year, too.

Seems like they're off more than they're in.

[spot555]

I was fortunate to attend private schools grade 1 through college. I never had summer school. There were expectations & standards that were required in order for me to stay in those schools. I had to meet or exceed certain levels or I would have been out the door. We were there to follow rules & LEARN. It wasn't playtime, there was no mouthing-off.....the teachers were in charge.

Every grade prepped me for the future. In grade school we were prepping for college. We played sports, & played TO WIN. None of that garbage of handing out trophies to any kid that showed up. You think that preps anyone for the REAL world? In the real world when you play, you play to win. Being a bully was never tolerated, & kindness & compassion were encouraged.

Why would year-round schools improve learning? It isn't necessary. If the public system was doing it right, the scores wouldn't be so bad. And if parents were helping to teach their children at an early age (ABC's, 1-2-3's), that would give them a head start.

So many parents just drive their kids to daycare, see them for a couple hours, then put them to bed. It's no wonder so many kids are lost & confused. It all starts at home.