Year-Round School?

[Jessica at Parenting.com]

This week, President Obama floated the idea of year-round school.

Read the post above, then let us know what do you think!

[moonemaiden]

We intend to homeschool, and it will be year around. I like the idea of year around school, even for the public schools. But holidays that last at least 2-3 weeks need to be placed strategically throughout the year. Tourism really shouldn't suffer, but instead change from being only during the summer, to also being all year around.

What about teens working? We can't expect a high schooler to pick up a summer job if they don't have a summer off. So then we can expect them to start working while in school, at which point we have to decide if work ethic or education will end up being more important. Insisting on following an adult workday sounds like the work ethic has already taken the driver's seat.

The major concern of mine is the idea of longer school days. Kids are in school too long as it is. Families have only a couple hours a day with their kids, and less if they are involved in extracurricular activities. Most of that time is taken up with homework and bedtime routines. When is the family suppose to bond? When do the parents get that chance to really talk with their kids, especially those more difficult conversations? Over summer vacation, nope that's gone too.

I guess to me the more important questions are:What is the purpose of education? What is the purpose of a public school education? And how is the best way to meet both of those needs?

[Whittington]

My daughter is in private school and they have them to do their work at school,
so they don't have a lot of homework, they have time to enjoy family time. I like this ideal and also I think children need time off from school, yes they need a good education but they need time to just be a kid.

[adrimartos]

My girls went to year-round school and we all loved it. It keeps them busy and focused all year. They would enjoy two week intermissions every three months and still have the regular Holiday Breaks. We moved to a different city where year-round school isn't offered and we do miss it.

[Beth13]

I'm all for year round school. It prevents their brains from turning to mush in the summer.

[BRoxMum]

I like the concept. I could see states staggering when their weeks off would be so the entire nation isn't off at the same time. I wonder what teachers think? I think a majority of our population would benefit.

Our summers are so hot here, there's little interaction outside. I would prefer weeks off during our glorious weather. I believe camps, rec centers and such would step up to meet any voids?

[crystele]

My big concern about year round school, as a working parent, is that they have the camps & rec centers ready to step in BEFORE implementing a year round schedule.
Some schools here are year round, but they are pretty self-selected into neighborhoods where the majority have someone who is home during the day. The dual working didn't like it much (because it meant they never took a family vacation, each used their vacation to care for the kids when school was out of session). Single parents without a support system literally moved out of those neighborhoods because there was no other care option.
I'm not necessarily for it, but I'm not necessarily against it, I think that all the ramifications have to be carefully considered first.

[foster4755]

I am both a mom and a School Psychologist. In my opinion, both children and educators need the break that summer vacation provides. There are very few children who need to continue education over the summer and many of those children receive the services they need through special education. I believe that the school day should be made just a little longer and homework should be reduced. Expecting kids to attend school 6-7 hours and then go home and do hours of school work is unrealistic. Why can't we make the day a little longer and then cut students some slack at home? This would allow children to participate in after school activities, families to have regular meals together, and it gives the children a rest for the evening. My school day is only six hours and I can honestly say we struggle to provide enough time for all of the core subjects plus all of the special area classes. Let's make the day just a little longer...

[mindy5140]

I think that would be awful. We do things as a family all summer long, some things are educational and some are not but still are lessons in disquise. I also think that the summer break re-energises the students and teachers.