Hellobee Boards

Heck no. Heck heck no.

My SIL attends a liberal arts college with a year-round schedule. Here breaks between semesters is pretty hefty. I would love to see this done for K-12. I think year-round classroom instruction would better prepare students for the next grade and reduce the need for the few weeks every Fall reviewing what students should know from Spring.

I think it's a fantastic idea and we are doing it in our home school. Our district has a typical schedule.

I taught in a place with year-round school--we had several week-long breaks and then a couple of two-week breaks. A long summer break is an anachronism.

I support the idea in theory, but it would make it much more stressful and difficult on working parents.

@regberadaisy: I'm not exactly sure what happens legally. I assume it depends on the school. It wasn't "optional," they just didn't show up. I assume the school could have/did report them for truancy, but I'm not sure of the outcome.

ETA: I taught there two years. The second year they had shifted a bit, and I just looked at their calendar for this year and they're back on a traditional calendar. So for whatever reason, it must not have worked.

@regberadaisy: I think the reason its harder for working parents is because like @Autumnmama79: said, you really have the same amount of "breaks' its just throughout the year. Society is kinda set up now for a "summer break" with summer camps and such. If my kids were out 3 weeks in October, there wouldn't be many offerings for daycare/camps for them.

I have read that kids who fall behind in school fall behind during summer break. So year round schooling might be better for them.

As a working parent, I think it would be harder on us because we'd need to figure out 4 separate breaks where we'd need care. We would probably take 1 and use it as a family holiday. However, I'm not sure what we'd do for the other 3. I was thinking with summer off style schooling, we would send them to day camps during the day or hire a summer nanny (like a highschool or college student who is also off). If the breaks are during the "school year" then I don't know if there would be programs or people available.

@regberadaisy: As a teacher and parent of a school age child, I really appreciate that long stretch in the summer.

Teaching is exhausting and that long chunk of time to recharge and feel prepared for the next year and group of challenging students is essential. For my DD, I like that she is off during the most beautiful time of year (weather wise) and she gets to enjoy all the spoils of summer, both with me and DH but also in swimming, soccer and horseback riding camps.

You could argue that a child could participate in those type of camps at any time of year, but there is just something so special about summer . I hope things don't change during my lifetime!!

@regberadaisy: I agree if society in general would support it (aka like if an entire school district went to year round). But I dont think I would want to be a part of a pilot program where we were the only ones on a year round schedule.

@Mrs. Lion: That is true. If there are enough kids, I'm sure camps will follow. Though the biggest disadvantage in the PNW is our weather. Our summers here are beautiful and perfect so if the breaks are in the rainy season, kids may end up spending less time outside because of inclement weather.

In the Raleigh-Durham area of NC, they have quite a few year-round schools. All of the parents I know end up loving it because you can spread vacations throughout the year -- not just take them at holidays or the typical summer.

And re: the concern about what to do with kids, all of the daycares/YMCAs/etc around there have "track out" programming, which is basically some sort of daycare or camps available during whatever times the kids are not in school. So while, for most people with typical school schedules, you think that there wouldn't be options, the supply-side always fills demand if it's there! Yes, you might miss out on some more national-type camps & programs (e.g., sports camp at a particular university or whatever), but there are options.

@erinpye: this is another reason! Where I live we are VERY affected by the weather. Winter is traditionally a time to buckle down inside, and summer is about being out and about and go go going. It is sort of a natural dynamic.

With year-round schooling I'm sure the camp market would come into play with solutions to keep kids occupied during breaks. The camps could still be fun-focused or academic-focused or specific interests-focused like sports. The timing of the sessions would just be different.

@regberadaisy: does the school offer camp or daycare during the weeks off? I think it's way easier to find a nanny or camp or daycare all summer than for random weeks here and there...

I attended year-round school as a child and loved it. The breaks always cane right when you needed it, but we were never out of school long enough to get bored and cranky.

Lots of good discussion here! I wanted to address the idea that students somehow 'slip behind' during long summer breaks. Learning and development in young children is not limited to 9-3 Monday to Friday, during school times only. Over the summer, parents play a valuable role in their children's learning. Taking family vacations together, exploring the backyard and surrounding nature, attending camps and having the chance to entertain interests outside of school, are all really valuable learning experiences for children. Also, and most importantly, kids should continue to read and be read to during summer breaks.

There are lots of opportunities for parents to facilitate learning during summer break. Whether it be with the parents themselves, extended family, daycare or activity camps. The learning doesn't come to a stop just because school is out for summer break.

@KayKay: we have family in NC and they like it, too and I know there are lots of care options, but I still think choices are limited. Not everyone can necessarily afford camps all the time. A college student for the summer is going to be A more affordable option for people with multiple kids than camps for all of them, but that set up is going to be way harder to find with year round school.