From: Lauren Pederson
Email: laurenp@udel.edu
Course: EDST390-012: Instructional Strategies and Reflectional Practice
College: University of Delaware
Instructor: Eugene Matusov
ClassWeb: http://ematusov.com/EDST390
ChildrenObservations: No
Date: 16 Dec 1997
Time: 00:24:47
Remote Name: dinghy.dickinson.udel.edu
This paper is about the advantages and disadvantages of year round schooling versus the traditional schooling calendar. This is a very important issue in today's educational world. We must pick the best system for the children, teachers and parents involved.
Year round schooling is an important and controversial issue in today’s educational world. Schools have two options for their calendar. They can either have the traditional calendar, where students go to school for nine months and then have three months off for the summer. The alternative is to have year round schooling. This entails that students will be going to school for 45 days following a 15 day vacation. (http://ww2.globalvision.net/press/resource/hsh/0301.html) Both systems have children going to school for a total of 180 days. The only difference is how long their breaks are and how often they get a vacation. The traditional calendar has one long three month break, while the year round calendar has multiple 15 day breaks. There are several pros and cons to each option. I think that traditional schooling is more beneficial for everyone involved.
There are many advantages and disadvantages for year round schooling. One of the advantages of year round schooling, or disadvantages of traditional schooling, is that it solves the problem of overcrowding in the schools. Since, students will all be on different schedules, they will all have different times in the school. This will allow the school to accommodate more students. This also saves money on construction, since new buildings will not have to be built to fit all the incoming students.
Furthermore, continuos education promotes learning to be uninterrupted. Since children will be in school all year long, it will also reduce the amount of time spent on review. In traditional schooling, most of the children forget what they learned from the year before, because the summer is so long. Students will be able to retain knowledge more easily in year round schooling. It also appears to reduce drop out rates. The frequent vacation breaks helps curtail fatigue and maintain enthusiasm in learning. These breaks helps reduce the burn out of teachers and students. (http://www.fmsd.k12.ca.us/santee/YearRound.html)
Furthermore, certain activities can only take place during the warmer months, including the summer, such as, taking hiking trips and nature walks. These activities can provide children with real life experiences to connect with what they are learning in school. Also, a year round schedule is more realistic to the real world. Occupations that you will hold when you are older will not stop in the summer. They will last all year long. Year round schooling also gives children more vacation breaks. This allows parents to schedule vacations that are more convenient for them and their work schedule.
Teachers also benefit from year round schooling. Since the teacher begins and ends at different times than the traditional school, ordering and buying textbooks will not only be easier and quicker but also more economical. (http://ww2.globalvision.net/press/resource/hsh/0301.html) Year round schooling allows students to go to classes during their vacation, if they need extra help. Their summers also do not get drawn out and become dull. (http://www.ariz.com/lomalinda/yearroun.html) Long summers, where children get bored, can lead to destructive behavior, such as, vandalism. Year round schooling also encompass less discipline problems with students and improved morale amid the teachers. (Silberman) Year round schooling incorporates learning into everyday life. Therefore, children will think of learning as an everyday process. (http://165.248.78.208/kalihiweb/briweb4.html)
There are also many disadvantages of year round schooling, or advantages of traditional schooling. One of them is that at least one fourth of the staff is always absent from the meetings at year round schools. Since, these teachers are on their breaks, they are not there to make decisions. Also, every three months when the teacher and their class goes for a 15 day vacation, their materials will have to be moved to accommodate another class. (http://www.fmsd.k12.ca.us/santee/YearRound.html)
Year round schooling prevents children from getting summer jobs. For some students, these summer jobs helps them afford college. Year round schooling also prohibits students from getting a summer internship, to help them with their future career. (http://www.ilstu.edu/depts/vidette/Archives/03-97/w3-31-97/c-zambo.html) Year round schooling also gets children out of coexisting schedules with their peers. Some children will be taking classes while their friends are on break. This will be hard for the children in school trying to learn, knowing that their friends are out playing. Teachers will also need to readjust their materials to fit the year round schedule. Since, the breaks are different, teachers need to end units when the break ends. This also means that long term planning is no longer an option. Traditional schools have all summer to plan their year, while the year round school teachers have only their short breaks to plan the upcoming year. (http://ww2.globalvision.net/press/resource/hsh/0301.html)
Some people think that children need summer vacations. They need time to sit back and be children. They need time to explore and think without being judged all the time. If they are constantly watched and judged they will always be waiting for someone to tell them that they are right. They will no longer be creative. The problem with several short breaks is that if you have more than one child they could be on different schedules. This would create problems for scheduling family vacations. Not to mention that some schools would be closed during important times, such as, college counseling and extra curricular activities, such as, sports. Moreover year round schooling has yet to be proven to be educationally effective. (http://www.ilstu.edu/depts/uhpubs/cn/jun96/xfire.html)
Another problem with year round schools is that they cost more to run. This is because the school building is climate controlled all year, not to mention it might accommodate more children. Also staff members earn higher salaries because they work more days. (http://www.startext.net/news/doc/1047/1:METRO42/1:METRO42052897.html) If schools changed to year round schedules now, there would be an initial confusion in the routine. Also, the courses available to students could be restricted. (Goodman)
Despite the fact that year round schooling consists of many advantages. Overall, the traditional schooling calendar is profitable for teachers, students and parents. Year round school includes more breaks, which can be good in some cases. In most cases though, it would create confusion and frustration. Children will not be on the same schedule with their peers or their siblings. This creates family and social problems for the child. Year round schools also creates problems for teachers. They no longer have a long break to plan out their year. In spite of the fact that the summers can seem to get long and boring, children need a break. This gives them time to act like children, or be responsible and get a job, if that is what they need. I think that if I was going to school I would rather have a summer off to relax than several 15 day intervals. When I am a parent, I think that I would also enjoy spending the summer with my child. Taking them on family vacations and participating in summer activities.
Works Cited:
“Year-Round Schooling” http://ww2.globalvision.net/press/resource/hsh/0301.html
“Year-Round School” http://www.fmsd.k12.ca.us/santee/YearRound.html
“Year Round School” http://www.ariz.com/lomalinda/yearroun.html
“Year Round Schools” http://165.248.78.208/kalihiweb/briweb4.html
“Give them a (summer) break” http://www.ilstu.edu/depts/vidette/Archives/03-97/w3-31-97/c-zambo.html
“Crossfire” http://www.ilstu.edu/depts/uhpubs/cn/jun96/xfire.html
“Year-round schools rate low in Fort Worth analysis” http://www.startext.net/news/doc/1047/1:METRO42/1:METRO42052897.html
Goodman, Stacy. A Trend On The Grow. The Issaquah Press, June 1, 1996.
Silberman, Todd. A school for all seasons. North Carolina: The News Obserer, May 26, 1997.