The first thing a teacher might think about when they hear the words, "Year round school," is "Hey I thought I was going to get my summers off!" One might try to sound like they wouldn't enjoy their summers off, but who wouldn't like to take three whole months to have fun with your family, and get ready for the next school year? Well those teachers that participate in year round schooling do not have their summers off. Although it is a proven fact that kids study better, and have a more positive impact with year round schooling, we would still be going to school in June, July, and August, when all of the other schools had summer break. I interviewed an 8Th grade English teacher on her thought of year round schooling, and here are some of her answers. I asked her if she liked the idea, and her response was, " I like the idea of year round schooling, but I have a feeling when it's 85 degrees and sunny outside, it will be hard for my students as well as myself to focus on the subject." She said she enjoys her summers off, but at the same time, it might be nice going to school for 6 weeks, and then getting three weeks off. Families could still plan vacations, and it would be scheduled ahead of time, no snow days to make up, because they would be tacked on somewhere else. It is a possibility that one would have to go to school longer in March due to a snow day instead of going to the middle of June and then back to school again in August. As a future educator, I am still on the fence about this subject. It would be nice to have my summers off, but at the same time, the states are in much need of money, and the students are in my need of a higher level of learning. Both of these ideas mentioned have been proven to increase when the school switches to year round. Hopefully one day everyone will be on the same level, and we can impact our future students in the highest level of positiveness that we possibly can.
Year round school is one of those ideas that sould just stay an idea. I like that students will get the chance to get more education in and learning but it will cost too much time, money and energy. Teachers and students will get so burned out so fast that it will make everyone sick. It may work for the parents but what about people that travel for the summer and have to go stay with one parent for six months out of the year, it sounds good but many problems will arise.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of year round school is sound, but I really believe that it would also end up driving the cost of public schools even higher. There is a better solution, it just needs to be dreamed up=)
ReplyDeleteThis is a tough subject for everyone involved in school systems. There are many pros and cons to it. One point that many teachers bring up is the pay situation. Will teachers get an increase in pay since they have more requirements to fulfill? Also like you mentioned how and when will teachers have time to plan out the school year if they don’t have summers off. Another issue that I thought of from a parent’s perspective is divorced situations. What if the child has different parents in different districts? If not all the schools are on the same, or at least similar, schedules there could be a lot of conflict. The parks will be empty if all the children in that district will be in school. Social activities for the student outside of the classroom will be majorly impacted. Another area that could be hurt is entertainment. If the parks, movies, and zoos aren’t being used because children don’t have time to go the community can loose out on a lot as well as the child. But at the same time there are many good things that can come out of year around school. I simply agree with April, there is a good solution we just haven’t came up with it yet.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a gray area type subject. After reading your post and hearing what the teacher you interviewed said, I am now on the fence with this topic as well. Like the teacher you interviewed said, it WOULD be hard to sit in a classroom knowing its 85 degrees outside and sunny. I don't feel its right to take away that enjoyment from kids. It won't motivate them to learn, and their minds are going to be all over the place. I guess this only applies for those states that only have 3 months of summer. In the states that have warm weather all year round it may not matter as much. Anyhow, summer break is known nation-wide as the time when kids can take a break from school and relax. I think they need those three intense months of relaxation and fun.
ReplyDelete