I am fast approaching the end of my 27th year in education....that's right I am old! Each year about this time things at school begin to get a little bit crazy. Whether it is a luncheon, get together, party, retirement, awards assembly, field day, Super Kids Day, Mother's Day Tea, you name it and it's happening whether you like it or not!
Why is it that only in education things wind up and wind down each year. In the corporate world I'm sure it happens but not like school. I know what your saying, kids need to have time off in the summer to help harvest the crops...I forgot..
Why do kids need such a long summer vacation? Maybe if we just took say 3 weeks off 4 times a year our students academic momentum would not be disrupted so much. I know for me when I come back after 5 weeks off in the summer it is like learning all over again. Just imagine what this does to kids. It just has to have a negative effect.
How bout we start school in September after Labor Day, have 3 weeks off during Christmas, 3 weeks off at Spring Break and 3 weeks off in the summer? All in favor say I, all opposed same sign!
In closing, have a great summer and I look forward to seeing your kiddos back in August and hopefully all the stuff they have learned will not ooze out of their heads! Ear plugs are $2.00 at Wal Mart!
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Opposed! I have lived where all year school happened and they had to quit doing it because the economy went down. Daycare is hard enough to get into, you have to get on list ahead of time so doing that 4 times a year is impossible. Many mother's have to work now so the stay-at-home mom is a thing of the past simply because of cost of living. And although family vacations are getting harder to do for most families, we still try. Since it is not allowable for kids to be taken out of school as excused for vacations, you only have a short window to plan. And if every parent tryed to plan a summer one, all during the same three weeks- the whole town would shut down due to so many being gone. Parents struggle to find quality time with their kids in this world today. Longer summer days help that. So shorting us on that would be a travesty for the kids. And in my case, scout camps for boys and girls could not be fit into just three weeks for all the area children- some would miss out. Catch 22 again. Which is more important for most of us, family or education? We do not want our kids to miss out on either. I see your point on retention, that is why my kids do practice work during the summer ( a sort of homeschooling 3 times a week for a hour or two.) But family time and outdoor adventures in camp to explore is just as healthy for them. I refuse to be afraid of spending time with my kids, even if they are driving me nuts. I relish our time together and I learn just as much from them. so I am gonna choose love and family.
I too come from a place that has used the year round model. I LOVED it. My kids did so much better at remembering the things they were taught.
As for the daycare issue, it is manageable. The daycares actually do know what they are doing and will adjust to the concept. Also we need to remember that it is about the what is best for the kids and not for the parents! Yes it may be a little more to arrange but it works.
Also about the vacation, we actually were able to go throughout the year and it was GREAT.
So I am definitely FOR!!!
After reading both opposed and against, I have mixed feelings. The opposed obviously has a close relationship with her kids and does take the learning thing seriously, she has them do homeschooling during the summer. So still good for kids. She has balanced it nicely. Unfortunatly, most parents do not take that much time with their kids.
The for mother seems to be thinking of her kids, but she obviously has more money than most of us( multiple vacations). My job only gives me the same vacation every year- and it is in the summer. And she seems to be attacking the first mother, like the first one was thinking only of herself. I didn't see that. I think what she was trying to say was this...too many parents think it is easier for others to raise their kids. School teachers all year, multiple coaches or trainers at night. Not all but some. She was saying that that is not good for the kids either. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Education is very important, but so is a kid feeling like a parent is supporting them. That means being there for them, not dropping them off every chance you get. I guess I am for the all year school, but I would make sure I am involved more, in the school and at home. We would have to do some work on youth groups, so they are still available for the majority of kids in the area. Those programs are very important too, as they welcome parent involvement as well, so the kids have security and well being. It is all about the kids, but I agree with mom number 1, it doesn't work without the family.