Even the slightest idea of sending children to school all year round can make some parents cringe, most probably balking at the thought of their children attending schools without a summer break. The usual issue is about the value of a continuous school year that is interspersed with a few short breaks. But while these parents fear about the burdensome things this educational program would bring, there are also others who support the idea, given that it would still offer the same number of school days as the traditional calendar. Here are the pros and cons of year round school:
List of Pros of Year Round School
1. It could improve academic performance.
Proponents believe that eliminating long breaks from school can improve children’s academic achievement. You see, long summers have been observed to cause a “summer slide”, which means a decline of academic knowledge and skills over the course of an extended vacation.
2. It can eliminate boredom for some children during summer breaks.
Summer breaks can often lead to boredom, and this new school program is believed to eliminate the need to fill the months of vacation with activities that keep children engaged and interested.
3. It can innovate or improve the way children are educated.
According to some experts, it is advantageous for students to engage in more intense burst of instruction along with more short breaks.
List of Cons of Year Round School
1. It can have a negative impact on family.
One of the most obvious downsides of year round school is that quality family time, which is very important to the developmental and emotional well-being of a child, would be taken out. Considering that American families are used to the traditional long summer vacations, it would be difficult for them to schedule family reunions or vacations.
2. It can be difficult to find a good child care plan.
With a year round school program, it would be a challenge for parents to find child care that works well with it. This is especially important if multiple and shorter school vacations are scheduled throughout the year.
3. It takes out the perks that summer could bring.
Generally, the absence of a true summer break can be a negative aspect for all of those who are involved in education. For one, it has become a light at the end of the tunnel for teachers after working throughout an intense school year, not to mention that tired teachers can have a direct impact on the students. Plus, the traditional summer break can provide unique learning opportunities that children would not get in the classroom, including those related to art, culture and special adventures.
Deciding whether to send children to year-round schools is definitely a personal decision parents. It is also best to ask a child, who is old enough, to express what he or she thinks about this program. But by weighing down the pros and cons of year round school listed, we can also have a good idea whether it is best for the society as a whole or not.
Crystal Lombardo is a contributing editor for Vision Launch. Crystal is a seasoned writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience. She has been an editor of three popular blogs that each have had over 500,000 monthly readers.
