No matter if it’s Christmas or Summer vacation, children all over the world look forward to having a break from school, but what happens once vacation is over? Students tend to either forget prior knowledge they’ve acquired the year before (also known as “summer slide”), or they have complications getting back into the groove of a school schedule. Year-long schooling could be more constructive due to better break scheduling and consideration of mental health for teachers.
Year-long schooling would consist of normal school hours, but would change how long students and staff members would go without breaks. Certain schools run on a 45-15 day schedule (45 days attending school, followed by a 15-day break), but 60-20, and 90-30 days are also permissible when seen fit. Continuous learning might sound like a bore to most children; however, it produces the opportunity for students of all ages to stay afloat and potentially get a head start in learning for the upcoming school year. Continents, such as Asia and certain parts of Europe, partake in year-long schooling and are known for being ahead educationally. This could be another thing the United States takes into consideration.
An additional thing to consider is teacher burnout. Teacher burnout is the state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion from prolonged and or excessive stress from their jobs. According to the National Education Association (NEA), around 53% of teachers have publicly admitted that they feel burnt out. The burnout can lead to factors, such as detachment from their passion and ineffective teaching. Teachers want to be there for their students, often leading to putting their own mental health at risk. Having consistent breaks allows teachers and administrators more time for themselves, allowing them time to rejuvenate more frequently, as well as giving them more time with their family and even space for them to partake in hobbies or interests they want to take on.
However, others argue that the benefits of having a shorter summer are more appealing. Instead of having the typical 8-12 week break, districts could try a 4-6 week break to see if there are any changes in their learners’ memory. Beyond the length of the leave, shorter summers allow teachers more time for educational instructions, which improves knowledge retention, skill development and critical thinking abilities. Studies have proven that longer school years have improved academics, which then could lead to improved employment and even long-term health improvements amongst both students and teachers.
CFISD had once attempted this kind of scheduling in the ‘90s for secondary schools, but had stuck around for a year due to many complaints and concerns from parents due to elder siblings being on a different schedule than their younger children, as well as schools starting at unsynchronized time periods, making hard for students in different grade levels to interact with other members within their community. Now that we’re in a different time of age, shorter summers or more frequent breaks could be harmful or even beneficial to our educational progression.
