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Post by gar on Aug 8, 2015 16:45:33 GMT
Do you find the children are really flagging by the end of the school year? I know mine certainly were losing focus by the time we broke up for summer and they would have had a week off 6 weeks prior to that and about 2 or 3 weeks off at Easter before that! I can't imagine them having the mental energy to apply themselves fully if they hadn't had a break in so long. Obviously I'm talking about when they were younger.
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Dani-Mani
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Post by Dani-Mani on Aug 8, 2015 16:48:58 GMT
I love the idea of year-round school and wish more people did.
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Post by christine58 on Aug 8, 2015 16:51:06 GMT
I don't get three months off in the summer..not sure of any teacher that does.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2015 16:51:35 GMT
Because an extended summer break provides so many things: 1) a chance for teachers to rest and renew so that we are nice people in the classroom and don't get burned out 2) a chance for students to grow and mature and come back for a fresh start each year 3) a time for children to spend time with their parents and bond/vacation 4) many school buildings are not equipped to deal with the summer heat in terms of air conditioning5) a time for a kid to be a kid and not be governed by a schedule every single moment That's a big reason! Another reason is farming. Yes, I know it's not as common, but it doesn't make sense to require year round school across the entire United States. In my district, it is very common for farmers to drive school buses. Also, our district covers an enormous area. One place is so remote, they have a very small school that is K-8th. Once they are in 9th grade, they need to find families they can live with near the high school. These kids need to be home during the summer. I personally would LOVE year round school, but it would need to be in the entire school district for me to be on board. I know one district in Idaho that gets 2 weeks off in the fall for harvesting potatoes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2015 16:52:21 GMT
Most UK schools have between 6-7 weeks off over the Summer so that is a good chunk of time not that much less than 2 months really.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 8, 2015 17:01:14 GMT
While I enjoy my long summer vacation (from the middle of June to the beginning of September) and do not want year round school I would gladly give up one week if we could have 5 more days off during the school year. There is a really long slog between when school starts (early September) and the first extra day off (middle of October, conferences) and another from Spring Break (beginning of April to Memorial Day). I would also like more time off during December, especially BEFORE Christmas. So while I don't want year round school, I wouldn't mind rearranging the schedule just a bit... When DD was in preschool last year (in the same building as the grade school, which had a similar schedule), it floored me by how often the kids were off. They started in early September, had time off in October for conferences. Time off in November for Thanksgiving. Time off in Dec-Jan for winter break. Time off in February for President's Day. Time off in March for spring break. Time off in April for Easter. And then preschool ended in mid-May. It was insane. I don't remember ever having that much time off of school when I was a kid! Keep in mind that we were paying for preschool, and we paid the same amount every month whether the kids were in school every week or not. We took a family vacation in December before Christmas so we ended up paying for a whole month of preschool even though she was only in school for one week. With DD going to kindergarten this fall, she will still have several days off EVERY month of the school year. I work from home so I can work around it, but if I didn't it would be very frustrating. First day of school is Aug. 31st, last day of school is June 3rd.
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Post by smannes on Aug 8, 2015 17:02:10 GMT
Can someone please tell me why this hasn't become standard in the US yet? There are so many positives to it and I can't think of any negatives. Seems like teachers just want their summers off. But hell, who doesn't? I'm a teacher (who has previously worked at a year round school) and I WANT year round schedule at my current school. Most of the teachers do. It's the parents who don't!
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Post by gritzi on Aug 8, 2015 17:06:19 GMT
Our district has a "modified" balanced calendar that offers 2 weeks off in Oct, 2 weeks off at Christmas plus 2 weeks for spring break. Unfortunately, sports doesn't go on hiatus during the weeks off except for spring break. Fall break would be a lovely time to vacation; however, if one's child is active in a sport, cheerleading, band, etc practices & games are mandatory.
Our 2 week spring break really isn't a full two week vacation due to the first week used as snow makeup days if necessary.
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Post by Merge on Aug 8, 2015 17:07:12 GMT
I wouldn't mind a balanced schedule here, with longer breaks in fall and spring and a shorter break in summer. The heat during summer break is miserable and makes it no fun to spend time outside. I'd like some vacation time during parts of the year when the weather is nicer.
It is more expensive to air condition all the buildings and run the buses through the hot part of the year, though. And another consideration in a large district like ours is ongoing remodeling/repair of older buildings. Crews can do a lot of work over ten weeks, whereas with only three weeks or so at a time, the more involved projects would have to be done while students are present.
I know certain parents like to make nasty comments whenever this topic comes up about teachers wanting their so-called three month break. I would like to put out there, too, that the reason a lot of parents are interested in year-round school has nothing to do with their child's education and everything to do with the desire for free, year-round child care. Are you willing to pay more in property taxes to accommodate the salary hikes that would be necessary to increase teachers' contract time?
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Aug 8, 2015 17:08:09 GMT
While I think that academics in the summer months can help many kids succeed in school, there are many aspects to summer vacation that my girls would miss. During their 8 weeks off, they try new activities (this year one of my dd's tried musical theatre and the other tried engineering - these are things they don't have time for during the regular year because they're busy with homework, etc), meet new kids (my girls love meeting new kids from different schools during summer activities), and improve many non academic skills. My older dd is away at camp for a few weeks - something currently only available to kids on the traditional schedule - I can't imagine it working for the year round schedule. Many campers go for 4 weeks - that would take up an entire break from school.
Im a teacher, so I make my girls study and review throughout summer - I see the benefit in that. I don't know what the right answer is; maybe here isn't one. But right now my kids fully enjoy their summer break.
We we get two weeks off at Xmas and two weeks off in the spring. I wish we had three weeks off at Xmas so travelling could be less expensive.
Paige.
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Post by moosedogtoo on Aug 8, 2015 17:25:54 GMT
LOL How many air conditioning systems have you installed? Retrofitting a/c into any building is a nightmare - money & schedule-wise. Love, Former project manager for a multi-billion-dollar general contractor
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~Susan~
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Post by ~Susan~ on Aug 8, 2015 17:32:59 GMT
We go here for 180 days. It's a long year. The shorter breaks would be welcome here for sure. It's the same here. I would love the breaks. I get really burned out and so does my DD.
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Post by maryland on Aug 8, 2015 17:39:24 GMT
Because an extended summer break provides so many things: 1) a chance for teachers to rest and renew so that we are nice people in the classroom and don't get burned out 2) a chance for students to grow and mature and come back for a fresh start each year 3) a time for children to spend time with their parents and bond/vacation 4) many school buildings are not equipped to deal with the summer heat in terms of air conditioning 5) a time for a kid to be a kid and not be governed by a schedule every single moment Our family loves the summer break between school years. Our schools don't have a/c either. But our school district has no plans to change from the traditional school year.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2015 17:40:20 GMT
I would never agree to that. I want a summer.
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Post by littlemama on Aug 8, 2015 17:44:51 GMT
I am opposed to year round school for a number of reasons, chief among them at the moment is the stress that students are under. If my ds had to be under the amount of pressure year round that he was under this past school year, he would lose his marbles. The time to be a kid is so short, I would rather just let them be kids.
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tuesdaysgone
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Jun 26, 2014 18:26:03 GMT
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Post by tuesdaysgone on Aug 8, 2015 17:51:43 GMT
As as educator, I'd love it. I do see kids (and teachers) falling off at the end of the year and at the beginning of the year it takes some kids a long time to get back up to speed. Not all kids have concerned parents who require some academic stimulation in the summer weeks. One of the greatest benefits of year-round would be consistency for the kids who need it the most.
When year-round school was floated in my district, it was the parents, not the teachers, who didn't like it.
Once we converted, people, the tourist industry and students would get used to it.
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Post by maryland on Aug 8, 2015 17:59:20 GMT
As a parent, I like have the 10 week summer break. It gives my kids time to be away from school for an extended period of time. I know for some kids that's when they forget skills and lose progress, but my kids have always loved the time to read what they want to read. I like long lazy days at the pool. I like exploring various camps throughout the summer. I like the slower pace. I like having the time for my kids to explore things that aren't taught in school. My youngest has been involved in a local summer family musical, that simply wouldn't happen if we didn't have a long summer break. Going to art camp, horseback riding camp, Girl Scout camp. I like being able to do that in the summer, but still have time at home to be lazy. I think our teens like the opportunity to work longer hours in the summer and save money for cars, gas, or college. While I understand that, as a whole, our population might benefit from year round school, I really like not having it. Good point about teens working. Even though our area is high income, there are still many teens that must work to be able to go to college or play sports (that can be expensive). We have many foreign students in our district and many go to the country they are from to visit family for a couple months over the summer. I am so happy that we have 10-11 week summer break!
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theshyone
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Post by theshyone on Aug 8, 2015 18:01:25 GMT
The thought of year round school is horrifying to me.
Are you an urban person or rural? You aren't taking into account kids helping on the farm during the busy time of year.
Three months off? Not here. We go to end of June and start beginning of September.
We have choice of a year round school or September to June school. Both are used. Neither is better than the other in general, but may be better for parents. However I've not met a kid yet at the year round school that likes sitting in class in August. They hate it.
I'm of the other persuasion. Shorten the year even more, get rid of the crappy "filler", I hate it, my kid hates it.
My son detests school, no part of it is enjoyed. None. I can't imagine forcing him to go 11 months of the year. He needs the summer to regroup. His personality is so different.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2015 18:05:00 GMT
For those saying it would cost more for year-round school, or that the school year would be 11 months long -- is that really true? My impression of year-round schooling was that it was the same number of days in school and vacation days, just they they are spread out differently.
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Post by fiddlesticks on Aug 8, 2015 18:05:11 GMT
Can someone please tell me why this hasn't become standard in the US yet? There are so many positives to it and I can't think of any negatives. Seems like teachers just want their summers off. But hell, who doesn't? I think around here it really comes down to cost. My last paycheck for last year came the end of June and I won't get another one until the end of September. I know this and plan for it accordingly. It isn't a complaint. Funding would have to be increased to pay for more time and I don't see that happening. I would say more but I have to go back to the paper I am writing. I have paper to write for one of the three graduate classes I am taking this summer with all my time off. Classes which I pay out of my own money to be able to keep my job.
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Post by fiddlesticks on Aug 8, 2015 18:06:22 GMT
The thought of year round school is horrifying to me. Are you an urban person or rural? You aren't taking into account kids helping on the farm during the busy time of year. Three months off? Not here. We go to end of June and start beginning of September. We have choice of a year round school or September to June school. Both are used. Neither is better than the other in general, but may be better for parents. However I've not met a kid yet at the year round school that likes sitting in class in August. They hate it. I'm of the other persuasion. Shorten the year even more, get rid of the crappy "filler", I hate it, my kid hates it. My son detests school, no part of it is enjoyed. None. I can't imagine forcing him to go 11 months of the year. He needs the summer to regroup. His personality is so different. I'm sorry your son hates school so much. How miserable for both of you....
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Post by gar on Aug 8, 2015 18:11:27 GMT
The thought of year round school is horrifying to me. Are you an urban person or rural? You aren't taking into account kids helping on the farm during the busy time of year. Three months off? Not here. We go to end of June and start beginning of September. We have choice of a year round school or September to June school. Both are used. Neither is better than the other in general, but may be better for parents. However I've not met a kid yet at the year round school that likes sitting in class in August. They hate it. I'm of the other persuasion. Shorten the year even more, get rid of the crappy "filler", I hate it, my kid hates it. My son detests school, no part of it is enjoyed. None. I can't imagine forcing him to go 11 months of the year. He needs the summer to regroup. His personality is so different. But it isn't really going for 11 months....its going for 5 or 6 week stints with a week off in-between and 1.5 - 2 months off in the summer.
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 8, 2015 18:15:31 GMT
I haven't read the replies, so I may repeat. 1) many school buildings do not have air conditioning 2) in rural communities the students work on the famr/ranch during the summer 3) teachers are paid for 185 or so days. I'd you go to year round school, that adds about 60 days at least to their contact and would lead to more compensation not just for teachers, but paras, lunch ladies, bus drivers, custodians... realistically to oay for it taxes would need to be raised. 4) teachers need professional development. Parents bitch when you close school for pd, but it does need to happen. Since there are a variety of needs for pd there is no way a district could do all of them in a day.
I assume when you say year round you are not talking the three week break every x number of months plus 6 weeks in the summer, but rather like a business.
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theshyone
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Post by theshyone on Aug 8, 2015 18:17:50 GMT
The thought of year round school is horrifying to me. Are you an urban person or rural? You aren't taking into account kids helping on the farm during the busy time of year. Three months off? Not here. We go to end of June and start beginning of September. We have choice of a year round school or September to June school. Both are used. Neither is better than the other in general, but may be better for parents. However I've not met a kid yet at the year round school that likes sitting in class in August. They hate it. I'm of the other persuasion. Shorten the year even more, get rid of the crappy "filler", I hate it, my kid hates it. My son detests school, no part of it is enjoyed. None. I can't imagine forcing him to go 11 months of the year. He needs the summer to regroup. His personality is so different. But it isn't really going for 11 months....its going for 5 or 6 week stints with a week off in-between and 1.5 - 2 months off in the summer. This is typical for us: start school after labourer day a week off in October for two teacher days and the a Thanksgiving holiday a week off in November for Fall break and parent teachers two-three weeks off in December & January for the holidays then 3-4 days off in February. easter is close to a week off then spring break is usually 3-4 days off. then in June the last two weeks seems to be "stuff" no academic time spent in classrooms. so if we add attendance in August to that, they have a couple more days off in each of those already occurring breaks. instead of a steady routine & learning opportunity; every single break takes even more time to get a routine back in place. Run straight through for a good 8 months, then have four months off. (Dream world). Or do four straight, a month off, and four straight again. But this piecemeal interruptions all the time is a detriment.
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Dani-Mani
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Post by Dani-Mani on Aug 8, 2015 18:30:37 GMT
I'm confused. Imost year round schools I know of go the same amount of time as a traditional year; they spread vacations up differently instead of all of it in the summer
where are people getting 11 straight months of school??
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 8, 2015 18:34:00 GMT
Ad a teacher, I think there would be less burnout with more frequent breaks.
I think most parents who complain about not having year round school are bitter about daycare or the fact they don't have summer break.
If they do the typical year round school and there are still 180 days of school, then the daycare situation is similar and there are still typically 4 or 6 weeks off in the summer
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Post by Merge on Aug 8, 2015 18:34:11 GMT
I've seen it done both ways - an 11-month schedule and as a balanced schedule with the same number of days as we currently have. OP seems to be pushing for the former since she's opposed to teachers getting all that time off.
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 8, 2015 18:34:40 GMT
I'm confused. Imost year round schools I know of go the same amount of time as a traditional year; they spread vacations up differently instead of all of it in the summer where are people getting 11 straight months of school?? it depends on what op is meaning by year round school.
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Post by dualmaestra on Aug 8, 2015 19:02:23 GMT
I was a year round teacher for 12 years. It was the best. It works when there is overcrowding, which means there is sufficient funding to keep the buildings open year round- all classrooms are occupied with roving teachers filling in the rooms when other classes are on break. When there are vacant classrooms, it doesn't pay to have the school staffed all year long. The costs associated with keeping a building open all year increase by 25% (secretaries, custodians, electrical, water, etc.) and if funding doesn't increase at least that much, then it doesn't make sense financially. Staying on a traditional schedule isn't solely about teachers wanting their summers off. Most teachers I know would much rather have spaced interval breaks throughout the year. i was a teacher in a large district with areas stricken with poverty. All the above is exactly why we went year round. Schools were overcrowded so many went on year round, got extra funding from the state, had to have air conditioners installed to run thru summer months, extra staff for office. Schools are funded per student. i now work for another school district, no year round schools. They built new schools to relieve overcrowding. Schools are closed certain days, no one in the office. District does not want anyone in schools, no air conditioner on to save money. Ultimately it all comes down to money. In recent years we have had tremendous cuts from our state, many districts had teachers take pay cuts during those lean years. Things are just now starting to improve in our state.
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Dani-Mani
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Post by Dani-Mani on Aug 8, 2015 19:03:32 GMT
I've seen it done both ways - an 11-month schedule and as a balanced schedule with the same number of days as we currently have. OP seems to be pushing for the former since she's opposed to teachers getting all that time off. Got it.
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