Teachers are solar powered. They recharge during the summer!
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Teachers are tasked with the impossible job of choosing the most important information to teach their students in a limited time frame. Setting up an effective school calendar is one of the most important steps in creating a successful educational year. American schools run on a nine-month system from September to June, but many other countries have yearlong schools. Many educators have differing opinions on the best school year calendar but I believe maintaining our nine-month schedule is the most effective.
There are advantages to having school all year long. In this design, students and staff are given more frequent breaks throughout the year. This helps to break the year into more manageable chunks of time. Students always have another break to look forward to and teachers can chunk their lesson planning in accordance with the different sections of the year. The lack of a three month break also eliminates the need for a “back-to-school-review” period. Teachers can maintain a constant pace without worrying about playing catch up for all the information that was lost over the summer break. However, with these positives come a list of drawbacks.
Summer break is a time period that is crucial to many students’ personal lives. Children need time dedicated to playing and exploring their world, especially younger children. Summer allows for children to go to different camps and explore their passions. Instead of focusing on academic work, they participate in sports, science experiments, and creative activities. Older students also use this time to work in summer jobs. Teenagers like to feel financially independent (to an extent) and have the freedom to buy clothes, games, or food on their own. Summer jobs also provide an experience that contributes to a stronger college resume. Families are able to take extended vacations or spend time at a summer house. Teachers are given a break from the stressful pace of their jobs and spend time fulfilling their own personal needs. When schools start in the fall, students and staff feel recharged to tackle another year. Without a summer break, all of these things would be lost. It is unfair to take away such unique experiences from our students when there is no other time for them to participate.
While I see the benefits of a year-round school calendar, I think Summer break is too important to give up. It offers students, staff, and their families a special time to focus on activities unrelated to school and academics. Our school years are packed full of activities: study groups, sports, clubs, homework. Students need a designated time where they are given a chance to focus on personal goals. Teachers need a period to relax and untangle themselves from their jobs. Although a twelve-month school year presents its own set of benefits, I don’t think it would fit into the American culture. There is plenty of time in our nine-month calendar to create endless moments of meaningful learning without sacrificing summer break.
Jessica's Blog: The Learning Curve of Teaching 