Year-Round school anyone?

[TheDon]

I've got to do an educational research project for my EDF10001 class, intro to ed...

I'm thinking of doing the year round school debate thing for my project. Seeing computers in the classroom has yielded nothing current or what Im looking for.


so, whats your take on it? IIRC the UK uses this system and has been for a while. Many of the pundits of the YRS idea say it messes with kids summer jobs, summer camps, band camp, etc etc.

But if people stop their complaining and look at it things can be... dare I say.. rescheduled?

anyways.. let me see what you guys have to say

[Matt L]

Absolutely. While they're at it, throw in Saturday's too. The kids have too much time on their hands now.

[TheDon]

adding Saturday to the line up is a different discussion in its own.. any reasons why you support YRS?

[Matt L]

1. Many of them clearly need babysitting pretty much ALL of the time. If they get a job and actually do it, then let them take some time out of school. Or if their parents sign off on it. But the default should be year-round (and Saturdays).
2. They forget everything over the care-free summer vacation.
3. They won't be getting summers off once they get that oh-so-valuable HS diploma.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by TheDon

But if people stop their complaining and look at it things can be... dare I say.. rescheduled?

I say you need to revisit your Ft. Lauderdale plea for help thread.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by John Doe

I say you need to revisit your Ft. Lauderdale plea for help thread.

lol

[kerry]

Year round school would require raising teacher salaries by (25%?). Can school districts afford this particularly in the current downturn? Teachers tend to be paid less than other professionals. This is compensated for in some teachers' minds by the time off. Would year round teacher employment change the number and kind of person deciding to become a teacher?
In some school districts around here, YRS doesn't really mean YRS. What it means is that summer vacation is distributed throughout a full year. Teachers and students still spend the same amount of time in school.
UK does not use this system as far as I know. My cousin's been an elementary school teacher for 30 yrs and he's always had summer vacations.

[Hatterasguy]

Summer vacations are nice, the kids grow up fast enough. My last real summer break was when I was 15, after that I worked full time every summer.

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Summer vacations are nice, the kids grow up fast enough. My last real summer break was when I was 15, after that I worked full time every summer.

I agree. Lots of education takes place informally. We need more, not less of it.

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by Botnst

I agree. Lots of education takes place informally. We need more, not less of it.

This works very well, and I agree totally with the point, but unfortunately, the families where the kids need the most help, don't
have the wherewithal to actually do things with their kids.

Originally Posted by TheDon

so, whats your take on it?

It would drastically increase operating costs because of needing to use A/C during the summer.

What it means is that summer vacation is distributed throughout a full year.

Thats the way it always been described to me. Instead of 3 months off all at once, they get 1-2 week "breaks".

[KarTek]

I thought YRS didn't change the number of days a kid is in school over the course of the year - just spread them around.

[75Sv1]

I think or at least though most European countires had year round school, at least Germany. I believe they had two weeks vacation between quarters or semesters. They also divide the students into those who have colege potential and those who will go into trades at about age 12. I do think the idea of some time between semesters, helps student decompress. Usually, schools have two weeks off during Christmas break in the states. There seems to be a bit renewed interest in going back to school.
Some of the down side, is that it gets hotter over here in the states. I remeber in the 70's getting early out of school around Washington DC, since the temp was above 90 F or 100 F. Usually 85 F is hot in Germany. 90F is a heatwave. This would add to the electrical demand and energy cost to school districts.
There is a charter school starting up around here. They did ask for input. This was one of the points I recomended. Still, with a charter school, you are dealing with a different type of student for the most part. Although, I think one of the charter schools was for vo-tech type of students. Still, I have heard of some vo-tech schools that used to be very selective.
Tom

[SwampYankee]

It's a popular concept amongst those who don't want to pay for daycare/childcare and see this as a way of getting the government to pay for it.

[Kuan]

It would be hard for those kids who have to work on farms.