Year-Round+School

By: Malia You’re sitting in a wooden chair listening to the teacher go over a concept in 100º weather. There’s no air conditioning, and all the students are dripping in sweat. You’re so uncomfortable you can’t even concentrate on what the teachers is teaching you. You watch the clock and begin to count the seconds until school’s over, so you can play outside like you would usually be doing right now since it’s summer. The schools have voted in year-round school. Now school has became a horrible experience for you and you dread it every day.

I believe that we shouldn’t have school year-round. Some people might say that kids would be pleased to have smaller breaks throughout the year instead of having a long summer break.

However, I disagree. I see summer break as a commendable time to unwind. Summer is a time when families go on vacation and having school in the summer would come in the way. Students wouldn’t be able to experience going to summer camp and finding a job. Summer is an honorable duration to be outside rather than being in a school building all day.

In addition, students and teachers need a break. Being in school year-round could cause you not get fed up and not do as flourishing. We already go to school ¾ of the year anyhow. Students would end up missing school anyway because of family vacations.

Meanwhile, schools would end up costing more. Busing students during the summer would cost a bunch more. Schools would have a difficult time paying for air conditioning in this blazing part of the year. For instance, the school would have to pay for energy consumption. California added 30 days to their school year and it cost $900 million extra.

As well as most parents aren’t in favor of having school year-round. When the Broward County voted in school year-round, 50 parents disagreed. There is a group fighting to get summer back called “Save our Summer”. Parents sent in e-mails, petitions, and attended meetings because they’re displeased. Parents were so exasperated, they voted counter to the people who voted in school year-round. At the same time, teachers should make finer use of the time they’re given instead of adding more days to the year. Schools should be more productive with their school day. It’s not because students aren’t in school long enough it’s because not enough time is spent on learning, more teach training is what schools need, not more school.

Furthermore, the temperature during the summer would definitely affect school year-round. Schools would benefit by not having school in the summer because they wouldn’t have to pay for air conditioning. Some buses aren’t air-conditioned, and temperatures can get up to 100 degrees. Schools wouldn’t be able to have assemblies because gathering a big group in the gym would be way too hot. Students wouldn’t satisfy enough attention to their schoolwork because they would be distracted by how miserably hot it is.

On the whole, not attending school during summer would favor teachers, parents, and students. We’re so used to having classic summer break, and that’s the way it should stay. There’s an appropriate simple solution to this problem. Teachers just need to spend more time teaching students in the time they’re given. It saves money and keeps everyone joyful. Now instead applying your summer days in a sweltering classroom, you can absorb it with family and friends with all the knowledge traditional school has taught you.

__Bibliography available upon request__