Summer break is over, and we have been in school for three weeks already. This week, after Labor Day, many other public schools returned to school after their summer break. We have a long, warm, sun-filled break, and we are ready to return to classes. However, a lot of other students did not get such a long summer break, as their schools have adopted the “year-round” schooling system.
In the “year-round” schooling system, students still attend class for the one hundred and eighty-something days that students in the traditional school system do, but instead of one long summer break, they receive many shorter breaks during the school year. Basically, students attend school for about 45 days, and then receive a 15 day break.
The main reason for implementing this type of schooling system is based on the belief that students tend to forget a lot of information they have learned during the three months of summer break. It is argued that the students’ retention abilities are greater when they are given shorter breaks, rather than one long one.
While there are technically no scientific facts supporting this claim, I can understand the basis behind it. In fact, I myself have experienced it, especially with subjects I continue to study. Sure, if I am only going to take one semester of biology, I am bound to forget the information I have learned, especially since I do not care much for the subject. Therefore, this theory does not apply to classes like that. However, I take Spanish classes every semester, and after every summer break, I feel like I have forgotten a lot of what I have learned, and feel like I need to “re-learn” the material all over again in the fall.
I support the basis behind the idea of the “year-round” school system, and possibly would be willing to give it a try, though I most likely will never experience the system in my time. Besides, after about 18 years of being part of the traditional school system, I would probably miss my long summer breaks.
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Jill Augustine
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