Year-Round Schooling
School: Kindergarten, middle school, high school; pre-K
through 12 grade; Months of school Monday through Friday, with Spring, Sumer,
and Winter breaks sandwiched somewhere in between. We all know how school works
and what it is. For many years, our society has followed this same model for
the education of our children. Some would suggest, though, that this model is
no longer viable for today’s students, that we need to extend the time of
learning each year in light of students’ plummeting grades. I for one would
strongly disagree with this suggestion. True, the declining quality of
education of today’s students is a big concern, but I believe the fix is not
found in just plunking them in front of a desk for more hours. Instead, I
believe we can find an answer to this problem in both how and by whom we
educate our students.
First, we must take a close look at the supposed claim that
having children in school for more hours will increase their level of
education. You see, most people who advocate year-round schooling claim that
students forget most of what they learned in the past school year over the
course of long breaks from school. I won’t deny this fact, but I want to point
out that to quickly make the jump to conclude that keeping students in school
year-round will keep them from forgetting what they have learned is quite an
assumption.
Secondly, it would also be argued by advocates of year-round
schooling that keeping teenagers in school year-round will protect them from
getting in trouble. After all, statistics have proven that teenagers are less
prone to crime when they are in school. However, it is another giant assumption
to assume that just by keeping kids in school will keep them out of trouble.
Kids looking to get into trouble will find a way to do just that, whether they
have to play hooky from school to do it or not.
In the end, we have to look elsewhere for a way to solve the
education problem we have in our nation today. Remember, the problem is that
many students are forgetting what they learn. The problem is not that they
don’t show up for school, but that they are unable to retain what they have
learned! Unless we fix our education system to where students are retaining
what they learn, it won’t matter how long we require them to sit in front of a
desk.
The fix? Make what we teach relevant and exciting for
students to learn! If students enjoy and benefit from what they learn, they
will remember it! As a homeschooled student, I have seen this best in my own
life and the life of my homeschooled siblings. Our parents have done a
fantastic job of making education exciting for us to learn. They have always
supported our hobbies and educational interests, which has made the whole
schooling process enjoyable and efficient!
The Biblical passage of Deuteronomy 6:4-7 describes the
roles of parents in the training of their children. We learn that parents are
to train children “when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when
you lie down, and when you rise up.” In short, parents are the ones who are
held responsible by God to teach their children—all the time. Perhaps, then, we
need to reevaluate by whom our
students are primarily taught as well. I realize that it is not always possible
for a parent to be involved in the education of their child, but I think we all
can agree that when a parent is actively involved in the schooling of their
child, that student’s grades are much better overall.
In conclusion, keeping students in school year-round will
only be a costly solution that won’t supply a fix to this problem. Instead, we
need to reevaluate our educational process. If we can make learning exciting
and relatable to students’ lives, then their grades can only improve! Also, we
need to keep in mind that it takes a parent to raise a child. No amount of
schooling will ever supersede the vast impact a parent will have in the
training of their child.
I think you might mention also that not all learning happens within the classroom. Summer is when I (and other students) have the spare time for other learning experiences: family time, extra sports/hobbies time, ministry opportunities, etc. These important things would be lost with year-round schooling. Also, year-round schooling would really increase burnout and senioritis, making childhood an endless cycle of homework. I think year-round schooling is a bad idea as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kari! Yes, after writing my essay, the pre-SAT course gave me an example of an essay that would have scored the highest 12 points, and what you said about the learning done outside of the classroom was the main thesis of the example essay. Good point!
ReplyDeleteHey Kyle! Good essay and good points, the only thing I think on year round schooling is not more hours but scheduling school better by region you live in. Here in Az after 1 month(week, haha) kids are bored. Because of the heat the kids can rarely go outside, unless we run sprinklers and have loads of sunscreen on. I know a few friends whose kids will be in school almost all year making up snow days. Instead of having 2 1/2 to 3 months off at once maybe breaking it up to a month off when it typically snows the most or in school when it's too hot to do anything else. Since my children were little until now with my grandchildren it seemed to me maybe 3 "separate summers" then instead of the whole country out for summer at once parents can choose fun things in diff seasons.. But since we are only out in the summer if you can't afford to leave the state it's too hot to do anything fun. This is just my opinion, not maybe the true meaning of year round school, but I think they need to consider region when making decisions not just everyone else does it so we do it... Just like with homeschooling you can choose to take a month off here and work on school at a diff time. Maybe teachers would not burn out so bad either..maybe they like the whole summer off. I don't know ...just a thought. But I don't think more days the answer just better scheduling! It was soooo good to see you! Glad u enjoyed the sun so much! You r so cute! I love you.
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