Since I put my red pen away and retired from teaching, I have become an Uber driver for two non-paying grandkids while their parents work. During the school year I pick them up from the bus stop; however, the arrival of summer “vacation” brings its own set of difficulties – the scramble to enroll them in camps or, as often the case, figure out what to do with them at my house. I estimate I drive 1,200 miles each month they are out of school and pay nearly $2,500 for their summer camps.
I know this sounds familiar to many other parents and grandparents. Fortunately, I have the resources (barely) to keep things humming; unfortunately, many other families do not.
Summer break, once designed for agrarian calendars, now feels like an outdated relic. It’s like trying to use a rotary phone in the age of smartphones – charming in theory, but clunky and inefficient in practice.
Here’s the hard truth: When school stops, so does much of the learning. Studies show that students can lose at least one month of math and reading skills over a long summer break. That “summer slide” hits hardest for kids who are already struggling. And when August rolls around, teachers spend weeks re-teaching material instead of building on it. It’s a bit like filling a bucket with water, only to poke holes in the bottom for three months.
But there is a simple, common sense solution! What if we flipped the system? What if school were spread more evenly throughout the year, with shorter, more frequent breaks? That’s the beauty of year-round schooling. It keeps the rhythm of learning steady while still offering time to rest and recharge.
Everyone wins with year-round schooling: parents, teachers, children, taxpayers. Here’s why:
- Reduced Learning Loss: Year-round schooling minimizes this regression by keeping students engaged in learning consistently, particularly benefiting low-income students who may lack access to summer enrichment programs.
- Improved Academic Outcomes: Shorter breaks maintain academic momentum, allowing teachers to build on prior lessons without extensive review periods.
- Better Use of Facilities and Resources: Schools can accommodate more students in areas with overcrowding by staggering tracks (multi-track systems), maximizing infrastructure without building new facilities.
- Support for Working Families: Shorter, evenly distributed breaks reduce the need for extended childcare, saving families money and providing more consistent routines for students.
- Teacher Benefits and Retention: Improved work-life balance with school breaks scattered throughout the year instead of just in summer could reduce teacher stress and thus address teacher retention issues.
- Enhanced Enrichment Opportunities: These programs can cater to diverse student needs, fostering creativity and skill-building without the long gaps of traditional summers.
- Improved Mental Health: “Because educational achievement is a major social determinant of health, insofar as these programs are implemented in low-income communities, they could have an impact on health equity.”
Clinging to a long summer break is no longer just outdated – it’s unfair. If we know better, we should do better. Our children can’t afford another season of lost potential.
Barry Nowlin is a retired English professor from the University of South Alabama. He presently works as an Uber driver for his two grandkids.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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