Year-Round Schooling: Why It's Time to Change

By Matthew Lynch on July 18, 2014

 

 

 

When public schools first started popping up in the U.S., they were considered secondary to other hands-on pursuits. Learning to read, write and perform basic arithmetic in classrooms was not equal to or greater than the actual work of building the nation and keeping up family farms.

 

Even when a basic public school education became a relative priority, the school calendar revolved around agriculture - a necessity of the American way of life. Three months off in the summer months was not mandated because students needed "down time" or free creative play or time to decompress from the pressures of their studies. Those months off were full of even more work, and little free time, and plenty of hard work for the sake of the family and the nation.

 

Though family farms as a whole have become an antiquated piece of American history, the idea of summers off from school is still alive and well. The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research finds that the average American student receives 13 weeks off of school each calendar year - with 10 or 11 of those coming consecutively during June, July and August (approximately) - while barely any other countries have more than seven weeks off in a school calendar. Around 10 percent of U.S. schools have transitioned to a year-round school calendar with shorter breaks inserted throughout the year but the majority of schools in the U.S. still follow a summers-off schedule.

 

But why? There is no perilous economic reason that keeping children in school during the summer would be detrimental, and there is no medical reason that three consecutive months during the center of the calendar year are necessary for the healthy development of children. The reason the school year remains in a summers-off state is simple: it is easier than changing it. That mentality begins with teachers in the classroom and escalates to educational policymakers. Changing the ways things have always been, even if there is some pretty solid evidence that it would improve things, is too cumbersome - so why bother?

 

Why Teachers Don't Want Year-Round Schooling

One of the first issues educators raise when the idea of year-round schooling arises is getting rid of summers off. Theoretically if nothing about the school calendar changed except the timing of the days off, teachers and administrators would still have the same amount of time off but it would be spread out over 12 months more evenly. Most educators will admit that they enjoy having at least three consecutive months each year to themselves, without the demands of being around children for seven hours every day and spending their evenings deep in grading or lesson planning. Many teachers take advantage of the time off to seek out other avenues of employment, to supplement their annual incomes. It's doubtful that these teachers would be able to find the same level of employment during one or two week breaks scattered throughout the year, and it's hard to say if those shorter spurts would allow enough time to for the mental decompression teachers need to perform their important jobs to the best of their abilities.

I believe that the benefit to teachers of year-round schooling would far outweigh these inconveniences, though. The pressure to have high-performing students is the bane of every teacher's existence and research shows that too much time off from the school routine can actually undo the hard work teachers put in to their students. In fact, many teachers report that the first two to three months of each school year are spent teaching remedial skills from the previous grade - wasting even more of the time that should go into original learning.

What do you say teachers? Are your misgivings about year-round school based on personal reasons, or out of concern for your students?

Dr. Matthew Lynch is the author of the newly released textbook, The Call to Teach: An Introduction to Teaching.

 

 

 

 

Public vs.Private Schools, and where does Grace Academy fit in? 

 

When you were old enough to begin kindergarten, chances are you went to the public school around the corner, or perhaps to the religious school a short bus ride away. For your parents, the choice of schools was probably pretty simple.

Not any more. Today education is a complex and compelling topic in our national dialogue. Questions about school quality, accountability, curriculum, and teacher training arise each day, and we explore them in the newspapers, during political debates, and over kitchen tables all across the country.

What this means for you, as you try to decide on the best school for your child, is that you have to do your homework. Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make. To do a good job, you have to educate yourself so you can be a savvy consumer. That means researching, networking, and making sure that you understand all the choices available to you and your child.

Even the distinction between public and private schools is no longer as straightforward as it once was. It may well be that your local public school is a better educational match for your child than an exclusive private school with a national reputation and a price tag to match. And although some research shows that private schools tend to have superior academic programs, this isn't always the case — and the gap may be narrowing. Despite their sometimes negative press, public schools are actually getting better. "If you want a good, general, all-around education, a really strong public school might be your best bet," says Ellen Booth Church, a New York-based consultant in early childhood education.

At the same time, however, private school may be more affordable than you ever realized, and shouldn't be ruled out on financial grounds alone.

To help you make your decision, here are some of the advantages of public and private schools.

 

The benefits of public schools

 

Teachers have more qualifications. According to a major study from the National Center for Education Statistics, public school teachers tend to be more qualified than their independent school counterparts in terms of education and experience. For example, they're more likely to have a master's degree, and to have logged more hours pursuing in-service study — learning, for example, how to use computers in the classroom. The report also indicates that on average, public school teachers earn higher salaries than those in private schools do.  (Grace Academy Director, Traci Keyes, has her degree in Elementary Education with a focus in Early Childhood Education.  She has had over 20 years in the primary level and 5 years in the elementary level.  She is MSDE certified, and is CPR/First Aid Certified.)

Students spend more time studying core subjects. The same study reports that public school students study core subjects — including English, math, social studies, and science — three more hours per week than private school students.(Unlike many (perhaps most?) local prekindergartens, our curriculum is MSDE approved.  The Grace Academy daily schedule, posted on our website, includes core subjects every day, including lessons on their computers and interactive, state approved activities)

Public schools can sponsor more activities. When it comes to offering extra-curricular sports and clubs, academic support, and better supplies and learning tools, public schools have the edge. Why? Most public schools are simply bigger than private schools, and have enough students to pull off a science fair or power a chorus or computer club. What's more, federal and state laws require public schools to provide diagnostic and disability services. Public schools are more likely to offer gifted and talented and remedial programs, too. (Obviously most of these activities do not apply to prekindergarten.  Small, private classes makes it easier to plan field trips and other special outings and events.)

The student population tends to be more diverse. A private education is usually out of reach for poorer students, which means that it's less likely to introduce your child to children of various races and socioeconomic backgrounds. If you want your child to know children from all walks of life, then a public school is for you.  (One goal of Grace Academy is to eventually be in the position to accept vouchers.  We are also searching for scholarships.  We seek a diverse environment for our students.)

 

The advantages of private schools

Schools and classes tend to be much smaller. According to the National Center for Education Statistics study, private schools tend to be half as large as public schools. Many experts feel that children are less likely to get lost in the shuffle if they attend a smaller school, which naturally nurtures a sense of community and belonging. In addition, the teacher-student ratios in private schools tend to be more favorable, says the National Association for Independent Schools. On average, private schools have a student-teacher ratio of 9:1 as opposed to about 17:1 in public schools.  (Grace Academy is approved for 12 students per teacher; however most likely our classes will be in the 9-10 range.  Thus a 9:1 ratio.)

There's often less bureaucracy. Because private schools don't have to abide by certain state regulations, they spend less time on mandated paperwork and more on instruction. They also are not compelled to focus on test scores. As a result, teachers tend to enjoy more autonomy in the classroom and have more creative control over their teaching methods. (Although it is not mandatory that private prekindergartens abide by state regulations – and many of them don’t – Grace Academy has chosen to deal with all the paperwork – and it’s a lot – to become a Maryland State certified school – not daycare, school.  We are actually certified for grades Pre-K through 5.  We’re starting with Pre-K and will be working our way up, or down if there is a need for a 3 year-old class.)

Parent involvement is strong. Not only do private schools encourage parents' participation, but it's also true that the parents of private school students tend to be extremely committed to having a say in their child's education.  (Grace Academy welcomes parent involvement.  Our website will be parent friendly including a “for parents only” section where parents can keep up with what their children are doing in class)

Note: Private schools are not required to comply with state laws concerning special needs students. Many private schools do accommodate students with special needs, but they aren't required to by law as public schools are. If you have a special needs child, make sure that your child's physical and behavioral needs will be met. (The church building in which Grace Academy is located is handicap accessible.  Our Director’s daughter is sign-language fluent and is working toward a degree in special education.  Therefore Grace Academy would be happy to work with you to accommodate your child’s special needs.)

 

This article was written by  Maureen Boland and Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board.  Comments in red provided by Grace Academy staff.