Year around school?

[golfgal]

I can see where that person is coming from though- because in my opinion, it's hard to entertain your kids in the middle of winter here. Half of the winter (this year) it was well below zero and you can't just send your kids out to play when it's that cold...

I think it's much easier to entertain your kids in the summer in the mid west, due to the HORRIBLY cold winters we get here! If we had a week or two off straight, that's 1-2 weeks STRAIGHT of being inside of the house, because you don't want to FREEZE. When school is in session, the kids have a definate PLACE to go, so they can't just stay home.

It's generally too cold to go out for more than a very short time in December. They get cabin fever after a couple of days. In the summer, the kids are outside for a good part of almost every day.

You have to be kidding me, where do you live that your kids can't play outside in the winter, the Arctic Circle? We live in MN and there is MAYBE a handful of days ALL WINTER that it is too cold to play outside otherwise our kids are outside all the time in the winter. Then add in ice rinks, bowling, movies, etc and our kids have zero problem keeping THEMSELVES entertained.

 

[declansdad]

I can see where that person is coming from though- because in my opinion, it's hard to entertain your kids in the middle of winter here. Half of the winter (this year) it was well below zero and you can't just send your kids out to play when it's that cold...

I think it's much easier to entertain your kids in the summer in the mid west, due to the HORRIBLY cold winters we get here! If we had a week or two off straight, that's 1-2 weeks STRAIGHT of being inside of the house, because you don't want to FREEZE. When school is in session, the kids have a definate PLACE to go, so they can't just stay home.

I understand, being from Upstate NY. Summer here equals the only warm, decent weather we receive. It's much easier to entertain a kid when you can have the option of doing stuff outdoors.

It's generally too cold to go out for more than a very short time in December. They get cabin fever after a couple of days. In the summer, the kids are outside for a good part of almost every day.

LOL, I live in Canada and there is plenty that kids can do in the winter. It is easier to keep busy over the Christmas break and for 8 weeks over the summer. Most kids are bored by the end of the summer break and ready to return to school.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Now, if I lived in the north I would not like it. But here, the weather is actually best and we do more outside during their fall and spring track-outs. It's a great time for us to take vacations as a family! Also, they get the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations. Everyone has the week of July 4th off.

I'm in the north and wish we had it. The weather is so unpredictable anyway. We had a very cold summer last year, and this spring break was actually warmer and nicer. We've had other summers where it's been just as hot as it is in the south (walked out of the airport in Orlando and it didn't feel bad!) where all you can really do is sit and try not to melt, too. As a PP pointed out, though, not all schools have AC, which is the biggest issue for year-round school in a lot of places. We're not prepared for 100 degree days.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm a grandmother - who lives with my DD, her DH, and my 11 yr. old DGD during the winter months and the other 7 to 8 months I live up here in the mountains in my place at the lake.. I have a large extra lot the my DD and her family put their travel trailer on from mid-April until Columbus Day weekend..

For our family, year-round school would be horrible!! DD and her family are up here every weekend (while school is in session) and for the past 2 years, DD and my DGD have been spending quite a bit of time up here during the week as well over summer vacation..

My dad built this place in 1952, so I have spent every summer here for the past 58 years.. When I became an adult, I purchased the place from my parents and my own children spent every summer here since they were born - as has my DGD..

Our circumstances are different than those of some others as we have a place to go for the entire summer that doesn't really cost anything - so we're not in the two-week vacation group who might not have as big an issue with it..

Having said that, I also have concerns about kids being in school all summer long without air conditioning.. Even though we live in the northeast, come June those classrooms become stifling hot and I just don't see where that would be conducive to children being able to concentrate well enough to actually benefit from it..

I think ones opinion would be largely based on how they spend their summers - and what they do during the summer months..

 

[sparklynails23]

You can't justify year round school by comparing the average U.S. kids to kids who live in Asia, because the Asian kids who actually live in the U.S. still excel in Math and Science compared to the average U.S. kids. It might be cultural, diet, whatever, but you can't just jump to the conclusion that it's year-round school without looking more deeply into the statistic.

 

[Eeyores#1Fan]

My kids have both attended year-round and traditional school. They both prefer year-round. The schedule is 9 weeks in, 3 weeks off. By the end of 9 weeks they need a break. After 3 weeks they're ready to go back. They've both done camps over track-outs, so they're not missing out on that. They go to school the same number of days as traditional students.

This is how it is in our area and I LOVE it. So do my girls. DD13 will be going to traditional HS next year and she's upset she has to be out for 3 full months during the summer. They do all kinds of camps during their breaks especially their summer break. By the time they go back in mid July they are ready to go back. At first I was worried about the 3 week breaks during the year however it didn't bother them and there are a few perks for us parents. 1- being that I can break up paying for camps throughout the year vs paying for so many during the summer at one time and 2- we ALWAYS go on vacation in Sept/Oct when it's not busy as well as the week before or after spring break. This Sept is actually causing an issue because I'm taking my younger girls to the beach and on a cruise but my oldest has to stay home with her grandmother due to HS. Granted I won't do this often just happened this cruise is for work purposes so DD isn't to mad at me. But now I have to rearrange and start limiting my travels to Spring break and summer. Now that's a bummer.

Again..like many have said...for some it works and for some it doesn't. These are just reasons why it works for me.

 

[jojogana]

Dont have an issue with year round/non year round school, my issue is the school districts that do BOTH! In our community we have 10-12 elementry schools. some do and some don't do the year round school. It throws everyone off. Some of the kids on the year round do not start school on time because parents don't realize that there are 2 different schedules!

 

[NCRedding]

Our school district had year round and traditional schools for several years. DD attended year round school from kindergarten until fourth grade when it was discontinued by the district. Parents and children opted into the program; it wasn't forced on them by the district.

We loved the year round schedule. She started around July 15th; had a few extra days off at the start of traditional school, then had 3 weeks off in late September & early October. School til the Christmas break when she had 2-3 weeks off; then another 2-3 weeks off around Easter, then she finished up at the end of the traditional year, usually late May to early June. She had 6 weeks off before starting the new year.

It worked for us because we only had one child, so not multiples schedules to deal with. In addition, the school system fully supported the program, so they had day care in the elementary schools for the break times. At least one week of each break included enrichment programs (and remediation programs if needed.) They would visit the zoo, learn about animals, art, etc. The cost of the programs was very reasonable. She was always ready to return to school after the break. We were able to vacation in the off season: WDW, beach, DC when there were no crowds. She learned and retained more. I had one teacher tell me that by the time they had reached the end of the third grading period, her class had mastered the material that needed to be covered for the entire year.

The test scores for the year round students were much higher than in traditional. In fact, when DD was inducted into NHS last year, out of 32 kids, 12 had attended her year round kindergarten class (there were only 18 in her kindergarten) while another 8 had attended year round at a different school. Our district had two elementary schools that included year round and traditional schedules, while 3 elementary schools remained with just a traditional schedule.

So why did it end? The problems many of you mentioned above, especially multiple children on different schedules. at one point, even 6th and 7th grade were in year round, but that created difficulty with sports. The main reason it ended was that for some reason, problem kids were not interested in year round, so the percentage of troublemakers in traditional went up and the teachers and parents in year round complained that that it wasn't fair to their children. After much discussion, the board voted to end the program.

 

[MiniGirl]

We homeschool and we do classes year-round. I've found that DD loses too many skills if we try to take 3 months off. Her penmanship gets worse, spelling gets worse, she forgets math concepts, etc. We just keep our school days short and go all twelve months, taking a week off here and there.

This is us, too. We're in Florida. After the 4th, it is too hot, even early in the morning, to play outside, and they are generally kind of bored with the pool by then, so we start our schooling. It always us to take a nice break in the fall when the weather turns nice again.

 

[NHdisneylover]

We homeschooled in central New Hampshire. Plenty of cold and snow in the winter. It was not that hard to bundle the kids up and send them out to play (or go with them and get some exercise myself). I am really not understanding the comments about weather. We have better clothes for the elements now than ever before.

I'm a grandmother - who lives with my DD, her DH, and my 11 yr. old DGD during the winter months and the other 7 to 8 months I live up here in the mountains in my place at the lake.. I have a large extra lot the my DD and her family put their travel trailer on from mid-April until Columbus Day weekend..

For our family, year-round school would be horrible!! DD and her family are up here every weekend (while school is in session) and for the past 2 years, DD and my DGD have been spending quite a bit of time up here during the week as well over summer vacation..

My dad built this place in 1952, so I have spent every summer here for the past 58 years.. When I became an adult, I purchased the place from my parents and my own children spent every summer here since they were born - as has my DGD..

Our circumstances are different than those of some others as we have a place to go for the entire summer that doesn't really cost anything - so we're not in the two-week vacation group who might not have as big an issue with it..

Having said that, I also have concerns about kids being in school all summer long without air conditioning.. Even though we live in the northeast, come June those classrooms become stifling hot and I just don't see where that would be conducive to children being able to concentrate well enough to actually benefit from it..

I think ones opinion would be largely based on how they spend their summers - and what they do during the summer months..

If the lake house is close enough for your DD and DGD to visit for just the weekend (during school) couldn't they just as easily visit for 2-3 weeks (on the breaks) in the spring, again in the summer and again in the fall? Your visits with them would be spaced out more and your DGD would get to experience the lake in three seasons instead of just one (and not be away from Dad for as long on each trip). I am not seeing how that would be "horrible"

We have to spend about $4000 in airfare to get back to the USA when school is out of session to see family. For that sum I DO want to get to stay at least 3 weeks. So we visit during the shortened 6 week summer to at Christmas (that is the plan anyway--have not managed that yet--summer and Christmas have actually been closer to $5000 for the four of us and we have not been able to--or willing to I guess--swing that yet).

 

[mykidsand_i]

You have to be kidding me, where do you live that your kids can't play outside in the winter, the Arctic Circle? We live in MN and there is MAYBE a handful of days ALL WINTER that it is too cold to play outside otherwise our kids are outside all the time in the winter. Then add in ice rinks, bowling, movies, etc and our kids have zero problem keeping THEMSELVES entertained.

I am thinking about this last winter where we had horrible wind advisories EVERY DAY for weeks in a row and adding that to the already 10 below zero, the kids would have either blown away or froze! We live in a very open area where the winds get horrible most winters- the windchill AVERAGED -20 on a regular day. No child should be outside in those conditions. They would get frostbite. That's a normal winter here (usually not as cold, but definately have the wind!). Our school district won't allow the kids to play outside if it's below zero on a school day, which is good. BUT at least there, they have three big gyms they can run in...I think it helps.

Yes, in larger cities there is the option to bring them to museums and go to other educational places- A lot of people don't have that option. I, for example, live in a smaller town with nothing like that available. Yes, there are a lot of activities to do indoors, crafts, projects things like that- but a person gets sick of doing that stuff after a week straight...The kids get very ansy towards the end of C-Mas break no matter HOW MANY indoor activities we've planned.

I'm not saying that it's impossible to entertain them over the winter...nor does it matter that we live in the frozen tundra all winter, BUT IN MY CASE, MY CASE it is much easier to entertain them durring the spring, summer and fall than it is in the winter. I know this from experiance, not just because I have some hunch. I've delt with it.

 

[mykidsand_i]

But doesn't the fuel costs for heat negate that?

(asking--since I don't worry about that where I live. And where I live--the A/C runs most of the year anyway.)

Our school district only really uses the AC durring the first 2-3 weeks that school starts. They don't need it other than that.

If we had school in the summer here- we'd need to use it from June-Beg. of Sept. (give or take a few days in there)...maybe a few of those days it could be off.

The heat can never be shut off in our school systems in the winter or the pipes would have issues with freezing...and that is the case for most northern 'older' schools that are located in areas with freezing temps.

 

[daughtersrus]

I am thinking about this last winter where we had horrible wind advisories EVERY DAY for weeks in a row and adding that to the already 10 below zero, the kids would have either blown away or froze! We live in a very open area where the winds get horrible most winters- the windchill AVERAGED -20 on a regular day. No child should be outside in those conditions. They would get frostbite. That's a normal winter here (usually not as cold, but definately have the wind!). Our school district won't allow the kids to play outside if it's below zero on a school day, which is good. BUT at least there, they have three big gyms they can run in...I think it helps.

Yes, in larger cities there is the option to bring them to museums and go to other educational places- A lot of people don't have that option. I, for example, live in a smaller town with nothing like that available. Yes, there are a lot of activities to do indoors, crafts, projects things like that- but a person gets sick of doing that stuff after a week straight...The kids get very ansy towards the end of C-Mas break no matter HOW MANY indoor activities we've planned.

I'm not saying that it's impossible to entertain them over the winter...nor does it matter that we live in the frozen tundra all winter, BUT IN MY CASE, MY CASE it is much easier to entertain them durring the spring, summer and fall than it is in the winter. I know this from experiance, not just because I have some hunch. I've delt with it.

I guess that I'm not understanding the problem. From what you said earlier, the kids would be off 3 weeks in Dec instead of the 2 that they are off now. It's not like you would have to entertain them for the entire winter.

Yes, in our area (not in our district, but a few other cites), if the full year is voted in, the kids WILL go more days! Regular school year for us is 170 days...full year would ADD about 60-75 days. The times off would be...

Over Christmas break. They'd get 3 weeks (instead of the regular 2 weeks that they get anyways!!!)

Over Thanksgiving (1 week instead of 2 days)

Over Easter (1 week instead of 4 days that they ALREADY GET)

and the occasional day or two here and there THAT they ALREADY get because of certain holidays -pres. day, martin luther king day...

AND, I also don't like the fact that some schools in our area the ONLY summer days they get off are 2 weeks over 4th of July...No dates off in June or August.

 

[daughtersrus]

Our school district only really uses the AC durring the first 2-3 weeks that school starts. They don't need it other than that.

If we had school in the summer here- we'd need to use it from June-Beg. of Sept. (give or take a few days in there)...maybe a few of those days it could be off.

The heat can never be shut off in our school systems in the winter or the pipes would have issues with freezing...and that is the case for most northern 'older' schools that are located in areas with freezing temps.

Are you sure that they don't use the AC in the summer? Where do the kids go for ESY? Does the staff work in the building during the summer without the AC on? Here our administrators are on either 11 or 12 month contracts so they are working in the buildings even when the students are not there.

 

[mom2d&b]

Intresting comments about winter weather. Here in South FLA the schools do not let the kids have recess the first part of school ( August and part of Sept) because it is too hot. And unlike those in the north, we do not have a gym for indoor recess. Our physical ed classes are all held outside. There is a covered picnic like structure for PE. During the summer, you do not see many kids running around outside playing. Everyone "hides" in the house.
I know our neighborhood pool is even pretty empty during the middle of the day. Most swim in the morning or late afternoon.

What I a saying is regardless of your climate, there will always be issues for some. Everyone must make adjustments for weather at some point in the year. If not year round school, it would be great if Florida kids could go to school in the summer and be on "summer break" in the winter when the weather is perfect for outside actvities. But then it woud really mess up those who move in or out of the state.

 

[mykidsand_i]

I guess that I'm not understanding the problem. From what you said earlier, the kids would be off 3 weeks in Dec instead of the 2 that they are off now. It's not like you would have to entertain them for the entire winter.

Yeah, plus what ever other weeks if they were on a track system as others have spoken about here. That schedule that I posted was for a different (but close) school system who is TOYING with the issue of year around schooling. I didn't know much about y-around school, so I was trying to get a better understanding...in case the town I live in starts to consider it. I don't want to be the parent who in uninformed and fighting against it because i haven't heard other veiws. NOTHING works the same for one town as it does for another...NO ONE will 100% agree on everything...NEVER! BUT, I wanted thoughts and opinons so I could be well aware of both sides.

I have no problem entertaining my kids- we've got a closet FULL of entertaining things to do...They can't stand being in the house when it's cold. It drives them CRAZY, which in turn drives my DH and I crazy. I am not the only one who feels that way. I know we'd get use to it, if it ever came to us having to change, but for us it would take time. Changing over to 'entertaining all summer' and 'entertaining off and on through out the year' would be a big jump for most people in this town...MOST. Because of all that our area has to offer ALL SUMMER. We have summer programs galore here. TONS. More than most towns our size.

I'm not saying year around schooling is bad, or that entertaining kids in the winter is impossble...I'm saying I have valid reasons for the SITUATION I AM IN for not being FOR it in this area...Doesn't mean I wouldn't consider it if I lived somewhere else.

 

[mykidsand_i]

If not year round school, it would be great if Florida kids could go to school in the summer and be on "summer break" in the winter when the weather is perfect for outside actvities. .

Yeah, isn't it funny how opposite it is? I never really thought about that. I mean, I know FL is hot in the summer (we lived there for 2 years), but I never thought about them getting summer vacation at a different time of the year...that's not a bad idea at all!

 

[golfgal]

I am thinking about this last winter where we had horrible wind advisories EVERY DAY for weeks in a row and adding that to the already 10 below zero, the kids would have either blown away or froze! We live in a very open area where the winds get horrible most winters- the windchill AVERAGED -20 on a regular day. No child should be outside in those conditions. They would get frostbite. That's a normal winter here (usually not as cold, but definately have the wind!). Our school district won't allow the kids to play outside if it's below zero on a school day, which is good. BUT at least there, they have three big gyms they can run in...I think it helps.

Yes, in larger cities there is the option to bring them to museums and go to other educational places- A lot of people don't have that option. I, for example, live in a smaller town with nothing like that available. Yes, there are a lot of activities to do indoors, crafts, projects things like that- but a person gets sick of doing that stuff after a week straight...The kids get very ansy towards the end of C-Mas break no matter HOW MANY indoor activities we've planned.

I'm not saying that it's impossible to entertain them over the winter...nor does it matter that we live in the frozen tundra all winter, BUT IN MY CASE, MY CASE it is much easier to entertain them durring the spring, summer and fall than it is in the winter. I know this from experiance, not just because I have some hunch. I've delt with it.

Last winter I think we had maybe 3 days of below zero temps. Again, you seem to live in some strange pocket of the Midwest because the temps in the Midwest this past winter were the some of the warmest on record.

 

[mykidsand_i]

Are you sure that they don't use the AC in the summer? Where do the kids go for ESY? Does the staff work in the building during the summer without the AC on? Here our administrators are on either 11 or 12 month contracts so they are working in the buildings even when the students are not there.

We have several schools in our town. a few elem., 4-6 grade, 7-8th and 9-12th grade. Only 1 elementary school opperates in the summer when we are out of school. It's used for 'summer fun classes (science camps, art camps, things like that), special ed and for 'student assistance' when kids need to come in durring the summer.

The H.S is also open in the summer for swimming lessons, sport classes, art classes, summer school, drama/theater.

There are really no other schools that are 'open' except for the offices- which for summer purposes all have a window air cond. unit and they are a 'closed off room'. If a teacher goes in to do summer work, the air is still off. Most teachers that choose to go in, do so in the mornings when they can open their windows and a breeze comes through...but Many teachers don't go in much at all in the summer other than one day here and there.

 

[mykidsand_i]

Last winter I think we had maybe 3 days of below zero temps. Again, you seem to live in some strange pocket of the Midwest because the temps in the Midwest this past winter were the some of the warmest on record.

I am also stumped as to where you live, because we had the COLDEST winter here this winter- we had 15 days or more of 'record setting lows' and weeks where we NEVER saw anything over 0 degrees! My parents live in northern MN. They were warmer than we were most days this winter and we live much further south (not in MN though)

We had more snow this year and blowing snow issues here this year as well