• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Should Kids go to School All Year?

Should Kids go to School All Year?


  • Total voters
    46
I think we all understand that. During the school year, kids don't go to school every day.

Then why did you vote no and say they needed a break from time to time? They WOULD get breaks.
 
Naturally, of course, since teachers are salaried, extending the school year through the summer would come at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

I wouldn't be opposed to that. Although, the unions would say that teachers right now are only paid for 9 months, not 12.
 
What the Captain said. Absolutely not. Let kids be kids, ffs. They need breaks. Kids are not adults. Hell, even adults need a vacation every so often.

Exactly. Kids are already stressed out these days due to school, social pressure, etc. They deserve a break from the horrid social settings that go on in schools.
 
No. Of course not. They need to spend some time away from their spoon-feeding mind adjusters and have the freedom to explore their worlds on their own.

This is one of the best posts I have ever read:)
 
No random half-days off at the whim of the school administrators who want to go fishing, no 9-to-2 scheduling. A straight eight to five day, so they can get used to what life is going to be, and so the teachers can finally find out what it's like for real Americans who actually work for a living.

This is ignorant. Teachers have to make lesson plans and grade all sorts of assignment. They have to deal with parents as well. Teachers work as much as any other individual. If you think it's so easy maybe you should give it a try (sounds like you're a bit envious of their 'easy' job).
 
This is ignorant. Teachers have to make lesson plans and grade all sorts of assignment. They have to deal with parents as well. Teachers work as much as any other individual. If you think it's so easy maybe you should give it a try (sounds like you're a bit envious of their 'easy' job).

I'm definitely envious. Great benefits, school is out by four o'clock at the max, breaks during the day, hardly any college debt (or at least there shouldn't be). Sounds very nice. Not to mention a union that makes ridiculous demands on your behalf. Hmmmm I may have to reconsider law school...
 
I'm definitely envious. Great benefits, school is out by four o'clock at the max, breaks during the day, hardly any college debt (or at least there shouldn't be). Sounds very nice. Not to mention a union that makes ridiculous demands on your behalf. Hmmmm I may have to reconsider law school...

Offtopic: But you may want to really reconsider as I was reading a couple days ago about Judge Judy makes $45 million a year. She does 52 epi. a year so that is like she is making almost a million per show.
:)
 
Was never particularly attracted to the idea. I enjoy the notion of summer breaks.
 
Should Kids go to School All Year?


I've always found the idea appealing.
It's difficult for many parents to afford summer care for their children while they work.
Disadvantaged children sometimes don't eat proper meals, except at school; abused children can be neglected or beaten bloody with impunity during the summer, because nobody in authority will see them for two months.
Keeping schools open year-round would keep all school employees- not just teachers, but hourly workers as well- employed twelve months a year.
I don't see the point of children having such a long break; it doesn't prepare them very well for adult life, where it's unlikely they'll ever have two and a half month "breaks", at least not voluntarily.

I don't see the downside, frankly. Although I haven't read this thread yet, and I'm too tired to right now.
Maybe tomorrow I'll read it and get a better idea of why some people might oppose year-round school.
 
I think it's a good idea, we do it here in Oz, and contrary to CC's argument, kids don't go insane. In my state, it's roughly 10 weeks of schooling, then a 2 week break, except over Christmas, when its a 6 week break
 
Last edited:
This idea comes up from time to time, and it never pans out.

I dropped out of high school when I was 17 because I was finding it unbearable to work within that system. I dropped out at a point that I only had a few more courses left so I could make it up with correspondence, but I guarantee you that if summer school was mandatory I would have dropped out immediately at 16. Summer times were the only time where I had a chance to relax and try to do other things with my life that I enjoyed, and not have to worry about academia.

I wholeheartedly disagree with academic die hards who think that schooling is the best thing in the world for kids and that kids just need more school. Too much school produces children who are square and have no real world skills.

Also, I think kids are getting more and more bored at school because technology outside of school is increasing their processing speed. Look at the kinds of video games and computer interactions kids are having now; and then they go to school and are expected to sit there for hours being talked at. The way we teach children has to change to become more interactive and dynamic, because that is the way the outside world is becoming.

I really would not be where I am today without the real world experience I gained from being OUT of school.
 
Then why did you vote no and say they needed a break from time to time? They WOULD get breaks.

Because the extended summer vacation break is helpful for them to reset and manage where they are developmentally. I think I was clear about that.
 
Last edited:
No, I don't believe it should be year round. I wouldn't mind a longer school year and a longer school day, but year-round is too much. Two weeks break for Christmas/New Year and the customary week-long breaks for winter and spring and a one-month summer vacation are necessary both for students AND for teachers...

Let's not turn these kids into studying machines like they do here in East Asia. It truly isn't healthy...
 
Naturally, of course, since teachers are salaried, extending the school year through the summer would come at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

Do you really believe that? Running the school itself DOES cost money (utilities, paper and other supplies, etc.) plus you KNOW higher salaries would be demanded. Also, in many states, teachers are REQUIRED to take classes to maintain their certification status or they seek to upgrade their qualifications. The summer is the only time most teachers can do this...
 
I'm just saying....that's how it is in the real world. Salaried means their paid to get the job done, and if that means surrendering that long summer where they can work a second job or goof off some more, too bad.

Here's an idea!

Rather than ruining their summer vacation, how about if the kids spend more time in school under instruction during the school year?

No random half-days off at the whim of the school administrators who want to go fishing, no 9-to-2 scheduling. A straight eight to five day, so they can get used to what life is going to be, and so the teachers can finally find out what it's like for real Americans who actually work for a living.

You think teachers only work the scheduled school day? When I was teaching high school, I usually arrived at school at about 7:45 in the morning and during the soccer season rarely left before 6PM and often didn't leave until 8PM or later... And during that time, there was very little downtime during the day...
 
Give teachers a break. For the pay they make, and the long hour work days, and all the work they have to do in their off-time, I would never make the argument that they don't work as hard as whatever you consider a typical American for the sheer fact that they get a vacation. Real Americans get vacations as well.
 
I'd be fine with slightly extending the school year and changing its structure. Instead of giving kids 3 months off in the summer, 2 weeks in the winter, and 1 in the spring, give them 4 ten-week quarters each followed by a 3-week break.
 
I think it's a good idea, we do it here in Oz, and contrary to CC's argument, kids don't go insane. In my state, it's roughly 10 weeks of schooling, then a 2 week break, except over Christmas, when its a 6 week break

I'd actually be okay with that. They still get a whole month in the summer. Summers are to have fun, be outdoors and hang out with friends.

The school system in Switzerland varies by canton and I think a few of the Swiss German cantons follow a system similar to yours. Shorter summer break and more breaks throughout the year. Where I live the academic performance expected of kids is very high and it's very stressful for those who are less academically gifted. They need that two month summer break. They need to let go of all that tension and just be carefree kids again for a while.
 
Last edited:
I'm definitely envious. Great benefits, school is out by four o'clock at the max, breaks during the day, hardly any college debt (or at least there shouldn't be). Sounds very nice. Not to mention a union that makes ridiculous demands on your behalf. Hmmmm I may have to reconsider law school...

You're completely off you rocker or ignorant of the subject. I'm going to school to be a teacher and will have about 20k in debt when I get out. Teachers are not out by for 'max'. They then go home and plan for the next day and grade papers. I hate the Unions, I don't plan on joining. Maybe you should consider any type of school. Your claims are ridiculous.
 
I'd be fine with slightly extending the school year and changing its structure. Instead of giving kids 3 months off in the summer, 2 weeks in the winter, and 1 in the spring, give them 4 ten-week quarters each followed by a 3-week break.

Something would have to make it possible for teachers to get the classes they need to maintain and/or upgrade their certification...
 
You're completely off you rocker or ignorant of the subject. I'm going to school to be a teacher and will have about 20k in debt when I get out. Teachers are not out by for 'max'. They then go home and plan for the next day and grade papers. I hate the Unions, I don't plan on joining. Maybe you should consider any type of school. Your claims are ridiculous.

Hell I would go a step beyond that. Most of my teachers in high school didn't leave until after I did and I usually left around 7 or 8 at night. A lot of people don't realize many teachers go out and find jobs during the summer because they aren't working and they still need money.
 
You're completely off you rocker or ignorant of the subject. I'm going to school to be a teacher and will have about 20k in debt when I get out. Teachers are not out by for 'max'. They then go home and plan for the next day and grade papers. I hate the Unions, I don't plan on joining. Maybe you should consider any type of school. Your claims are ridiculous.

I am a teacher, had about $60K in debt (private school), never take papers home to grade, never plan at home, hate the unions too...

I had a teacher ask me one time if I ever take anything home. I explained to her that I used my planning time and even lunch to get things done. I also come in on Saturdays usually to get everything ready for the next couple weeks. My lesson plans are prepared two weeks ahead of time.

She, however, is off immediately to the lounge or other teachers' rooms to sit and talk whenever she gets a break. She is always weeks behind on grading.

P.S. I believe I'm paid very well. I make just as much or more than a lot of teachers who have been teaching longer than me.
 
Last edited:
Surprising that the poll is at 50-50, roughly.
No nation, particularly today, can expect to do well with the illiteracy rate that we have...This is one of the prime causes of the gap between the rich and the poor.
That our education system is in dire need of improvement and reform should by now be well known....
This must be done on a state by state "method". The most important thing is that data and info be public and shared....Maybe this is being done now, I think that there is too much secrecy and privacy crap.
 
Back
Top Bottom