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Discover pros, cons of year-round schooling

September 25, 2012

By Staff

Jacob Brunette
Issaquah High School

While most students are experiencing the shock that accompanies the end of summer and the return to school, some are already in the middle of their school year.

Year-round schools, which replace the traditional summer break with smaller breaks spaced out around a full year of schooling, have been growing in number, and are offering a solution to many educational woes. They can be either single-track, in which all the students attend school at the same time, or multitrack, in which different groups of students attend the same school during different times.

Opinions on both types of schools are divided.

Pros

  • Students on a year-round schedule have a more positive attitude toward school.
  • Multitrack schools are more cost-effective than building new schools when dealing with large numbers of students.
  • A longer year gives at-risk students more time to get help.
  • Businesses hiring students part time get applications more evenly throughout the year, instead of just during summer.
  • The year-round schedule offers more varied times for families to vacation.

Cons

Shreya Tewari
Eastside Catholic High School

  • School maintenance costs, such as day-to-day upkeep and utilities, will increase if schools are open longer.
  • Behavioral issues in the classroom may increase, because students are not accustomed to or developmentally ready to maintain focus and attend for longer periods of time.
  • Teens who need to work and make money will have a harder time finding and holding down jobs.
  • Schools already struggle to find money for high quality teachers; making this a year-round cost would not be realistic.
  • Students would miss out on opportunities to hang out with other kids and learn about things outside the school setting, such as summer camp, family trips and other summer experiences that help shape kids.

While the number of year-round schools is increasing, traditional schools still vastly outnumber them, and there is not yet a definite sign as to whether or not this will change.

As of yet, there has not been a significant nationwide push for year-round schooling, and it remains to be seen whether year-round schooling is the future of American education.

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Written by Staff · Filed Under Schools, Schools Features, The Beat 

Copyright © 2013 by Issaquah Press Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Email editor@isspress.com.

Comments

7 Responses to “Discover pros, cons of year-round schooling”

  1. LAWL on December 13th, 2012 6:14 pm

    LAWL

  2. LAWL on December 13th, 2012 6:15 pm

    I LIKE THE WORD LAWL

  3. victoria mccallister on January 10th, 2013 8:04 am

    I DON’T WANT TO HAVE YEAR ROUND SCHOOL , DO YOU HEAR ME , I DON’T AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT KIDS WANT THERE SUMMERS OUT OF SCHOOL IN THE POOL

  4. Anonymous on January 11th, 2013 11:17 am

    theyll be bored

  5. jennifer on February 12th, 2013 6:17 am

    I HATE YEAR ROUND SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. TheDuke88 on March 11th, 2013 8:50 am

    YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL SHOULD BE BANNED!!!!

  7. Cjsidun on March 17th, 2013 6:42 pm

    I do not agree with it, but as many will see some of you need the extra schooling.

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