Would changing school break to winter be good?

[Destructionator XV]

In the United States, most schools take summer break, where classes are out of session usually for the months of July and August. Classes thus occur right over the worst winter months of the year, requiring us and our children to brave the shitty weather almost every day. Most people, instead of actually braving the weather, take their cars, leaving them on in the morning to warm up before leaving.

Asking them to walk or bike instead often makes them think you're mad. And biking in the harshest winters is pretty crazy - that's the main reason I have been on the Failtrain Express in the "spring" semester of college every damn attempt.

So instead, I propose we change to a winter break that hits the months of January and February instead of July and August. Think of the benefits:

1) Less petrol usage as using alternative methods of transport becomes viable to more people.

2) Less heating is required for the big school buildings, helping to cut down on their operation costs

3) Fewer days of classes will be wasted from snow days.

4) Plowing out the school's parking lot during those months won't need to be done with such high priority

5) Kids don't need to risk killing themselves by going out in the brutal cold

6) It might help cut down on illness, since windows can be opened through more of the school year helping keep germs from collecting on the entire class.

7) It would be safer; they don't need to get up before the sun to make it to school on time. (Also, this may let them get more sleep; just wake up with the sun.)


And the downside:

1) Kids will have less time to play outside in the nice weather. But this would be far from eliminated; school doesn't last all day and they'd still have weekends.

...and that's the only one I can think of. This just seems like a good idea - have any criticisms?

[Hotfoot]

Kids are at risk to dehydration and heat stroke by being locked in rooms with questionable air condition (if any) during the hottest months of the year during a period of time where summers are becoming hotter and more brutal than previously imagined.

Seriously, brutal cold? A kid can always put on a sweater. After a certain point, they can't take off any more clothes. Kids who are uncomfortable do not learn.

[Cynical Cat]

There's also the matter of kids spending time during the nice months of the year looking outside and yearning to be free, rather than paying attention in class.

[LadyTevar]

The current school year was rigged for the mostly rural America of the time, when children were needed to help on the farm from late spring to early fall, as the crops needed tending and harvesting. While we have for the most part moved away from rural life, the tradition continues.

A better idea is the year-round schooling, at least for the elementary age.

[Mayabird]

Yeah, have a few shorter breaks (two, maybe three weeks) between school terms that run year round rather than one big one where the students can forget everything they learned and have to waste time relearning the same stupid fractions and trivia from the previous year. I remember math not going anywhere until I hit middle school.

[General Havoc]

Summer vacation though does allow for activities like Summer camp, longer vacations with the family, and such things. I don't like the idea of requiring that kids not stray away from their hometowns for longer than a couple weeks from age 4 to age 18. There's more to life, even for a kid, than school, and I don't think having a large block of time allocated for that sort of thing is that bad.

[Hotfoot]

If I might, before we look at things like changing schedules to help "solve" the problems of education, let's consider that this is an extremely minor issue facing our educational system. We need more teachers who know the material that they're teaching. We need teachers who know what they're doing at every level of education.

So, what about enticing more people to be teachers?

[frigidmagi]

Ah now we got something worth talking about. I got a couple of suggestions on that.

Student debt forgiveness: For every year you spend teaching a subject you have a degree on, X amount of your various student loans and such will be forgiven and made to vanish. While teaching you will not have to make debt payments on your loans.

Tax Credit: For every year over 5 years of teaching, you spend as a teacher you will receive X amount of tax credits.

More Money: This frankly is likely the easiest and most expensive way to get more teachers. Pay them more.

Pay cuts for adminsterative persons: Petro once told me a story about a school adminsterator in his district who weaseled out almost 2 million for his dubious services. Frankly considering the pay of your average teacher, this is insulting. To be clear I'm not talking about your high school principal here, I'm talking the guys your principal reports to, who may step foot in a school once or twice a year.

[The Cleric]

I could not have stood year round school. I know some places (including Vegas) do it, but I can't imagine NOT having a summer vacation.

[Devonie]

Not to ressurect a dead topic but - Ye Gods! Don't any of you have children??

I do, two, in fact. Have you ever had to deal with 2 hyperactive children durin the 2 weeks of Christmas vacation?? You can't throw them outside to play, at least not for very long, so you're stuck INSIDE with them ALL DAY LONG... If I had to put up with my 2 inside for as long as summer term lasts, I wouldn't be held responsible for my actions - Hell, summer break's only half over and I wish school was starting! Thank goodness they got the pool open in the next town... it's a good bribe for being quiet... and getting them the Wii helps (although they do occassionally fight over it. I took it away for 4 hours. they haven't fought for days!)

/me needs sleep....

[LadyTevar]

Not to ressurect a dead topic but - Ye Gods! Don't any of you have children??

I think you, the Kendalls, and FicketyTwists are the only Mommies.

The majority of the board are under 25, single males.