Why is the school year limited to 180 days? Shouldn't education be run like any other business?

Similar questions: school year limited 180 days education run business.

It started out being based on the needs of the farmers who needed their kids at home to help with the crops. Plus many schools don't have aie conditioning in the summer, so the buildings are pretty hot. I'm sure it saves money to have it only part of the year--but I agree, it's probably beneficial to have a longer school year.

Ya, now that they don't need 'slave labor' down on the farm, it would seem that they would extend the school year and do a better job educating the children. I think it's a darned shame that so many children don't even know how to hold a pencil properly, can't spell or write a logical sentense...and, worst thing of all, they can't 'speak' proper English... HELENofTROY 5 months ago .

Wow, I'd like to know why too... we paid for my kids 10 months education... 2/3 of my husband's salary... we always broke after all expenses, etc.

I know..., the buildings lay empty, working parents have to arrange sitters, camp, etc. The kids forget half of what they've learned...what a waste... HELENofTROY 5 months ago .

It is a matter of history. At one time we were a nation of farmers and they needed children at home to work in the summer months. That is no longer the case.So right now, there is no good reason except a desire for a break in the work.

Gary, It seems to me that the kids are 'out' of school more than they're 'IN'. What, they start back in Aug. /Sept.

, depending on the part of the country...then, they're out for Christmas break. Then, schools close for every conceivable holiday, conferance days, etc...It's rediculous in my book. The buildings are there being heated/cooled, the teachers are paid...and the kids are home playing video games.

What is wrong with this picture? HELENofTROY 5 months ago .

Everyone agrees that we need to change the school schedule. I was just showing it had a reason at one time. Not now.

But tha is easy to do if you have agreement with the parents.

I assume you're referring to grade - high school instead of all education (college/university). I have no idea, but I wish it was - then the kids would be in school instead of joining gangs and getting into trouble. Not to mention, the kids in my neighborhood are noisy and if I'm able to sleep in, they invariably wake me up before I want to be awake!

If they were in school year round, that would be wonderful. But, as it is, the only schools which are really going year-round are colleges and universities, although most schools do offer Summer classes which are largely remedial courses. (Judging from what I see on here, I'd think the ones in Writing and Composition would be overflowing!) .

Yes, OH, I am mainly talking about grades K-12, especially when their little brains are like sponges ready to soak up learning the basics of education. We can only HOPE that by age 18/19, college age, that students have reached some degree of maturity to succeed...BUT, anyone who has witnessed 'spring break' at Panama City Beach would question that they've reached any level of maturity.

Year-round-school works when you can have a rotation of duties and even Grade 1 students will get more than one teacher a day or as many as three a day. This is not always reported as an optimal situation for Grade 1 and 2 students. It is reported to work much better for 6-9.

The teacher would need to have two expert knowledge areas, this level of concentration is needed to make the most of their part of the day with each class. This will cost more and will result in better teaching. In defense of learning on summer vacation.

First the buildings are not generally air conditioned in the summer. If you have been in a school where the office is the only thing that is open from August 1 to June 30 and they take July off you know that the hallways and classrooms are hot and muggy. Second the best research on children and learning is clear that children push their abilities to the furthest when engaged in "games" with each other.

This means a space for children that is largely theirs, of course it would need moderated supervision by highly responsible adults from a reasonable distance. The Boy Scouts or another camp or other cooperative team building experiences are very important for children and young teens to learn leadership and display character. It is also a place to learn and deal with members of their group or team that lie, exaggerate or show themselves to be untrustworthy.

School is too structured an environment for this type of character building to take place since even recess time for schools that are fortunate enough to have them are closely monitored by teachers, teachers assistants, adult volunteers to such an extent that the children are closely supervised. Third summer time that allows for the child centered, child run type of games or contests are good for the reasons cited above. While computer-based entertainment and games are a good way to practice memory and spacial mapping and they can give children and especially young teens some of the cooperative and team based experience, they go only so far.My two cents after teaching United States history to freshman and sophomores for 30 years and having my own sons in the 9 month public schools year.

I teach on a 12 month contract and yet I found time to take my boys, on the cheap to mountains, deserts, rivers, lakes, forests and waterfalls. Along the way I also took them at young ages to house-building sites, multi-story apartment block building sites and as many places of work and manufacture and power generation as possible. The boys are both grown and successfully employed in very responsible positions and are men of good character.

While I think I did a good job I think the summer fun they had in a neighborhood of similar aged children with hired college girls or recent HS graduates to supervise them for three or four days a week during the summer were part of what helped build their character.

You make some good points, ModelT. I doubt very much that today's kids are out playing stickball, hopscotch or enhancing their social life. Most are stuffing their little faces with junk food and playing video games.

Field trips are great to expand their worlds. If school was open all year, these activities could be included in their education. HELENofTROY 5 months ago .

Thank you. If enough people get together on this then we will see a few more states to adopt the year-round school calendar for K-12. It would have to be a large number of people and the teacher's unions will find away to get on board and then with public pressure and teachers' support may be the State Board of Education and the legislators will get the message.

We just need to find and work with like-minded people.

Summers were given off so the li'l kiddies could help with the harvest. Now that a mere 2% of the population actually works on a farm, well, just try to take a day off away from the workers.

It IS time for a change. They complain about overcrowding of schools, there's talk about not teaching cursive writing any more. Computers are a fantastic asset in learning but should not replace the basic skills of life.

HELENofTROY 5 months ago .

11 Months would be fine. Two weeks off for spring break and two weeks off for winter break. HELENofTROY 4 months ago .

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8 year old, "gifted" intellectually, good grades, likes class (normal school), fine socially. Special education needed?

What are the advantages of a Montessori school education.

I want a watch that measures the distance when I run. Any reccomendations.

How much money did NY State lottery distribute to public education for the 2010-2011 school year.

Can you recommend a good book for learning how to run a small business.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.