Summer: How lond should it be?

     When the final bell rings on the last day of school, the students are happy. They do not need to think of school for another two and half months! This is how it should be all the students in the US who go to public schools. But, many schools in our country have all students coming there all-year around. they go to school  for 45 days and then the next 15 days, they are off. This pattern  continues until the ultimate last day of school. There are many problems with year-round schooling. It does not improve education, but it does increase the cost.It would also effect the amount of family time a student would spent.Having all year- rounded schools is not the right choice for the students and their families.

     Many teachers say that students forget everything over the two and half months of summer vacation. But, having only 15 days of vacation in between 45 days of school does not make a difference. There is no possible evidence that all year-rounded schools make students get better grades. In 1979, 90% of schools that tried to have a year-round schedule ended up going back to the original schedule. Also, it is very possible that kids forget the things they leaned in 15 days. In fact, a middle school in  Alabama had 13 out of 20 students forget what they had learned in math in 15 days. Others may say that it is easier to forget something over two and half months than 15 days. But,  every student has their own capacity of remembering things. All year- rounded schools do not effect the  students and how much they can remember.

     All year-rounded schools cost a lot. During the school hours, we have to pay the staff members and the electricity bill. That already costs a lot of money and our school budget is not that much. The board of education has laid-off many of our wonderful teachers due to the shortage of money. why strive for money for all year-rounded schools when we should strive for money to bring back the teachers we have lost. Also, New Jersey had a huge budget cut. People who disagree may say that we can hold fundraisers to get the money. But, in today's economy, many people can not afford to donate money.The cost for the board of education would increase if we had all year-rounded schools.

     Family time is really important to everyone because in our busy lives today there is barely any time for family. the two and half months the students have is the perfect amount of time for family. Many grandparents of our students do not live with them. There is no way parents would let their child go visit their grandparents for 15 days. It takes time and money, which no on wants to waste. "Family life is not a computer program that runs on its own; it needs continual input from everyone." (Neil Kurshan) Everyone wants to be close to their family, sharing all the joys and sorrows together. Having all year-rounded schools would take away a lot of family time.

     Making public schools all year- roundeed schools in the US, is not the right choice. It does not help students remember things. It cost a lot and it takes away family time. This decision is not the best one for the students in the US as we are known for having the best school system. No board of the education wants to ignore the concerns of the students and their familes.