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Should Kids go to School All Year?

Should Kids go to School All Year?


  • Total voters
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Which is why they should be assigned homework over the summer. Nothing much, but enough so they don't get lazy. If I had year round school I might have killed myself.

As I was in the CP (College Prep) track, I always had summer reading I had to slog through -- while on road trips for soccer (which is how I spent most of my summers from the time I was 10 years old)... People who say students need structured time in the summer, playing on travel teams can be HIGHLY structured..
 
Oh see it was different for me. I had to give them a list of books I wanted to read and they had to check and make sure the books were not under my grade level.

Mine was different to... we had a list of about ten books and we had to choose four of them...
 
That would of been better in my opinion but honestly, I hated school with a passion.
I really, really hated it.

I remember in 8th grade going to sleep in class because many of the students had serious reading problems, couldn't pronounce words, etc.
The better read students are stuffed in the class with the kids that had reading problems.

It was moronic.

My high school had tracking -- AP/Advanced; CP (college prep); General 1; General 2; Remedial

The school I taught at in Georgia did NOT do this (except for AP) because it was deemed a racist policy. Makes me glad I grew up in a state that didn't have to deal with that nonsense...
 
My high school had tracking -- AP/Advanced; CP (college prep); General 1; General 2; Remedial

The school I taught at in Georgia did NOT do this (except for AP) because it was deemed a racist policy. Makes me glad I grew up in a state that didn't have to deal with that nonsense...

Where do you think I went to school? ;)

Middle school was odd, anyone who passed the reading portion of the Iowa test(?) was exempt from the reading class and could take a foreign language.
However, they stuffed all of us in the same language arts class.
Super idiotic, moronic.

Reading stuff like, "The Most Dangerous Game," took forever because a lot of the kids stumbled or couldn't pronounce the words.
 
As I was in the CP (College Prep) track, I always had summer reading I had to slog through -- while on road trips for soccer (which is how I spent most of my summers from the time I was 10 years old)... People who say students need structured time in the summer, playing on travel teams can be HIGHLY structured..

Yep I played soccer every day for a team and baseball every Tuesday night with a couple of friends at a local park. Plus the 5 books I read a summer and various other math and science things my dad had me do. It wasn't until I was introduced to the addictive thing known as video games that my summers began to change.
 
Yep I played soccer every day for a team and baseball every Tuesday night with a couple of friends at a local park. Plus the 5 books I read a summer and various other math and science things my dad had me do. It wasn't until I was introduced to the addictive thing known as video games that my summers began to change.

I still remember when I was in high school having to do my summer reading on the plane while on the way to a series of matches somewhere in another part of the US or even in Europe or South America...

Had no time for video games when I was a kid... too busy with sports...
 
Where do you think I went to school? ;)

Middle school was odd, anyone who passed the reading portion of the Iowa test(?) was exempt from the reading class and could take a foreign language.
However, they stuffed all of us in the same language arts class.
Super idiotic, moronic.

Reading stuff like, "The Most Dangerous Game," took forever because a lot of the kids stumbled or couldn't pronounce the words.

Georgia?!?! There are some very good schools and teachers there, but the racial policies really do a disservice to education in the state.

It is insane to NOT separate students based on achievement/ability. I would have absolutely died had I been forced into classes with most of my schoolmates -- I actually enjoyed being in classes where my fellow classmates could read and write at or above grade level -- though having said that, educational achievement in NH is generally MUCH higher than it is in GA.
 
I still remember when I was in high school having to do my summer reading on the plane while on the way to a series of matches somewhere in another part of the US or even in Europe or South America...

Had no time for video games when I was a kid... too busy with sports...

I remember getting through three books just on the planes when I went to Australia and New Zealand. And the only reason I had time for video games was because a defender came up behind me and did a real dirty slide tackle breaking my leg. If it hadn't been for that and me needing to find something to fill the void I never would have started playing them.
 
Georgia?!?! There are some very good schools and teachers there, but the racial policies really do a disservice to education in the state.

Born and raised, the playground is where I spent most of my days. :2razz:

I grew up in Cobb, the Smyrna/Austell/Mableton area.

It is insane to NOT separate students based on achievement/ability. I would have absolutely died had I been forced into classes with most of my schoolmates -- I actually enjoyed being in classes where my fellow classmates could read and write at or above grade level -- though having said that, educational achievement in NH is generally MUCH higher than it is in GA.

We had target for a very small portion of students.
The target kids were "targeted" for bully abuse.
A lot of us shied away from being in the cross hairs.
 
Which is why they should be assigned homework over the summer. Nothing much, but enough so they don't get lazy. If I had year round school I might have killed myself.

No thank you. I don't agree with homework anyway. But when my kid has that long of a holiday, I have my own lesson plans. I'm not going to waste my time with junk like every day math. And I'm a responsible parent. There are a lot more who are not and don't bother helping their kids or nagging them to get it done. If the teacher has a lesson plan, that's their job, not mine.

My son has to read 3 books this summer, and that's fine. For his first book, he picked a Goosebumps book, so I decorated a few rooms with creepy Halloween stuff. I prefer he reads to me so I know he's getting it done, and this was kind of fun to have Halloween in July. I had forgotten all those skuls and ghouls were up when we had company last week. Oooops.
 
As a teacher maybe. As a student who has been in class since last July straight, so a full year I can tell you I am so damn tired of school. That is including the month off I have for Christmas and at least a three day weekend every month.
What the heck are you going to do when you have to work year round?
 
No, I'm not the norm at my school. One other teacher is always there when I am on Saturdays. Some teachers come in early everyday. Some stay late. I don't know many that work during the summer unless it's summer school which is only 4 weeks.



I make the average salary in my state. If I didn't have my Masters I would still be at the low end of the pool.



Elementary. I have my Masters in reading education with a reading specialist endorsement.

Thanks for the reply Mellie. I'm still trying to decide whether I want my masters right after college or not. I figure if I can't get a job right out I'll go another year and grab my masters. I'm hoping with a degree in secondary ed, a major in biology and a masters I should be all set.
 
No thank you. I don't agree with homework anyway. But when my kid has that long of a holiday, I have my own lesson plans. I'm not going to waste my time with junk like every day math. And I'm a responsible parent. There are a lot more who are not and don't bother helping their kids or nagging them to get it done. If the teacher has a lesson plan, that's their job, not mine.

My son has to read 3 books this summer, and that's fine. For his first book, he picked a Goosebumps book, so I decorated a few rooms with creepy Halloween stuff. I prefer he reads to me so I know he's getting it done, and this was kind of fun to have Halloween in July. I had forgotten all those skuls and ghouls were up when we had company last week. Oooops.

That is the type of homework I meant. And maybe like 10 or 15 math problems to remember how to do them. Nothing much, but something to keep the mind going.

And for your son if you ever needed to find a good series I suggest the Hardy Boys. Since he is reading Goosebumps he might be a bit old, but the Hardy Boys was the series that really started my love of reading and they are pretty good books.

What the heck are you going to do when you have to work year round?

Honestly that response was more just personal frustration in the amount of work I have when taking three summer courses. I actually love school, I just needed to vent at the moment. Plus since I haven't had a summer since Junior year in high school I don't really think shifting to a 9-5 job will be that big of an issue. Especially since I held a 9-5 job for 3 straight summers.
 
Honestly that response was more just personal frustration in the amount of work I have when taking three summer courses. I actually love school, I just needed to vent at the moment. Plus since I haven't had a summer since Junior year in high school I don't really think shifting to a 9-5 job will be that big of an issue. Especially since I held a 9-5 job for 3 straight summers.

Man, stay in school forever.
Much easier than years of work with little to no free time.

Just partially messing with you.:2razz:
 
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.

I always thought that is why kids are out for planning days: so that teachers can use those days to set up lesson plans. Also do any teachers use part of their vacation time to plan out lesson plans?

Do you all get unemployment during summer or any pay?
 
My son has to read 3 books this summer, and that's fine. For his first book, he picked a Goosebumps book, so I decorated a few rooms with creepy Halloween stuff.


Do kids still like Goosebumps books?
My kids loved them. That and "Choose your own adventure" books.
They used to write their own Goosebumps stories, too.
I gave them my old manual typewriter to write them on.
They were pretty hilarious. :lol:
 
Thanks for the reply Mellie. I'm still trying to decide whether I want my masters right after college or not. I figure if I can't get a job right out I'll go another year and grab my masters. I'm hoping with a degree in secondary ed, a major in biology and a masters I should be all set.

I did my Masters right after I graduated with the Bachelors. I'm glad I did because I can't imagine going to college during the school year or even in the summer since it would take forever. What are you thinking of getting your Masters in?
 
This must be discussed with input from the children(this would be a first!) and input from the few "parents" who care.
Check the attendance at a PTA meeting..
So much improvement is necessary..
So foolish just to think that Sweden sets any standards, how about China and Japan or Germany and Israel??
The very worst are ours from the 18th century, yet we have people who embrace these.....

Well most kids I know would probably say hell no to an all year school.

Most parents I know also would say hell no:)
 
Do kids still like Goosebumps books?
My kids loved them. That and "Choose your own adventure" books.
They used to write their own Goosebumps stories, too.
I gave them my old manual typewriter to write them on.
They were pretty hilarious. :lol:

Yep. My students still love both of those. Most can't read or don't want to read something that long so they just check out a Goosebumps, read a couple pages and then stuff it in their desk. However, there are a few that are really engaged in reading longer books and they love them.

Fantasy is the most popular genre, though. Anything about wizards, witches, magic, dragons, .... they want to read it.

And, of course, you have those kids that CAN read well, but they really hate it so they find the thinnest book they can find no matter what it's about. I have kids reading on a 4th grade level that I have to have little talks with when they only want to read Clifford or Biscuit.
 
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Well most kids I know would probably say hell no to an all year school.

Most parents I know also would say hell no:)

Why most parents?
 
I absolutely ADORE my 2 and half months off with my son in vactionland. But I do see the toll it takes on him. 2 and a half months break to too long. Kids *do* lose some of what they've learned, and the month of September is usually spent catching up. That's a waste. Because the kids and the teachers are all anxious and excited for the long break, the actual lessons taper off a few weeks before end of school. By Memorial Day weekend, my kid is usually done learning anything.

Because so many families are unable or unwilling to have one parent home, many kids are warehoused in craptastic "camps" for the summer. Sure there are some excellent camps out there, but the affordable ones are often junk. I cannot imagine what kind of "break" it is to go to some dump in town with no place to swim (except on periodic field trips) 5 days a week usually from 8-5 and learn to make ice cream in a bag.

With or without camp, my mom friends and I have come to expect what we refer to as the mid-summer meltdown. It happens every year without fail. Kids need and crave structure. When unstructured goes on for too long, kids do not do well. The meltdown ensues and lasts for about 2 weeks. Kids start to perk up again in August (ironically or not) when the back to school ads start airing.

I also believe it sets people up for major disappointment when they enter the real world and find that they only get one week off each year. :shock:

So I support year round school with a few well timed, longer breaks. Get rid of the one week off in November, December, February and April, and space things out better with a longer break. Then a month off in the summer.

But a lot of people travel during November & December due to holidays and to see family.
 
I always thought that is why kids are out for planning days: so that teachers can use those days to set up lesson plans. Also do any teachers use part of their vacation time to plan out lesson plans?

Do you all get unemployment during summer or any pay?

Days when the kids aren't there at all are used for conferences and meetings (some that can be used toward certification). Also in those days is time for the teachers to work in their classrooms on grades or lesson plans.

I do not get unemployment in the summer. That's an interesting idea, though. I wonder if it's legal to do that... In our district we get to choose at the beginning of the year whether we want to be paid for 12 months or 9 months. I chose 9 months this past year and just saved money throughout the year to pay for my summer bills. My next paycheck will be in September.
 
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I mean most parents I know and have talked to about this issue. Understand now? :)

Yes, I understood that in the first place. I was wondering why they think this way.
 
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