Both the year round calendar and the traditional school year calendar have their advantages and disadvantages. Our high school, MMHS, as well as most others around this area have a traditional calendar that cuts winter break and Thanksgiving break a bit short. I, and most students, would probably favor for our current Thanksgiving break to a bit longer. Yet, if it were to be extended, many students could begin to forget the things that they learned at the beginning of the year prior to break. This could lead to problems at the end of the year when students may need to recall knowledge that could have been lost through a longer break. Although the traditional year has shorter breaks throughout the year, it allows for students to easily readjust and get back into the curriculum at school. The great aspect about this calendar is that summer break is longer, which means more relaxing and other extracurricular activities or volunteering. The main problem with a long summer break is that it may make it more difficult for students to retain knowledge from the prior year that they need for the next.
In elementary school, I was able to experience a year round school calendar and I actually enjoyed it much more than the traditional year. Although I had less of a summer break, I enjoyed much longer breaks in between the school year. It usually gives students the rest that they need in between the hefty schoolwork throughout the year and allows for more energy to learn more efficiently when they come back. The shorter summer vacation is dreadfully disappointing but it makes it more difficult to forget prior learning.
When it comes down to it, the decision is based on a trade off of benefits and problems with each. It eventually leads to a weighing in on which carries the higher ratio of pro to con. Which calendar do you prefer?
