Summer Vacation

[nissangirl74]

There is an article in this week's Time Magazine, http://www.time.com/time/nation/article ... 54,00.html , that discusses the archaic reasons for summer vacation and why the key to our kids' present and future academic success would be the elimination of it. I am kind of on the fence with this one. Summer break is good for kids IF they have something to do; however, if they are just going to be zoned out in front of the tube or hanging out with a group of punk thugs, I can see the need to eliminate it. Also, I have noticed this side effect in our kids. The first couple of weeks back in school, it's like our kids have a chronic case of the stupids until they get back into the swing of things. What do you think?

[MinisterofDOOM]

NO.

My family has always spent our summer vacations hiking, biking, motorcycling, camping, fishing and lighting stuff on fire. Can't do that in the winter. Can't travel to do that during the school year. Take my summer and I'll eat your soul.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

I think the key to future generation's success is the elimination of dumb parents.

[Otto.]

I think the key to future generation's success is the elimination of dumb parents.

The population would drop quite dramatically if that were to happen.

Hmmm...

[Razi]

I think the key to future generation's success is the elimination of dumb parents.

The population would drop quite dramatically if that were to happen.

Hmmm...

More room for everyone else!

[Dattebayo]

When we weren't traveling on Summer Break, I was always enrolled in some kind of camp or I would pick up a new hobby. One of those hobbies I picked up during summer happened to be the basis of the career path I am in now.

[nissangirl74]

I just read the whole article and it contains some pretty impressive information, not the least of which is the children's excitement at summer school. [Test results are from the city of Indianapolis where over half of the high school population drop out of school.] When the kids were asked what they thought about the programs and what would they be doing if summer school wasn't offered, the majority said they would be bored without them. The summer programs are less rigorous, more innovative, and allow children to explore their curiosities. Primarily privately funded, donations are coming in from many different places: teachers volunteering their time, businesses offering supplies or services at a discount (or free); private monetary donations. The results are substantial too. Test scores improved an average of 14 percentage points. For some, that's the difference between passing and failing.

I'm not for throwing out summer vacations. I do think the kids need a break and families need the time to be together without the everyday stresses of school/homework. However, for those families who do not have the option to be out of work for the entire summer with their children, or don't have the means to send their kids to camp, I think these programs are a good idea to combat boredom and mischief.

[MinisterofDOOM]

The summer programs are less rigorous, more innovative, and allow children to explore their curiosities. Primarily privately funded, donations are coming in from many different places: teachers volunteering their time, businesses offering supplies or services at a discount (or free); private monetary donations.

And THERE is your answer. The TRUE problem is that the public education system sucks, and being offered an alternative to it is genuinely exciting to kids.

This doesn't have anything to do with summer. It has to do with kids not learning in the normal school environment because it is not conducive to learning. But, gee whiz, throw them in an environment that IS conducive to learning and encourages thinking and asking questions, and holy crap they actually LIKE IT?! Whoda thunk?

I'm willing to bet that if you offered the same program as night classes during the winter, the kids would be just as excited about it.

[nissangirl74]

And THERE is your answer. The TRUE problem is that the public education system sucks, and being offered an alternative to it is genuinely exciting to kids.

I thought about this as I read the article. Teachers should be allowed to use whatever means allows them to teach effectively. Fun is one of those things. If you make it interesting, kids will show up for class and they will learn/retain. Unfortunately, necessary funding based on standardized testing alone does not allow this.

This is one area where I envy the flexibility of home-schooling. You can take the kids to the zoo, or the planetarium, or the botanical gardens, and it counts as a science class. Plus, the kids get something out of it and they RETAIN it.

[infinitgkid]

I miss the days when my summer vacations would involve endless hours of video games until my fingers wouldn't work because they can't recieve anymore signals from my brain.

...or when my summer vactions would involve endless hours of TV until my eyes would burn like crazy because of lack of blinking.

...or the times when I would wake up at 2pm, play video games, go to bed at 5am, and do it all again the next day.

...or the times me and the "punk thugs" would go out and get into trouble which would result in one hell of a story down the road in life.

...or when the hardest decision was pizza or no pizza.



Those were the good days.

[Encryptshun]

So, some educational systems outside the U.S. have adopted an annual trimester academic schedule. 3 sessions, each separated by a one-month holiday. I think it's a good idea, if you have the curriculum and environment suited to take advantage of it.

Before I turned 12, my summers were spent doing projects for school and earning my points at the local library reading my way through their "summer reading program" lists. Once I turned 12, my summers were spent working. Mowing yards and working full time at my dad's business. Summer? Summer started at 7:00 pm M-S and all day Sunday. When school rolled around again, I was happy for the respite it offered.

[Rev_D21]

Am I glad I am not a kid in these modern times. I would have killed someone if I didn't get summer vacation.

[anti_flag_army]

I miss the days when my summer vacations would involve endless hours of video games until my fingers wouldn't work because they can't recieve anymore signals from my brain.

...or when my summer vactions would involve endless hours of TV until my eyes would burn like crazy because of lack of blinking.

...or the times when I would wake up at 2pm, play video games, go to bed at 5am, and do it all again the next day.

...or the times me and the "punk thugs" would go out and get into trouble which would result in one hell of a story down the road in life.

...or when the hardest decision was pizza or no pizza.



Those were the good days.

Im with you, i long for those care free summer days, spent some days skating, others nothing but video games. When having 10 bucks in your pocket was all you needed and not worrying about anything.

I feel bad for the kids if some sort of summer vacation elimination actually happened.

[flohtingPoint]

I did a lot of karting on my summer breaks as a child. It was good training for muscle memory but not a real brain workout.