When I was in second grade, I went to a year-round school and absolutely loved it. We followed a “nine weeks in, three weeks out” schedule, meaning that every nine weeks we got a three week break. Even though we operated throughout the whole year, it was so much more manageable due to the steady flow of vacation time.
Breaks are more important now than ever. According to St. Louis University, they “could have a positive effect on students’ mental health, particularly in a post-pandemic world.” Since virtual schooling, I’ve noticed a lot more burnout throughout the year than I used to experience, and having more frequent vacation time would keep me and so many others motivated and on track. They would be especially helpful during second semester, which is longer than first semester and feels even longer because it feels so close to summer.
Additionally, these breaks sprinkled throughout the year provide more opportunities for vacation during less busy times. Students can visit places without being surrounded by as many tourists or go to events they’d otherwise miss due to being in school. Even if they don’t go on vacation, students have more time for hobbies, extracurricular activities, work, and community engagement.
Non-traditional school schedules offer more than that, though. Many of them run on a multi-track system, which means that breaks are staggered for different groups of students. This allows for smaller classes and better connections with teachers. A study from the National Education Association found that “students in smaller classes did significantly better on academic tests.” Having a smaller class size was one of the things I enjoyed the most during my time in year-round school, and I genuinely believe that I learned more and performed better because of it.
Another academic benefit is that schools can provide resources to struggling students during breaks. Schools can offer extra help and learning materials during these periods, helping students to stay on pace or even get ahead. Many schools also offer childcare when school isn’t in session to assist parents who work through the breaks.
The only point against year-round schooling is the shortened summer break, but I don’t think even that is enough to discredit it. Summer is a much needed time for students to decompress and not worry about as many academic responsibilities, but for me at least, it gets boring pretty quickly. After about a month, I’m usually over it and ready for the next thing. I think the rest of the days of summer would be better split throughout the school year when I’d actually appreciate them.
All in all, year-round schools promote students’ wellbeing constantly, whether in school or out. Traditional schools don’t value our time or mental health to the same extent, and it would be a favor to everyone to switch our schedule.
