But then how do address the fact that poor kids lose two months work of reading on average during the summer and kids of all income brackets lose math skills. I don't even see it as more school as opposed to reallocating how the hours are used. Use time more efficiently, keep them in class less because at a certain point people just zone out and don't give them 3 straight months of doing nothing. People are taking it the wrong way or not fully getting the alternatives. This would just be one part of a larger process. I'd link an article on Finland, but no one wants to read all that.
The Case Against Summer Vacation (had to bring this back) - read the article before deciding
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But then how do address the fact that poor kids lose two months work of reading on average during the summer and kids of all income brackets lose math skills. I don't even see it as more school as opposed to reallocating how the hours are used. Use time more efficiently, keep them in class less because at a certain point people just zone out and don't give them 3 straight months of doing nothing. People are taking it the wrong way or not fully getting the alternatives. This would just be one part of a larger process. I'd link an article on Finland, but no one wants to read all that.
I wouldn't be opposed to school year round with shorter days and a good week or two of break each season. But my larger point is that the entire school system needs an overhaul before we start talking how much time should/shouldn't be spent in school.
It sounds trite, but its too damn hot. A lot of schools don't have air conditioning, and building get unbearable in the summer. Kids would be falling out left and right, and installing AC would be tremendously expensive on top of that fact that year round schooling would compound the budget across the boards. District can barely afford to staff their buildings as it is.
The biggest impediment to US education is that parents feel they have no responsibility in educating their children. They think being in school for 6 hours a day is th end all, be all of their kids education. In reality, education shouldn't simply stop over summer vacation. Its still a parents job to make sure their kids are reading and what not.
You can tell in an instant the kids whose parents push education at home, and those that don't. Unfortunately, most don't.
The biggest impediment to US education is that parents feel they have no responsibility in educating their children. They think being in school for 6 hours a day is th end all, be all of their kids education. In reality, education shouldn't simply stop over summer vacation. Its still a parents job to make sure their kids are reading and what not.
You can tell in an instant the kids whose parents push education at home, and those that don't. Unfortunately, most don't.
Perhaps, but I think that's deflecting we can all multitask here. If anyone actually cares about Finland's system and part of why they're whipping our ass: Why Are Finland's Schools Successful? | People & Places | Smithsonian Magazine
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Okay now that I've actually read the article (thx @Liquid for shaming me into it) I think the people quoted in the article have the right idea. Extending a failing school for another month is pretty pointless. I've taught in a failing school. Not a worthwhile idea.
But there is much to be gained if we can develop some kind of effective curriculum outside of the public school system that kids can go to in the summer for enrichment. At least half days for 6 weeks would be better than the status quo. Still gives kids 4 more weeks to play in creeks, hopscotch or play video games or whatever.
Whatever proves effective at closing the achievement gap I will support.
But there is much to be gained if we can develop some kind of effective curriculum outside of the public school system that kids can go to in the summer for enrichment. At least half days for 6 weeks would be better than the status quo. Still gives kids 4 more weeks to play in creeks, hopscotch or play video games or whatever.
Whatever proves effective at closing the achievement gap I will support.
Brown_Pride
All Star
TLDR...rather skimmed it. GOt the gist of it. 
We need to keep things as is but during the summer have "summer camps"....at school where the teacher are "teaching" art, sports, camping, woodshop, etc, etc.
American "creativity" honestly is not tangible but is something that we place far to little value on.
On top of that for trouble kids a whole 2 months of "free time" is not a good thing in a lot of cases, particularly when their neighborhoods aren't that great to begin with.
Keeping them in a "camp" type setting provides structure, something all kids need, but not so much structure that it's constrictive...
Basically during the summer the kids should be at the boys and girls club... that's the type of setting i'm thinking. Where they are being taught "life lessons" but also having fun.
Keep summer, just provide something for kids to do.
We need to keep things as is but during the summer have "summer camps"....at school where the teacher are "teaching" art, sports, camping, woodshop, etc, etc.
American "creativity" honestly is not tangible but is something that we place far to little value on.
On top of that for trouble kids a whole 2 months of "free time" is not a good thing in a lot of cases, particularly when their neighborhoods aren't that great to begin with.
Keeping them in a "camp" type setting provides structure, something all kids need, but not so much structure that it's constrictive...
Basically during the summer the kids should be at the boys and girls club... that's the type of setting i'm thinking. Where they are being taught "life lessons" but also having fun.
Keep summer, just provide something for kids to do.
Won't let me vote either
how about now?
Sounds like even more reason to not let them fall behind to me. Poorer kids lose the most during the summer in reading whereas affluent kids don't. Everybody loses in math (need to read up on why).
I see what you're saying, but I tend to think that the government cant solve everything. If American parents want to neglect their responsibilities as parents then their children are going to be less educated.
AquaCityBoy
Veteran
Tell me more about how we don't need calculus. 
TLDR...rather skimmed it. GOt the gist of it.
We need to keep things as is but during the summer have "summer camps"....at school where the teacher are "teaching" art, sports, camping, woodshop, etc, etc.
American "creativity" honestly is not tangible but is something that we place far to little value on.
On top of that for trouble kids a whole 2 months of "free time" is not a good thing in a lot of cases, particularly when their neighborhoods aren't that great to begin with.
Keeping them in a "camp" type setting provides structure, something all kids need, but not so much structure that it's constrictive...
Basically during the summer the kids should be at the boys and girls club... that's the type of setting i'm thinking. Where they are being taught "life lessons" but also having fun.
Keep summer, just provide something for kids to do.
But how is that not what we do now? @BarNone correct me if I'm wrong, but what was the difference between the Summer programs in the article and the current Summer camps available for kids + mandatory summer school that kids not up to par have to go to?
From my perspective, the success of the programs in the article had to do with the people running it.
Brown_Pride
All Star
Right now my kids on on summer break, they get to stay home (granted we put them in things...expensive things
) point is school should be year round normal school AND THEN during the summer more "extra curricular" type activities. Kids can go to camp, but they need to pay for them and they are voluntary. Make it so they HAVE TO be there just like they HAVE TO be there for normal school. As a kid I had a couple of summer camp type things paid for by either church, YMCA, or "donors" etc. Shyt was some of the best times I had as a kid.
Big up to Kids Across America
http://www.kidsacrossamerica.org/
Not even from a spiritual level but just a "fun as shyt level" ALL kids IMHO should experience something like this, even if it's "space camp".
From 5th grade on I was in school year round. During the summer the highschool i received a scholarship to go to had a summer program for inner city kids, very hands on types of things it was school but not really.
Let's be honest our schools now suck. adding more months to that will not change that fact. Kids need creativity.
