My school district wants to change the school year format.
Currently, our school year begins at around September 2-7, and classes end around June 15, with provincial exams lasting until about June 25.
What they want to do is make summer vacation around 2 weeks shorter, and stick those two weeks of vacation into October.
There's some supporters, and some naysayers (for lack of a better word...)
On the pros side, we won't forget as nuch over summer... apparently. However, that doesn't really change much due to the semester system we are using.
Say in grade 10, you have English semester 1. Then, in grade 11, you have English semester 2. You end English in January 2010, and start english next year in February 2011. So this won't make us forget less in that regard.
There are a bunch of pros/cons. Has your school district discussed/implemented this? What is your opinion on the balanced school year?
That makes no sense. Why block the 2 weeks in October? Why not have them spread out over the year? One week 1st term and the second week in the 2nd term. Or just leave it. In the end it's only 2 weeks and it makes no real difference.
I love the idea, although I agree with wolf putting both weeks in October is odd. Why not increase the length of spring break by one week and put the other week break in October?
I love the idea, although I agree with wolf putting both weeks in October is odd. Why not increase the length of spring break by one week and put the other week break in October?
Seems like it evens out the time off from school, as well as ensuring that there are no overlong breaks which are proven to reduce information retention.
I think it's a step in the right direction. I actually prefer the Japanese model in which school goes year-round. They do get some short breaks throughout the year, but nothing like we do here in the US.
I think it's a step in the right direction. I actually prefer the Japanese model in which school goes year-round. They do get some short breaks throughout the year, but nothing like we do here in the US.
Is the total break time the same?
we have an exchange student from China who explained that his schooling is year round with a similar amount of breaks but that their days are twice as long but if you don't have a class you can go home for the periods. I kind of like the idea because it allows the option for more educational freedom while still giving the same amount of free time.
No it's not. I believe overall they go to school for a longer period of time per day and have fewer days off. However they do have more time between classes, so the hours per diem in class may be quite close.
* Second week in April: School begins * May 3: Constitution Memorial Day * May 5: Children's Day * End of July through the end of August: Summer vacation * September 15: Respect-for-the-Aged Day * September 23 (or 24): Autumnal Equinox Day * October 10: Health-Sports Day * November 3: Culture Day * November 23: Labor Thanksgiving Day * December 23: Emperor's Birthday * December 25 through January 7: Winter vacation * January 15: Adults' Day * February 11: National Foundation Day * March 21 (or 20): Vernal Equinox Day * Third week in March: School ends, and spring vacation begins
Japans school calendar.
Personally I would like to have year long school with 2 to 4 week breaks interspersed within. This would eliminate so much of that utter blankness when I come back to school of three months of well... killing pixels.
I believe we here have a mere 6-7 weeks of vacation at the end of the year. The other 6-7 weeks is distributed between three end of term breaks. I like it. Also, Japan is a different story altogether despite it being much more eh... Gives us less reason to complain.
If I want to decide the school calendar. Well, I rather have 3 months off instead of 2. Also, Christmas Break should be 2 weeks instead of 10-12 days. (Depending what state you live)
I like this idea of splitting it up because I forget everything during the long break, but I thought that most people were just trying to cut vacation time without redistributing it. I also heard that there are plans to extend schooldays and eliminate weekends, but maybe those are just rumors. Either way, if they did cut vacation, weekends, and extend the hours I think that me and everyone my age would go apeshit. Its not like we'll use half of the crap we'll learn in real life (math = useless).
