For kids, summer vacation is a dream come true. The warm days seem to go on forever, and trips to the beach, playing outdoor games with neighbors, and even watching cartoons in the middle of the day are the fun summer stuff that memories are made from.
For parents, however, summer vacation can be a financial and emotional drag, especially by this time of the season when the novelty has worn off and it seems the kids are doing more bickering than they are playing. Hence, year-round schools might sounds like a great idea.
There are 12 year-round Milwaukee Public Schools, including Milwaukee Education Center, Hawthorne, River Trail and Urban Waldorf. These schools have trimesters instead of semesters, and three breaks throughout the school year. They are closed for the entire month of July.
Does this sound like a good idea? Should all schools operate on a year-round schedule?
Yes, year-round schools are better for everyone. Year-round schools keep the learning process more fluid. The summer learning gap makes it more difficult for kids to "get with the program" in September. It's less of a financial drain for working parents who have to shell out big money for babysitters and day camps, and for stay-at-home parents, long summer vacations can be an emotional challenge and complete test of patience.
No, year-round schools are not the answer. Extended summer vacation is a lot of fun, and kids deserve to have this experience. Some studies show that there is no difference between the achievements of kids in year-round schools and kids in 9-month programs, so it's more of a convenience for working parents than it's ideal for kids. Plus, kids need a long, relaxing break from the pressures of academia.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
