Summer: 15 Days or 2 1/2 Months?
The final bell rings. It’s the last day of school, and summer has finally come! Students don’t have to think about school for at least another 2 1/2 months. That is the way it should always be. Schools should continue using the traditional calendar and not a year-round schedule. There are numerous downsides to year-round schooling. It has no positive effects on education, it adds to costs, and it disrupts the long-awaited summer vacation.
Contrary to the well-accepted belief, year-round schooling has no constructive impact on education. Most year-round schedules use the 45-15 method: 45 days of school followed by 15 days off. Because of this, there are many first and last days of school. All those transitions disrupt the learning process. Also, there is no evidence of higher test scores. Due to that, many schools that change to year-round schedules end up switching back. For example, since 1980, 95 percent of schools that tried the year-round schedule changed back to a traditional calendar. It is obvious that changing to year-round schooling does not help students; therefore, why is the change necessary?
Like any other facility, keeping a school open requires a great deal of money. When a school changes to a year-round schedule, the costs skyrocket. Keeping school open in the middle of summer requires air conditioning, and that adds significantly to the school’s expenses. The usual utility bills grow because of the additional open-school time. Finally, teachers must be paid for all the weeks they are working. With all these factors, the cost of keeping schools open becomes immensely high. For example, a high school in Arizona had a cost increase of $157,000 when they switched to year-round schooling. Some schools may not be able to handle such increases, and other schools that can handle these expenses could be doing better things with the money. Is year-round school really where the money should go?
An important part of a child’s life is summertime. With year-round schedules, students would hardly have any time to relax. During the 15-day breaks, they would be thinking about their quick return to school. It would also be difficult to coordinate family vacations with parents’ work schedules. Similarly, children would not be able to go to most summer camps. One expert, Dr. Peter Scales, says, “The biggest plus of camp is that camps help young people discover and explore their talents, interests, and values. Most schools don’t satisfy all these needs. Kids who have these kinds of [camp] experiences end up being healthier and have fewer problems.” Obviously, the summer is crucial to a child’s learning and development. Why should this invaluable part of a young person’s life be taken away?
It is evident that year-round schooling is not the best option for the school calendar. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the traditional school year. Why change something that works so well? The final bell rings. Let’s make sure this bell means that the “real” summer vacation has come.
Student Model
It’s How You Give It Away
These days, people are making a lot of money. Many people are able to do it. For example, Nicholas Lovejoy of the technology industry became extremely wealthy at an early age. He didn’t even have to create the company that brought him fabulous wealth; he just worked there. He was in the right place at the right time.
Many of the new-rich seem surprised by their good fortune. Lovejoy is one of them. “It doesn’t seem fair that anybody could get this lucky,” he says. “So I feel like now I’m responsible for handling it well and putting it to good use.” Some people claim that they have become wealthy through hard work alone and have no responsibility to share their fortunes. However, by benefiting from an economic climate conducive to entrepreneurial success, these people are indebted to society for “making it.” Many successful people agree. People like Lovejoy, Jeff Bezos, and Rob Glaser, executives of technology companies, have become involved in what is called venture philanthropy. To maximize their contributions to worthy causes, these people are now setting up nonprofit organizations that will have far-reaching effects.
The big question for these people is how to put their money to the best use. In the past, many philanthropists aimed for quick results. They may have built a shelter
for the homeless or donated money for disaster relief. These are noble causes that relieve immediate suffering, but the long-term effects are limited. I urge today’s philanthropists to search instead for more creative ways to make their donations keep on working. There are so many ways to make a difference in society. They can find unlimited opportunities to improve the standard of living, to promote equality, and to ensure a heightened quality of life for people.
The new venture philanthropists generally agree on this point. Rob Glaser says, “I am focused on making the greatest and deepest long-term impact, and not necessarily doing something that has an immediate impact but only scratches the surface.” That’s a blueprint for change with real-world examples. To protect a forest in Washington, a group of venture philanthropists recently raised $13.1 million. A successful technology marketing officer has established a nonprofit foundation to provide support for women who want to enter high-tech industries. By contributing to various environmental organizations, the sustainable use of natural resources is being addressed.
Having realized that great wealth carries with it great responsibility, the world needs to look for meaningful ways to make a difference. I believe these people should invest in projects that will continue to produce positive results for many years to come.
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