The Mycenaean

All schools want what’s best for their students. This means figuring out a well balanced and manageable schedule for the students, as well as teachers. 

There are two different types of schedules to pick from:  traditional or year- round. The traditional school year runs from late August through June with a long summer break. In contrast, year round schools have shorter, more frequent breaks throughout the year instead of one long break.

For students who have experienced both, the debate over which schedule is better is very controversial. Opinions differ, depending on individuals preferences, workloads, and extracurriculars. 

In a year-round school system, the school year is divided into about 3 or 4 different schedules called ¨tracks.¨ Instead of a long summer break, students go to school for 45 days and take a 15 day break. These breaks are spread throughout the year, giving students a shortened summer but 4 evenly balanced breaks.

The goal of year-round schooling is to prevent students from forgetting what they’ve learned over the summer. The frequent breaks also allow for more flexible learning opportunities. It’s a schedule designed to give consistent engagement with schooling.

The traditional school calendar has been the standard for generations. Students attend school for approximately nine months, with a few teacher workdays spread throughout the year. This gives them the opportunity to enjoy a long, three-month summer break. During the summer, students can rest, travel, or engage in non-school activities like internships or part time jobs. 

¨I’ve always enjoyed having the whole summer off, it gives me a chance to take a break from school, spend time with my family, and do other things that I can’t do during the school year,¨ said Alyssa Joseph, sophomore.

For students like Alyssa, the long summer break is a mental reset. They believe this break helps them return to school feeling refreshed and ready to work. The extended time off is seen as necessary to balance the heavy workload during the year.

On the other hand, some students argue that the year-round schooling provides better consistency. ¨I think year round school would be a lot better for keeping up with schoolwork. The shorter breaks means I’m losing focus for months at a time,¨ said David Furr, sophomore. 

Supporters of year round school believe it reduces academic downtime. This method helps students retain more of what they learn throughout the year. Instead of trying to catch up after summer break, year-round students stay engaged in their studies.

¨I really like how year-round school breaks are spaced out. It doesn’t feel like you have to go months without a break,¨ said Rhyan Sauls, freshman. She finds that frequent, shorter breaks help her stay focused and less overwhelmed.

The steady pace of year round schooling allows students to avoid burnout. Frequent breaks allow students to relax without losing their academic momentum. This steady rhythm makes the year manageable.

However, many students prefer the traditional schedule for other reasons. ¨It’s hard ro make plans when you have to worry about aligning schedules with siblings or friends,¨ said Tyler Mcinnis, sophomore.

Mcinnis’s opinion highlights the issues of planning vacations with other people during shorter breaks and different schedules. The unpredictability of breaks can make it difficult for students to commit to long term summer plans. Families may struggle planning vacations when one kid is year round and the other is traditional.

The question of which school schedule is better depends on personal preferences. Year-round schooling offers academic consistency and prevents long breaks that can lead to forgetfulness. Traditional school schedules, however, offer more extended breaks that help students recharge emotionally and mentally.

The debate between traditional and year round schooling remains a matter of personal preference. There are pros and cons to each schedule, depending on the needs and lifestyle of individual students. As schools continue to explore different methods of scheduling, student voices can help shape the future of education.