The Schedule of the Traditional School Year
The traditional model for public and private schooling in the U.S. allows for 180 days of school with an extended summer break. This calendar was designed back when the U.S.A.'s population consisted of mostly rural farmers. Back then farmers needed the assistance of their sons and daughters for help with summer work around the farm. However; today much of farming is automated and preformed by large machines, mitigating the need for the extra farm laborers provided by this summer gap. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2010) 80.7% of the population now lives in urban areas. Since the majority of us no longer live in rural farmland, this shows that we are no longer the agricultural system that this school system was built for.
Today, the traditional school year offers a long summer vacation for the student to get a job, send in applications, have an extended family vacation, or simply have fun and be a kid. This extended break is seen as a much needed relaxer for students and teachers alike.
Today, the traditional school year offers a long summer vacation for the student to get a job, send in applications, have an extended family vacation, or simply have fun and be a kid. This extended break is seen as a much needed relaxer for students and teachers alike.