Should the school year be extended?

Pro: An uninterrupted education is better for students. With a year-round school year, they would have more continuity in learning.

Pro: The nine-month school year was instituted for reasons that no longer apply in most communities in America: Workers were needed on the farms at harvest time, and families relied upon children of school age to help at home from June through August. Very few children in the U. S. need to assist their families in this way any more.

Con: A year-long school schedule would interfere with plans some families have for vacations. If children in a particular family attend different schools with different vacation schedules, families will have difficulties when they try to plan time away together. Moreover, some recreational facilities that are only open in the summer will not be available to students who have to go to school the year round.

Con: Costs for extending the school year would be high. Salaries need to be paid to teachers, secretaries, maintenance people. Public schools would need to get more money from the taxpayers. Private schools would have to get more money from parents.

Pro: Were the school year extended from nine to twelve months, there will be a more cost-effective use of school buildings.

Con: Some businesses would suffer a loss of revenue. Certain recreational facilities can be open only during the summer, and, if school is in session during that time, students will not have the opportunity to take advantage of them. Some businesses are opposed to schools being open the year round.

Pro: The year-round school year will keep some of the juveniles prone to crime off the streets.