A mum has sparked a huge online debate after suggesting schools get rid of their long summer holidays and operate more like a ‘regular workplace’.
Sharing her thoughts on parenting forum Mumsnet, the mum claimed long breaks should be shelved so schools can open 52 weeks a year like any other workplace.
She also suggested a four-week holiday allowance so teachers and students are able to decide themselves when they want time off.
She explained: ‘Just musing and wondering why we don't just do away with [long school holidays] entirely?'
‘Run schools like a regular workplace in that they operate 52 weeks of the year, teachers and students to get 4 weeks allocated holiday allowance per year and parents can use this at their discretion. Staff would be able to be more flexible and they would have more time in the year to teach children at a more realistic pace?
‘Am I missing why this isn't a genius idea?’
Despite the mum's conviction, many people failed to agree, claiming children would ‘burn out’ without having an extensive summer break from school.
One said: ‘It's a terrible idea because children need time away from school to pursue their own interests, to develop socially, to rest and relax. Intensive year-round schooling would cause them to completely burn out and would deny them the opportunities to experience life outside of the school room.’
Another added: ‘Its a horrible idea… Children deserve and probably need long periods of freedom and no responsibilities.’
Another user pointed out the problems that could arise if teachers and students were able to go on holiday whenever they wanted to.
One user said: 'I fancy taking my holidays in the run up to GCSE. Your kid is in Year 11. Still keen on the idea?'
However, there were a few parents who agreed that something should be done about schools holiday system.
One said: ‘I actually think you're right in that we should have schools operate in such a way that children and teachers aren't utterly exhausted at the end of term. There's also a lot of evidence that the long summer holiday is detrimental.'
Another user agreed and said: 'I would be in favour of shortening the summer break and distributing those weeks elsewhere in the year.’
What do you think? Would you shorten school summer holidays if you could in favour of breaks for children elsewhere in the year? Or do you think kids need the traditional long break from the classroom? Let us know your views in the comments below!
