¶ … Round Schooling -- a solution or a slogan?
"More is better,' is an ethos that is often frowned upon by parents and teachers alike when it comes to, for example, chocolate or recess. However, when it comes to year 'round schooling, even some school administrators are inclined to blanch at the prospect, according to Ann McGlynn of the Journal of the School Administrator. In her March 2002 article on the subject, she notes how the cherished institution of summer vacations came under attack on one Kentucky school district known as Bardstown. But because of poor performance, changing the district's five schools to a year-round calendar seemed to be the only logical route for the princple at the time. He decided to break up vacations "into smaller pieces and offer remedial and enrichment activities during those shorter breaks." (McGlynn, 2002, p.1)
The principle made his decision ten years ago. Since then, "the 1,800-student district located 40 miles southeast of Louisville has a higher ACT composite score, a higher percentage of seniors attending college, fewer discipline referrals to the office and a lower dropout rate." (McGlynn, 2002, p.1) Ironically, the most strenouous...
Once the principle got the coaches on board, convincing them of the athletic as well as the academic merits of year 'round schooling everyone in the district was willing. Even the principle, however, stresses that such a decision is a local decision, and he does not advocate it for all districts. (McGlynn, 2002, p.2-3) Another Rhode Island elementaryschool district embarking upon a similar plan in 2001 placed copies of research promoting year-round schooling throughout the community to inform residents of the pros and cons of year-round education."We said if the community does not want to do this, we won't," said the principal. (McGlynn, 2002, p.1) They did, and soon beachballs were hanging from the rafters of the kindergarden in July.
Although the Kentucky-football mad ethos of the Bardsville town may not be universal to all districts, its example, as well as the educational success stories of other formerly failing districts does highlight the importance of a community's collective willingness to change and…
