The End of the Long Summer Break
The traditional summer holiday should be shortened
Summer is long. So very long. A few weeks in and everyone begins to feel as though they have been out of school for a lifetime. On the one hand are the children who hit a wall of boredom somewhere amidst a cobbled-together schedule of outings, playdates, camps, and family vacations. On the other hand are the frazzled parents who work tirelessly to keep their kids both occupied and interested as they juggle their own work and household requirements.
The origins of the long school break are multifold. And interestingly, not actually a result of the agrarian calendar as many of us believe. Historically, children in rural areas of the US were in school mainly in winter and summer as they were needed to plant in spring and harvest in autumn. Meanwhile, in urban areas, schools were largely open year-round. However, as very hot summers and no air conditioning made it difficult to sit in classrooms, many wealthier families began to head to cooler locations outside of the city, which led to a summer break. By the late 19th century, the school calendar was standardized across rural and urban areas to include the long summer break we see today.
On an international level, most countries of the world do still have summer breaks, but their lengths vary dramatically. In the US, summer holiday varies among states but is generally a gap of 8–10 weeks between school years. In the UK, students receive a summer break of around six weeks for state school pupils but seven or more weeks for those in private schools. Contrast this with India which has summer recess of two to six weeks for most students, or Japan where the typically six-week summer break features within the same school year.
Understandably, the length of the summer break is not the only factor in the amount of education a child receives because hours in each school day and total school days per academic year are also important. Top performing nations like Japan and South Korea have students in class well over 200 days a year. High-performing Finland, with a short school day of only five hours, is an exception with students capped at 190 days in school annually and a long summer break of around 10 weeks. Interestingly, while US schools are only open around 180 days annually today, in the mid-19th century New York City schools were open around 250 days a year!
This is not to say that more time in class is ultimately better. It is really a question of how school time is used and whether the students are actively engaged. But what we do know is that less overall time in school often means less socialisation and unfortunately for many, lowered nutrition and intellectual stimulation. Children of means may flourish and charge ahead during the summer, but many other children struggle to maintain their current academic levels or even slide backward. An autumn catch-up period is thus required upon return from the summer holiday to reset students.
A respite from the rush and routine of the academic year certainly has its merits. It gives children a break from academic pressure, social conflict, and bullying. It also allows for delving into competitive sports, immersing oneself in a language, or just being creative when bored. International families who live far away can finally visit one another. And of course, teachers and school staff get a well-deserved break and a chance to train and prepare for the next year.
However, two to three months is simply too long for “rest and exploration.” It places undue stress on parents, who are already under tremendous pressure during the academic year, to supplement school and manage childcare. The long break also pushes teachers to quickly get all students back on track upon their return in the autumn. Most critically, the tradition of long a summer heavily favours students of means over those who are less fortunate. These underprivileged students are almost certain to fall behind over the course of several weeks.
I advocate for a shorter summer holiday break and ultimately more days in the classroom for countries like the US and the UK. If the total amount of days cannot be altered, then perhaps interspersing short breaks throughout the year is a better option. Either way, more momentum is required for children to achieve better academic outcomes.
Summer is a time of great fun and great memories for so many children. But it doesn’t have to be endless.
