PARENTS: Is vacation hurting our kids?

Is summer vacation hurting more than it’s helping? A recent Time magazine article suggests that our typical three-month summer vacation from school is an outdated leftover from our agrarian past when kids were needed in the fields during growing season. And educators say that many students lose some of what they learn over vacation, dubbing it the “brain drain” or “summer slide.” A study at Johns Hopkins University found that disadvantaged students who can’t afford enrichment camps, lost even more ground and by the end of elementary school, had fallen nearly three grade levels behind.

Students in other countries have less vacation as well, leading experts to suggest students in countries working by  3 months summer vacation model,  will be less competitive in the global marketplace. For instance in Japan, children had only one month off from school a year. The long break also is an issue for many working parents, who are forced to put their kids in camp programs or daycare or work out an arrangement with a babysitter or relative.

On the other hand some think that taking vacation is one of the most important needs of each student. They claim that taking one long vacation each year has more benefits for the student rather than tanking several short vacations throughout the year, because they allows students to relax more and to go on long vacation or trip with their families or their friends, especially in summer, as they enjoy without thinking about the time. Which it is not the case in a short vacation when students worry about they will missing a lot of pleasant things because they do not have much time. For instance Ziad an elementary school student declared: “In short vacation such as Eid al-Fitr, or half-year break;  we usually make family visits, play football, watch TV, or go out with friends. Nothing important to do like revising or preparing for the next semester.”

Short or long vacation, does not matter. The importance is to take advantage from the free time.

Thus far current educational trends have proven that education must be a continual learning process.  In order for the experience to extend beyond the 9 month school year, it is imperative that our learners continue to exercise their skills through the Summer Reading Program.  Students are becoming year round learners with responsibilities to not only their family and friends, but also to their continuing education and their future. Which the opinion of Susan a university “Books are always between my hands, I even study in the holidays, especially textbooks. For me it is a necessity to raise interest in sciences, but  this does not prevent me from having fun sometimes.” She says.

However, many students do not think of opening a book throughout all the vacation, which was confirmed by Wasim a high school student: “the vacation is not made for studying or reviewing, it is  originally for entertainment and relaxing.” Jumana  also confirms: “I prefer regeneration and entertainment during the holiday to give the mind time to renew.”

Research has shown a direct correlation between reading and improved vocabulary and writing skills, increased comprehension, higher standardized test scores, greater global awareness, and overall academic achievement.  These skills are the benchmarks for well rounded, productive individuals. But student like Louay, who is also an elementary school student avowed: “In the first days of vacation, I am determined to read or revise, but this determination is soon fading with the earliest chance of hanging out with friends. So compensation of accumulated materials to be reviewed, becomes out of scope.”

As from educational experts perspective, Miss Rabab an  educational councilor stated: “  balance is required in all human life faces, so student must take advantage of their free time by reading or reviewing, as well as enjoying hobbies to regain energy and vitality. Since a mental and physical equilibrium is always required, especially on vacations to make successful comebacks.”

The hard part is we all grew up with summer vacation and there’s certainly a romantic aura about it, that people would not want to give up. But for many children, it’s a time of boredom, inactivity and isolation. Sure it give families a chance to take a long vacation, but many families can’t afford that in this economy, and kids end up spending their summer in front of the TV.

Firas Taleb

Edited & translated by: Lama Al-Hassanieh