Students can imagine the hallways being filled throughout their four years of high school. Photo by: Michaela Moreno

By Michaela Moreno

Imagine going to school for nine weeks and then getting three weeks off. That is the most typical representation of year round schooling.

Going to school year round has different definitions. Freshman Cheyenne McIntire explains her definition of year round schooling using the Rochester schedule as an example. “It’s where you go to school for six weeks then get two weeks off. Plus your summer vacation,” explains McIntire. Sophomore Nate Mahan’s example was a little different. Mahan explains “year round schooling as going to school all year round, with a little break here and there, every nine weeks.” Mahan also explains how summer vacation would be shorter than it typically is because of the breaks in between schooling.

Since Plymouth High School does not have school in session all year round, it is interesting to know that some of its students are acquainted with people who do attend school year round. Freshman Samantha Grant’s sister actually went to school year round. “She liked it because everyday she would be able to learn something new, but after awhile she just wanted it to end,” clarified Grant. Grant’s fellow classmate, McIntire, also knows many who go to a school where their education session is year round. According to her, “they go to Rochester and they like it,” including her sister and two brothers who all loved it.

Although student’s family and friends seem to enjoy year round schooling, PHS students are not hesitant to point out its flaws. Sophomore Benjamin Lapp theorizes that a lot of students would not be able to focus with school being year round. Grant’s theory is a little similar, but different nonetheless. “Kids might work less because they’re tired and staff might be less strict because they’re tired,” explains Grant. Junior Jessica Group points out that “Kids would miss out on going to summer camps or vacations.”  This  would be a major downfall for those students that have a summer routine that involves either activity. In a more professional manner, Mahan rationalizes about the “Cost of maintaining the facility year round [and how it] would increase with more school time.” Another negative outcome, to Mahan, is that “kids would get tired of school all year round. Summer break is the favorite part of the year for most because it’s just a time to unwind, and I think it should be 10 weeks like the normal school schedule.” McIntire is the only one who did not see any  downfall in year round schooling.

Even though year round schooling has its negative qualities,  students saw good outcomes of it as well. Grant believes that with year round schooling, “more kids would be staying in school,” leading to a “better percentage of graduates.” Besides better graduation rates, students would also learn more. At least that is how Group and Mahan both see year round schooling in a positive way. “Students wouldn’t forget the stuff they learned the year before over the summer,” explains Group. McIntire, on the other hand, points out the two weeks that students would be getting off. She explains that those two weeks could be spent with family or friends from anywhere.

If Plymouth High School were to be in session year round, students would have many varying reactions. Junior Randa Jones would be stunned and unsure of what to do if it ever came down to going to school year round. Mahan would be the same way but he reveals that he would most likely give it a shot. He would not know for sure unless he were put in that position. Lapp would be upset because he feels that students “need to have a break from school and be able to enjoy [themselves].” Grant feels that if PHS turned to year round schooling she would most likely cry or transfer to Marian. She believes that she would cry because she would then have no breaks to see her family who live in Illinois. Grant’s next option would be to “transfer to Marian because Marian doesn’t have year round schooling and [she] was supposed to go there anyways.” McIntire believes that if she attended PHS all year round she would enjoy school more.

Grant feels that while year round schooling may look good in parents’ eyes, they are not the students. “When they were in school they didn’t have as strict rules as we do,” explained Grant. Besides the whole idea of year round schooling sounding ridiculous to Grant, she also thinks that both students and staff need breaks. Mahan feels the same way. “I like the normal schedule how it is and hope we don’t ever go to year round schooling, at least while I’m here,” said Mahan.