Are summer holidays now a washout? Is it time to change the timing of the hols?
AND so it begins. Mournfully they shuffle through the city in their crisp new school shirts – the school children of Bristol looking more like they have been condemned to death rather than simply returning to their classrooms.
With summer over, and September here, it is time for the miniature Bristolians across the city to get back to the important things in life, like algebra and past-participles.
We all remember the grim feeling of starting a new school year, with pencils neatly sharpened, but with the mind gently dulled by the long lazy days of summer.
But perhaps it's time we reassessed our annual school summer holidays entirely?
It has become the accepted norm that they should run from July to September – historically to coincide with the harvest and the hottest days of summer when even the most diligent students would struggle to work.
But how many children here in Bristol go home for the summer to help their father on the family farm? And more relevant still, hasn't anyone noticed that August is no longer the warmest month?
Scientists say the onset of the British summer has become increasingly early in the last 50 years, consistent with global warming.
According to a new study, the English summer arrives some 18 days sooner than during the late 1950s.
Academics from Sheffield University examined temperature records of central England over recent decades, together with observations of 140 types of summer flowering plant, such as geraniums and roses, and when they came into bloom.
To determine the onset of summer, they looked for the third day of each year when average temperatures reached 14C.
That may sound distinctly chilly for summer, but comfortably allows for daytime temperatures above 20C.
According to the analysis, summer now arrives in the first week of May.
Records show that in the period 1954-1963, the average date for the third such day was May 25.
By the 1990s, it had shifted forwards to May 14. By 1998-2007, on average, summer arrived on May 7. These days, we tend to get warm weeks in May and June, with a cooler, damper July and August.
But if we were to look at changing the annual summer holiday, maybe we should look at scrapping it altogether?
Two years ago the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) claimed the long holiday should be scrapped because it harms children's education, especially those from more disadvantaged families.
Research by the think-tank suggested that pupils suffer from "summer learning loss" during the long break, losing vital reading and writing skills.
But the institute's call for the school year to be divided into five eight-week terms, with a fortnight's holiday between each — two terms before Christmas, and three after – have so far gone unheeded.
Sonia Sodha, who worked as a research fellow with the IPPR on the 2008 study, said: "There have been many positive gains in education over the past decade, but in recent years results have plateaued.
"If we are serious about continuing to improve outcomes for all children, we need long-term reform that better gears our school system around the needs of children and young people.
"Children's well-being is fundamental to their learning. At the moment there is a very long autumn term. Teachers talk about the phenomenon of children getting burnt out towards Christmas."
Launching her own London-based summer schools in July, Bristol mum and former Countdown presenter Carol Vorderman, said: "The loss of maths learning for children over the summer break is a huge problem for children and teachers.
"Children will practise their English skills over the holidays without even realising it, simply by reading a book. However, with Maths there is far less opportunity to practice.
"So by September, many children will have reverted to the attainment they had back at Easter, instead of progressing forward."
9 Comments
by Teacher, Peering over my glasses at you.
Sunday, September 05 2010, 10:05AM
“"Mournfully they shuffle through the city in their crisp new school shirts, the school children of Bristol looking more like they have been condemned to death rather than simply returning to their classrooms."
That's a piece of quite colourful, imaginative prose.
For crying out loud, this is simply NOT how it was. I dropped my children off at school and ecveryone was laughing and joking - glad to see there friends after the summer break and looking forward to school.
"Shuffling", "condemned to death", "dulled minds", "mournful". Shocking journalism - reporting something that blatently didn't happen in a majority of casses.
Hmm; I think perhaps you should have joined them Jon, Outside Bristol. . You show plenty of passion, but your spelling certainly wouldn't pass muster, even at the evening post.”
by John, Bristol
Saturday, September 04 2010, 2:31PM
“Yes, it is time to rethink school holidays.
The original reason, I believe, for a long summer school holiday was in order for children to work on the farm at a time when they were used extensively to augment the labour force. That reason has gone, along with much of our farming industry.
The school year should be broken up into four periods with, perhaps, shorter breaks in between - to account for half terms.
This would give children a better insight into the real world that we hope they will aspire to on leaving education.
The practise of 'in school training days' for staff should take place during school holidays as this practise deprives children of a days education.
I may be old and my memory going but I cannot remember having days off for such in school training. Neither, other than playing in the local fields during holidays, can I remember ever helping to gather in the corn ......”
by Anon, Posted from my iPhone
Friday, September 03 2010, 6:26PM
“If the school holidays were in June, it would rain in June. Does the BEP know nothing about the Laws of Nature?
The Hedgehog”
by steve, bristol
Friday, September 03 2010, 5:08PM
“same old evening post dribble imo the summer this year has been good weather wise”
by lord m, bstl
Friday, September 03 2010, 2:42PM
“@Dan,,, i don't normally get anal about typos, but Prost was a racing driver.”
by Shelly, Bristol
Friday, September 03 2010, 2:08PM
“Personally I'd like to see longer holidays in the winter when the days are dark and cold. and shorter summer hols when the days are longer and the kids can play out and relax for longer after school. It also baffles me a bit as to why most people go abroad in the warmest part of the year!”
by Martyn, Bristol
Friday, September 03 2010, 1:12PM
“...and no doubt the roads will be crammed with cars back on the school run. I have noticed many areas around Bristol being far less congested over the last two months and it feeling much safer to cycle on the road.”
by Dan, South Gloucestershire
Friday, September 03 2010, 11:11AM
“Dear Pulitzer Committee,
I would like to nominate the Bristol Evening Post for the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing, specifically for their article "Summer Holidays Washout". To give you a flavour of the standard of journalism, allow me to quote from the aforementioned article:
AND so it begins. Mournfully they shuffle through the city in their crisp new school shirts ¿ the school children of Bristol looking more like they have been condemned to death rather than simply returning to their classrooms.
And:
With summer over, and September here, it is time for the miniature Bristolians across the city to get back to the important things in life, like algebra and past-participles.
Clearly taking inspiration from modern literary greats such as Prost, Joyce, and Hemmingway, the sadly anonymous author of this piece uses similar styles but distilled to the point of simplicity, therefore making his or her work vastly more accessible to the public. The underlying subject matter, "how to convey a story of national interest into one of local" is obviously tough and challenging and it is clear from the writing that the author has not found this to be insurmountable This is evidenced by the inclusion of a quotation of a press release from local superstar Carol Vorderman, MBE no less.
I urge you to consider this nomination favourably.
Yours faithfully,
Dan”
by Jon, Outside Bristol
Friday, September 03 2010, 10:06AM
“*"Mournfully they shuffle through the city in their crisp new school shirts ¿ the school children of Bristol looking more like they have been condemned to death rather than simply returning to their classrooms."*
For crying out loud, this is simply NOT how it was. I dropped my children off at school and ecveryone was laughing and joking - glad to see there friends after the summer break and looking forward to school.
"Shuffling", "condemned to death", "dulled minds", "mournful". Shocking journalism - reporting something that blatently didn't happen in a majority of casses.”