If you were given the opportunity to have a longer summer, who wouldn’t want it?  The Maryland Task Force has propose to start schools after Labor Day to increase the length of summer vacation.

Having schools open later in the year will increase the flow of tourists that visit Maryland in the summer.  Extending the summer by a week could generate a profit of $74.3 million from tourism, as well as an additional $7.7 million in state coffers.

In order to meet the 180 day requirement, schools would be limited to the number of full days and holidays that FCPS students have off that are currently built into the 2015-2016 school calendar.  This will increase the number of five-day weeks schools will have, compared to the frequent four, three, or even two-day weeks.

“Honestly, five day weeks are so much better for students, rather than having all of this broken-up time.  The more instructional time they have in a row, the better chances you have to get the information,” said social studies teacher Jamie Hendi.  “Teachers have a real struggle when school is broken up constantly because you aren’t getting the reinforcement you need to fully teach the concept.”

One benefit could be that, with more time in the classroom, students will have the push they need in order to become more academically focused.

“Students will become more academically focused because they won’t have long weekends to procrastinate.  Two day weekends will allow students to get their work done in a timely manner,” said junior Briana Pettaway.

If schools started after Labor Day, it would not only increase the time in class, but increase the amount of time students have in summer, not thinking about what they learned in school.

“The change will give students less time to be worried about school.  During the school year, you’re only focused on school, and the summer gives you more time to relax,” said junior Kaycee Oland.

On the other hand, Gary Brennan, the President of FCTA, does not agree that longer summers will benefit students.

“Studies indicate that young, economically disadvantaged and/or struggling students, as well as those who do not read or participate in structured summer programs, lost two to three months of the reading ability they gained in the previous school year,” said Brennan.

Students that live in poverty also rely on the schools for food.  Due to their living conditions, some children do not eat three meals a day.  Schools supply their students with free lunches for those who need it.  Increasing the number of days students have off will also decrease the amount of food students living in poverty will have.

Even though having a longer summer would be nice, there has been no indication that these changes will be made to the calendar in the upcoming school years.

“I understand a lot of people support it, even if there really is no educational benefit to it.  It is the hope of both FCTA and MSEA that the legislature votes “no” on this proposal and allows local Boards of Education to continue to determine the best time to start the new school year,” said Brennan.