Summer School?

I understand we have fallen behind several other countries (namely most of Asia) in terms of education and technology. You might say our new AA rating reflects on our failing education system and overall inability to create, innovate or produce like we once did. I am however curious where we draw the line on what we are having our children doing during their "summer break." What I mean to say is, should they get some time off or go to school year-round?

As my 9-year-old daughter sees her summer pass before her eyes we are ALL efforting to finish her mandatory assignments. We have one book down, out of the required three. We have about 20 of the online math assignments done out of the 30 or so. This all must occur while she struggles to complete her daily tutoring we signed her up for to help her with mathematics.  

Exactly where is her break, I ask myself? Sure wasn't at night because softball (either hers or her mother's) dominated them for four to six weeks. Since we are merely the middle class we do not have the luxury of beach houses and weeks off. She went to camp for several weeks and has taken an internship in NYC a few days a week. On those days she meets clients and learns filing, how to download YouTube videos from a colleague. In other words, she has little time to hit the books.  

Am I overreacting? Is there too much emphasis placed on summer work? Can this all be achieved during the school year? Should the school year, or maybe just the school day, be longer?

Who knows? All I know is I have to get off the computer now so she can do some work, at 9 p.m., on an August Tuesday.

Hardly seems right. Especially because at her age; I was probably playing wiffle ball under the lights on such nights. And look how good I turned out!

Um, OK, not the best example.

What say you?

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