Site Preview

It would be helpful to preview the following sites before you begin the lesson. The tips may help you prepare for the lesson.

1. Wikipedia: Year-round School http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year-round_school

Students who use Wikipedia should gain some understanding of the process through which Wikipedia entries are composed and revised. The “author” of a Wikipedia entry is not a single individual, but a large community of volunteers who work from their own computers. Because a large community “polices” and edits Wikipedia entries, the information is usually as accurate as any other encyclopedia. But anyone can change an entry at any time, and it may take some time for the community to catch an error. Students who use Wikipedia should always factcheck their information against a second source. In any case, students should never use an encyclopedia as the only source for their research.

2. PBS NewsHour: Year-Round School Commits to Students from Middle School to Last Day of College http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/american-graduate/july-dec12/scholars_08-21.html

This site is a special “extra” for students from the PBS show NewsHour. PBS is generally considered a sound source of information on any issue, and NewsHour is one of the nation’s most respected news shows. Students should understand that in this case the show, rather than an individual, is the “author.” The Public Broadcasting System is free of advertising, though it does receive grants from the government and foundations; however, these are not supposed to influence its content. Because this feature is specifically meant for students, they may find it especially accessible and useful, as well as reliable.

3. About.com Year-Round Education: Pros and Cons http://712educators.about.com/cs/reformtime/a/yearrounded.htm

“About” is a reputable directory site. Its authors and editors have some expertise in the subjects they write about, and they are charged with providing a balanced discussion of those subjects. This article clearly presents both sides of the issue. The site is supported by ads, but these are clearly labeled. (You may wish to make sure students understand that “sponsored links” are a form of advertising; they are placed in prominent positions on the site because someone pays to put them there.)

4. Family Education: Year-Round Schooling http://school.familyeducation.com/experimental-education/educational-innovation/36099.html

Family Education is a website geared toward parents and families. In its articles on educational issues, the site seeks to present a balanced viewpoint. The site’s “Expert Advice” section uses well-qualified authors, but in this case the list of “pros and cons” seems to lean heavily toward the pros. The site is supported by advertising, and it is not always easy to tell where the content ends and the advertising begins. For example, users have to bypass an ad to get to the second layer of content, and a list of the “Top Ten Birthday Gifts for Teenagers” has links to particular products to buy. However, there does not appear to be any advertising related to the issue of year-round schooling. This is a useful site that students may nonetheless want to approach with some skepticism because of its commercial ties and occasional lack of balance.

5. The National Association of Year-Round Education http://www.nayre.org/

This site and the one that follows are entirely dedicated to the issue of year-round schooling. This site takes a clear position in favor of year-round education. The site uses experts and factual material as well as opinions to back up its position. However, there may also be experts and factual material that supports the opposite position. If students wish to use the information on this site at all, they also need to find other sources to give their research balance.

6. Stop Year-Round School http://summermatters.com

This site is run by a group strongly opposed to year-round education. It reflects a local battle over the issue in the schools in Auburn, Alabama. The site uses some fairly negative language to describe the opposing position. It does present some studies and some statements from experts to support its opinions, but it is one-sided. Students should understand that sites like these are important to community organizing on an issue. They are also useful for identifying the arguments on one side of the issue, but they are not a reliable source of balanced information.

7. The New York Times: “Classes the Year Round Pass the Test for Many”

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/08/us/education-classes-the-year-round-pass-the-test-for-many.html

This article is by a reputable reporter at a leading newspaper, The New York Times, and its facts are trustworthy. However, most of the people interviewed for this article support year-round education. The school chosen as a model in this article has found year-round schooling very successful. Again, students will want to be aware that factual articles can nonetheless contain a great deal of opinion, and may not always present the full picture. In addition, this article is more than 20 years old, which means it does not contain the latest facts and research on this issue.