By Eleanor Swaim
Staff Writer
During the school year, it’s hard to find time to rest. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WSFCS) district provides a few breaks each year, along with the occasional snow day, for students to catch up or relax. As the longest break of the school year approaches, it’s time to address its effects and its purpose.
The question is: is it long enough? Both students and teachers need time off, but there is a shared consensus among people in Forsyth County that a longer break could hinder productivity and decrease students’ retention of material learned before the time off. While this may be true, these negatives rely on one factor: how a student spends their time. In years past, students had the stress of exams hanging over their heads throughout the break, but with the new schedule, exams take place before winter break. This brings the first semester to an end just before the holidays.
Whether the break is used to develop healthy habits or to waste time, how students spend this gap can make or break their performance for the rest of the year. The same applies to teachers, who can use the time for preparation or fall into unproductiveness.
Another aspect of winter break is spending more time at home with family, which can have either a positive or negative effect depending on the students’ family relationships.
This year, WSFCS’s winter break runs from December 20 to January 4. That gives students and teachers two weeks and one day to recharge and catch up.
Lots of freedom comes with these breaks; the effects of their length depend on how students use their time. A student who spends their time studying in moderation may return to school with a stronger understanding of the curriculum than when they left.
In contrast, someone who spends their time endlessly scrolling or excessively sleeping may return to school needing a lengthy review period. An efficient solution to this split could be a healthy balance of both.
Justin Harvey, a history teacher at R.J. Reynolds High School, observes students throughout the school year and notices differences in their performance regarding first-semester material. He believes the solution is in developing healthy habits and spending quality time with family and friends.
This change was controversial but necessary. Leaving school for multiple weeks to focus on holiday activities rather than studying, only to return and take exams on forgotten material, negatively impacted students’ academic performance. The pressure of exams immediately after the break contradicts the idea that winter break is meant for relaxation. As a result, the new schedule is faster-paced rather than drawn out.
“[The new schedule] really helps, because before, you had students leaving in December, coming back two weeks later, and then having to take a final exam on content they learned three weeks before,” Harvey said. “Back then, I saw a drop in scores. This new schedule is better.”
While this issue has been resolved, there is still debate surrounding the appropriate length of winter break. The argument that the break is too long is inaccurate. The current length is two weeks and one day, with school resuming on January 4, barely giving any time to adjust to the new year. The holidays are hectic, and four days is not much time to reestablish routines. College students often receive close to a month off, despite typically taking fewer classes than high school students.
A month of pure studying and becoming comfortable with what you’re learning is much more relaxing than procrastination followed by multiple tests each week. It could give high school students’ brains a nice break while allowing for distributed practice of concepts. One month of balance comfort would be a nice contrast to the eight months of pure stress.
Although extra assignments over break may seem daunting, they could help hold students accountable and keep their minds engaged. An assigned reading or a guided note packet could serve as a good compromise for a longer winter break.
Private schools in Forsyth County, such as Forsyth Country Day School, have a break that’s one day longer than WSFCS’s, along with a full week off for Thanksgiving, while public schools only receive two days. That adds up to four extra days off, according to their online calendar. With an extra day to settle into the new year, private school students get more time to kick back and relax before the whirlwind of the second semester. Even one extra day off could help students ease back into school following the holidays instead of being thrown back into a desk with a screen in front of them all day long.
According to a study done by Northern Illinois University, taking breaks is a way to reward yourself for hard work. This is especially relevant to high school students as academic standards continue to rise. Using time to socialize, be creative, or try something new can support mental well-being. A longer break gives students the freedom to expand their thinking beyond the classroom.
Spending a few days each week reviewing material could refresh students’ memories and improve retention. It would help to avoid that long review period for teachers in January, allowing them to move on and continue with their lessons. If students practiced healthy habits during the break, the time off could be both restorative and productive, proving to the school board that a little more time off would actually benefit students. With a little help from teachers, a few extra days of winter break could become a realistic and effective change.