The Crosby Chronicles: The long, hot summer should be shorter for kids

As I enter the homestretch of summer vacation with my sons, I can see them struggling (as well as myself) in trying to fill their days with interesting stuff to do. After the first few weeks of no school, the novelty has worn off. Having several more weeks of vacation seems more of a chore than a pleasure.

It reminds me of how much better it would be if instead of 11 weeks of summer vacation, schools would split up vacation times more evenly throughout the year. How about a few weeks off in late October, as well as a few more weeks off in mid-March?

Traveling during the summer means visiting places when they are the most crowded and during the hottest recorded temperatures. With a yearlong school calendar but with more frequent breaks, families would have a chance to visit New England Octobers and Gulf Coast Marches. Besides, who actually takes a three-month vacation these days?

As a bonus, by not having nearly three months off in the summer, students would be less likely to forget everything come the start of school.

Brian Crosby is a teacher at Hoover High School and the author of Smart Kids, Bad Schools and The $100,000 Teacher. He can be reached at brian-crosby.com.