Family vacations, swimming pool memberships and corn de-tapping; these were the experiences of traditional Midwestern summers. For centuries, American children attended school during the winter months, during the agricultural off-season, when their families could afford to go without. Families have become accustomed to a traditional school calendar that provides time for bonding throughout the year. Students have become accustomed to an eight-week break during the summer months, during which they can refresh their minds before returning for a new school year. Unfortunately, these traditional experiences and practices are now under threat. In today's rush to improve student achievement, traditional school calendars have become a point of contention. Today, more and more school districts and parents have begun discussing the pros and cons of an alternative school calendar. According to writer Vanessa St Gerard of The Education Digest, a traditional school year is defined as “large blocks of instruction with week-long breaks in between, all culminating in a long summer break” (2007). This structure is very familiar to Americans today, however the new alternative schedule features variation in the time allocated for breaks throughout the school year. “During a modified school year, teaching periods are typically divided into 45- or 60-day sessions, each of which is divided by breaks lasting three or four weeks” (St Gerard, 2007). In the alternative calendar, schools would continue to break for a summer session, but in most cases the break would last about five weeks instead of eight. While the calendars may differ regarding session times, both will honor the federally mandated 180 days of in...... middle of document ...... l). Year-round schools always seem better. The Education Digest, 72(8), 56-58. Retrieved November 29, 2011, from EducationPeriodicals. (Document ID: 1253545861).Thomma, S. (2009). Politics. Obama pushes for a longer school year | Seattle Times Newspaper. The Seattle Times | Seattle Times Newspaper. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008838703_schools11.htmlWerner, Erica. (2010, September 27). Obama: The school year should be longer. Latest news and opinions on the Huffington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/obama-school-year-should-_n_741338.htmlUBIÑAS, L. A., & GABRIELI, C. (2011, August 22). Fooled by Bell. New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/opinion/shortchanged-by-the-school-bell.html?_r=