Summer vacations are supposed to be a time of rest and rejuvenation for students. After nine months of hard work and challenging courses, one would think that such a long break could only do students good; However, this is not the best way to learn for young minds. A three-month break is far too long for children to remain without education and adequate supervision. Instead of a long three-month break at the end of each school year, why not give students the same number of days off but spread them out more frequently throughout the year? Year-round education is a more efficient, globally competitive and equitable alternative to the traditional nine-month school year. The reasons for a three-month summer vacation are outdated and offer no functional benefit to today's student. The current school year, which lasts nine months and three months of summer vacation, is not necessary in today's society. It was originally used to allow children in rural communities to help their families with the crops (Hemerson and Gove 8). Originally, educators viewed the nine-month school year as a way to maximize school attendance in rural areas of the country (O'Sullivan 399). This is of no use in today's society. Today it is estimated that only 3% of the population is involved in agriculture (Kralovec 32). The nine-month school year was initially supposed to allow more working children to attend school, but, with current child labor laws, this measure has become obsolete (O'Sullivan 398). The move to an annual schedule is simple and smooth, but leaders are dragging their feet simply because the change might upset those who like the schedule the way it is (French 28). Such old-fashioned ideals should not be allowed to...... middle of paper ......Print.Kralovec, Etta. Schools doing too much: Wasting time and money in schools, and what we can all do about it. Boston: Beacon, 2003. Print. O'Sullivan, Mary Therese. "The ten-month school year: are we ignoring educational research to preserve summer vacations? Finding a compromise between educational progress and over-schooling." Brigham Young University Education & Law Journal 2 (2013): 395. Advanced Placement Source. Internet. January 20, 2014. “System Supports for Teacher Learning and School Improvement.” » Springer International Handbooks of Education: International handbook on school effectiveness and improvement. Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media, 2007. Reference Credo. Internet. January 29, 2014. “Year-Round Education.” Problems and controversies recorded: n. page. Problems and controversies. Facts On File News Services, July 28, 2000. Web. January 20, 2014. Web.