Arguments Against Summer Vacation

One piece of evidence against summer vacation is, the rapid growth of the economies and the rising academic standards of countries such as China and India, two countries with a rigorous academic schedule. Chinese students have consistently scored higher in areas of math and science than American students, providing reason to believe our lack of schooling is ineffective compared to others. However, as author Benjamin Studebaker quotes, “But think about how the Chinese economy grows. This is not a country that has been inventing fabulous things that we all want to buy. Americans and Europeans make products in China because the labor there is cheap. The products are designed by Americans and Europeans, it's American and European intellectual

capital at work. When the Chinese do make products of their own, the tendency is for them to be reverse engineered American or European products–point being, they're not very original. There is a fundamental weakness of creativity in China.” While the economy continues to boom in China, homegrown innovation is nearly nonexistent. This shows how the Chinese culture and educational system restrict the creative ability of its constituents. Chinese students have one day off a week and very little break time, which is reflective of the structured nature of the Chinese educational system. Students are given little time to pursue their own interests and establish their individual identity. Summer vacation allows American children time to explore their surroundings and decide what their passion is in life. As Studebaker proclaimed, “ It also makes for a staler culture–America is not merely a center of technological innovation, but of the arts. Movies, music, books, television, theater, and so on all require a creative population, not a regimented one.” America is a hub for creativity and innovation, and is the global center for the arts. Whether it is art, sports, cinema, or theatre, the United States is the core