I know it's not the most popular topic, especially for teachers who already are tasked with doing one of the hardest professions in the country, but the way we educate our children versus a number of other industrialized countries should alarm all of us, even people who don't have children.
The 9 months on/3 months off system made a lot of sense when schoolchildren helped on their family farm decades ago, but it me it just doesn't make sense any longer. When the first 1-2 months of a school year is rehashing everything you learned the final couple months of the former year then something isn't right.
Like I said, I know this will be unpopular with both children and teachers alike, but isn't it worth it to try to figure out a better way to educate our kids to get them ready for the 21st Century?