The following letter was submitted in response to the opinion article, “Why should spring break be extended to two weeks,” which argues for a longer spring break to support student well-being and academic performance. The article highlights the stress caused by AP exams, SAT preparation, and sustained academic pressure, and suggests that an extended break would help reduce burnout and improve focus.
After reading your article about extending spring break to two weeks, I most strongly agree. Even with concerns that this will push back our school’s end date, I believe that students would rather still have two weeks, even if this pushes back our end date. Either way, our school begins later, and starting school in September is honestly better. As a student athlete myself, taking honors and AP classes, spring break ended up becoming more of a week to study rather than a vacation. Prepping for exams and upcoming finals while trying to enjoy a short break is difficult. Families who also want to travel during one of the best seasons of the year often struggle trying to pick the dates when the break is so short. Just as winter break is two weeks, it gives a great deal of time off for students to enjoy the holidays and prepare for finals. Spring break should be the same as well. Many may argue that winter break is two weeks because it consists of holidays; however, with a large population of Muslim students at Fountain Valley, Ramadan and Eid take place as well during the spring season this year. In conclusion, breaks don’t always need to be about holidays however but just for the best interests of the students’ well-being.
Thank you,
Sidra Siddiqi
