<p>This is from a practice test in Princeton Review. 1st time doing an ACT practice essay. Help? I'm bad with time constraints; my thoughts come to me in a non-linear fashion. I just typed it up exactly how I wrote it (meaning I'm cringing because want to edit crap this to pieces). The exact prompt:</p>
<p>"Schools in some states have changed their school calendars so that they are now year-round schools. Advocates of year-round schooling argue that the traditional summer break is a waste of students' time that could otherwise be spent learning. Opponents charge that today's students are already overburdened with the stresses of school and need the summer to get a much-needed break. In your view, should the traditional three-month summer vacation from school be maintained? In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position"</p>
<p>My essay:</p>
<pre><code> In today's fast-paced, competitive world, it is easy to fall into the framework - that is, let yourself become defined by the system of instituted 'learning'. Mark Twain once said he "never let schooling get in the way of his education". He hits upon the fact that the rigidness of the school environment can take away from a larger, global, soulful learning perspective. A year-round system would cause school to become the center of a student's life in a mentally-numbing way. Therefore, I believe the traditional summer break should be upheld.
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<p>When the model for our current public school system came into fruition in the 1800's, the primary reason for an extended summer break was allow students to be able to help their families on the fields. Critics argue that we are not in an agrarian culture anymore, so we should change our system. What they overlook is that the issue isn't of mere practicality. If it were simply that, an entire debate of splitting hairs could ensew. Though a year-round system may be argued for because of its effiency merits, the traditional system could hold its own just as well: scheduling concerns, day-care cost, administrative budget costs and summer jobs are just some of many issues of practicality that come into play.</p>
<pre><code> But it is not an argument of practicality. Those who dismiss the summer break as an antiquated thing of the past, right next to pioneer dresses and horse drawn carriages, fail to understand that the real reason a summer break has persisted is because as a society, we maintain our children's senses of wonder, curiosity, good health, and well-roundedness by not allowing school to define them as people. School is a way to channel creative and intellectual energies, but those energies will cease to exist in a child if he or she is not given space and time to soak in the relaxed joys to life - big and little, through summer break.
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<p>If we allow precious time taken away, children cease to know real life. Maybe our forefathers and foremothers really did know best.</p>