Comments on: A Case for More (Paid) Summer Vacation Time in America

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 20:20:18 +0000

Hi Suzannah and Amy, thank you both for your comments. We appreciate your perspective and you pointing out where we have some blind spots—we’ll definitely go back and look at this topic from a different perspective. Wishing you all the best.

By: Amy Polen

Amy Polen — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 02:10:24 +0000

As the previous commenter said, a long paid vacation is truly an idea of privilege. It’ll never happen in the US. So many people (myself included) don’t even have paid personal time or vacation. I do occasionally have the ability to take off some unpaid time, but I recognize even that as a luxury.

By: Suzannah Kolbeck

Suzannah Kolbeck — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 12:45:00 +0000

It’s important to really sit back and recognize the privilege in this idea. You mention it in passing, but there are tons of reasons why for the vast majority of the country this is not possible.

Additionally, children from low-income families typically lose between one and two reading levels over long summer vacations, and many people who take a long summer will still want their houses cleaned, lawns mowed, and food served. Guess who they will want to do that?

By: Ashley W

Ashley W — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 05:25:37 +0000

I’m curious what the environmental impact of this is? On the one hand there might be a high demand for travel, lots of cars idling on roads, more impact on vacation areas (rather than a gentle, more consistent flow over longer time…), but on the other hand, with hotter summers it may reduce air conditioning and overall energy usage in large office buildings, help people reconnect, reflect and refocus… hmm. On the other other hand I also feel like the peak of cold and flu season should just be taken off, at least for those of us with young kids!! ha!