Summer break for students at Preuss is only 51 days, while students at other San Diego Unified District schools receive 73 days. Preuss students deserve more breaks because they are attending a school with a more challenging education, they receive additional rest, while also giving teachers pay equality.
Under the Preuss Charter, it is purposely meant for the school year to be longer than other schools. Students who’ve attended Preuss from grades 6-12 have almost a year of more time in school than other SDUSD students. People may say that’s great, but from the student’s eye, we say we need more time to ourselves. Even though the shortening of the school year is not something that can easily be done, more attention should be brought to turn it into a reality.
Pruess is ranked as one of the most prestigious schools in California. It surely is a good look to attend the school, although at the same time it is not easy compared to others. Preuss students have more classes than other schools. The average student in the SDUSD has four classes compared to Preuss’s eight. Students are dealing with work overload with balancing their three to four additional classes. They must handle the heavy pressure they face to make sure they have all their work done for each one. Even after that, students spend hours after school finishing homework and studying to prepare for class.
Attending Preuss may leave little time for students to enjoy other aspects of life such as spending time with family and friends, exercising, or even having personal time. Without enough time to do other activities, students tend to feel exhausted and can even lead to demotivation for them. The long school day and lack of breaks also affect students’ time to participate in extracurricular activities outside of school.
Preston Sterling (‘27) said he had to quit his club basketball team because he had multiple out of state tournaments that were during school time when everybody else on the team started school later in the month. By students not being able to participate in activities, it limits them from having things to do and enjoy life outside of school. Giving break to students isn’t only about giving them time off, but it is also about giving them a chance to be free, happy, and have a balanced life.
Teachers at Preuss are some of the hardest working teachers in the county. Adding on to that, most do not live anywhere near the school, so the travel they have to make every day is not simple. With that being said, they are being highly disrespected by the amount of pay they receive. Other San Diego Unified teachers receive more pay with less days and hours worked throughout the year. If Preuss teachers do not receive the same pay as other teachers, they should have the same or even more break than the rest.
Preuss students and teachers both work extremely hard and take on responsibilities that are more demanding than other schools, and it is truly unfair that they have a shorter summer break. The Preuss community deserves more breaks because it gives everyone they need and grants fairness towards teachers who do not receive equal pay.
