6533b827fe1ef96bd12857d2

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Les vacances d'été nuisent-elles aux acquisitions scolaires ?

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description

International audience; The length of summer holidays is often seen as having negative consequences on pupuls' learning and knowledge. The result of a research study carried out in a Côte d'Or secondary school bring a more qualified view. These results go against popular opinion which holds that school holidays are too long and cause pupils to forget things learnt during the previous school year. Indeed, on average across the sample studied, not only do pupils not forget their knowledge, but some, and in particular those from more favoured backgrounds, improve their knowledge between June and September, and all the more so as they have worked during the summer. This article describes first of all the sample of pupils studied as well as the assessment mechanism. It then deals with the progress of the holidays and the schoolwork done by the pupils. Finally, the authors analyse the evolution of knowledge between June and September, assessing at the same time the influence of pupils' individual characteristics and of the activities they do.