Researchers want to nuance the picture in three semesters

Outdated. Reprehensible. And a remnant from the farming community. The rector of the newly started American Gymnasium in Gothenburg was not gracious in his criticism of the Swedish school model.

At American Gymnasium, students should go three semesters instead of two. This means, among other things, an abbreviated summer leave and extended autumn and sports leave. The headmaster sees several advantages to this.

"Researchers have known since 1908 that this is a better way of conducting studies," said the head Peter Heddelin to SVT News West.

But what does scientific support look like? One of the researchers referred to by Rector Peter Heddelin himself is education researcher John Hattie. He has done a great research overview of what affects students' study results.

According to Hattie, there are small negative effects of a long summer vacation. The effects are greater for students from disadvantaged home conditions than for students with a more favorable background. There is a slightly greater impact on mathematics than in reading. But according to Hattie, this can be taken back quickly after a longer break.

University lecturer Jan Håkansson compiled Hattie's research for Sweden's municipalities and county councils. In an email to SVT, he writes that these types of organizational influencing factors are rather weak:

"The strong impact on study results within the school is mainly attributed to teacher competence and teaching quality."

Christian Lundahl is professor of pedagogy at Örebro University. He estimates that the headmaster has a lot on his feet regarding the negative effects of long summer holidays. However, there are not many studies comparing two- and three-term systems.

- But a study at the university level showed that it gave reasonably better results with three-term systems. The students did not postpone that much, but took more in their own studies, he says.

According to Principal Peter Heddelin, it is not the number of semesters that is important, but the academic year becomes more symmetrical. Three semesters are the way to achieve the goal.

- It is about managing study breaks.

He does not agree that the effects of the summer vacation would be small.

- If you have worked as a teacher for many years, you see what happens when students come back after the summer break. In my eyes as a school leader, it is clear that the summer holidays are too long.

But even if the summer holidays affect, there are other things that affect more.

- If you have a bad teacher, it affects most of all. It doesn't matter if you have the world's best system. But then imagine a skilled teacher with good conditions. It creates an even better school.

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