Should Thanksgiving Break Be Longer?
Reported by Katelyn Lam
Illustration by Mia Baukol
“Why is Thanksgiving break so short?” This question is often heard from students, parents, and even some staff at George Fox University (GFU). Currently, students only have Thursday, Friday, and the weekend off for Thanksgiving. While some students look forward to going home to see their families, others have to wait until winter break for that opportunity.
“I have to wait longer to see my family because of how short the [Thanksgiving] break is,” one anonymous freshman said. “I know a lot of my friends and classmates are going home to see their families, and honestly, it makes me sad because I haven’t seen my family since the start of the school year.”
A recent survey conducted on a social media platform asked GFU students how long the Thanksgiving break should be. The results revealed that 49% of students believed the break should last the entire week, 18% preferred it to start on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and 24% felt the current two-day break was sufficient.
Starting the break on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving would provide additional travel time for students who live farther from campus. It would also give students and staff an extra day to relax or catch up on work.
Extending the break to a full week offers even more benefits. Students and staff could spend more time with their families, catch up on assignments, prepare for finals, or get needed rest. However, a week-long break could come with trade-offs, such as starting the semester earlier, ending later, or reducing other breaks throughout the academic year.
A practical solution to this issue is to begin Thanksgiving break on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day. This compromise would provide students with an extra day for travel or relaxation without requiring significant changes to the academic calendar.
By giving students and staff more time to rest and connect with loved ones, GFU can create a more supportive and balanced holiday experience for its community.