Home > Fayette.Talk > Archives > 2008 > July > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWhen should school begin?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do you realize that Fayette County schools start in less than three weeks?
Yes, August 11 is creeping up slowly but surely and every year I have the same thought… it’s too early! Don’t you agree?
While I want my child to return to school, that date just smacks of “it’s still summer and it just doesn’t seem right.” I suppose all my thinking comes from years ago starting school after Labor Day. I know things have to change, including school schedules, but it just seems so darn hot.
Yes, of course I know there is air conditioning inside the buildings, but my brain would have a hard time concentrating knowing it’s still August. So, let’s see… if I could choose my ideal school-start-date, I’d choose September 2. Yep, I’m a creature of habit and just like the thought of starting and writing the word “September.”
What about you? If you could choose the day school begins, what would it be?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Abby Brunks
Comments
By Local resident
July 23, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
I agree with you that school should start after Labor Day. We are useing too much enery and tax dollars to air condition and run the schools during the hottest part of the summer. Back when I was in school (back in the olden days); we started after Labor Day and ended the first week of June. But we also did not have a fall break — Christmas break — spring break — Easter break, etc. We were only off for the major holidays.
By Krystal
July 23, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
I love the blended school year. It makes vacations more flexible and the kids seem happier to have more breaks. My kids do not know what it was like to go to school in Sept… so it does not bother them. My daughter actaully is ready to go back… she is bored!!
By Jill
July 23, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
I AGREE! Starting school in early August is ridiculous. It’s the hottest month of the year, which increases AC costs in the buildings, and it interferes with high schoolers being able to work during the traditional tourist season to earn money for college. Many summer camps continue into August, and it makes it hard to visit with family who live elsewhere with a more normal vacation calendar. When is our school board going to show some common sense and stop this nonsense?
By Tracy
July 28, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
I agree with Krystal. I like the blended school year with different breaks during the year. Not only can we have a summer vacation, but we can have a winter vacation if we so desire because the kids are out of school. Plus, I don’t feel that kids need to be out of school for an extended length of time. Teachers spend the first month of school reminding kids what they learned in the last month of school from the previous year. With our education system in the tank, it might do our kids good not to be out of school for too long during the summer break!
By Ann Davis
July 28, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Since no consistent educational benefit has been proven for early school starts, the only consideration should be the unnecessary dollars spent operating and air conditioning schools for an extra month each year (the hottest month of the year). Doesn’t it make more sense to spend those dollars on books, salaries and suitable classroom facilities? As someone who had to work my way through school to get a college education, I never would have made it if I had not been able to save up money from summer jobs while in high school. Who can hold down a summer job with this ridiculous start date? There is no legitimate reason to start school prior to the first week of Sept.