MOMania

By Beccaann

May 23, 2006 06:51 AM | Link to this

It’s not just some of the teachers who don’t do much teaching after the tests, but the kids who refuse to do the work. I now have 2 who are failing that were not before because they refuse to work. This is one of the reasons that I like the idea of year round school.

By Ernest

May 23, 2006 07:20 AM | Link to this

I believe schools could make better use of the 180 days allocated for instruction. When you factor in days throughout the year that are ‘lost’ for a variety of reasons (before and after holidays, beginning and end of school, etc.), some schools lose between 10-15 days. I can understand if this number was between 5-7 but it seems we are losing more and more each year.

I’d like to hear from teachers as to how they are using their time during the last week, especially those that have already collected books for the year. Are they watching movies, having current event discussions, attempting instruction?

By Joe Camp

May 23, 2006 07:32 AM | Link to this

I agree that these last few weeks should not go to waste. However, I must add that human nature being what it is, a Friday afternoon mentality will inevitably overcome most classrooms- both teachers and students.

Good teachers should take advantage by introducing material that they- as teachers- find interesting but may not be in the standard curriculum. For example, my 5th grader’s class performed Hamlet and scenes from other Shakespeare works last week. I also think that safety talks and career speakers would be a great idea that we as parents need to volunteer for and facilitate.

By jim

May 23, 2006 07:37 AM | Link to this

Yes, there are movies—from a highly controlled and approved list that must go along with the AKS. Yes, there are games—also to supplement and reinforce the AKS. There ARE guests and Career Days. Our counselers have been doing a school-wide career workshop for the past two weeks. We just had visits from one of the members of the Jaimaican bobsled team who had written a children’s book. There are parties (for about half an hour to an hour) on the final day of school. The folks who are so concerned about the instruction time for the 180 days of school clearly aren’t teachers. Teachers are more frustrated than they are by almost any interruption of their instructional time. They aree particularly frustrated when they are forced to spend nearly the entire month of April ceding time over to an absurd amount of tests. The GKAP, the CRCT, the Gateway, the ACCESS, the CoGAT, the Writing Test, the list goes on…

By Jesse's Girl

May 23, 2006 07:50 AM | Link to this

I think this may be an issue of more importance in the middle and high schools. In elementary school, the only grade that would greatly benefit from extra perks would be the 5th grade. Teaching them that things will change dramatically once they enter the 6th grade. I think the boys and girls in the 5th and 8th grades need to be separated and taught about what new things will take place. For instnace, they are likely to physically mature in middle school….they will see pregnant classmates, drugs, more atrocious attitudes. They need to be ready for this. In the 8th grade, I think there needs to be a more concentrated effort to teach how they will be affected emotionally by high school. Also….career preparedness needs to be kicked up a notch. Yes, all this falls on the parents as well…..but there has to be a good parent/teacher balance. I think these suggestions would be a good way to spend the last 2 weeks of school.

By fk

May 23, 2006 08:17 AM | Link to this

My son is a ninth grader at a public high school. This is the last week of school. He has finals, no goofing off. He’s taking tests up until Friday. There weren’t any parties in middle school. Even in elementary school, the parties were limited. The parents complained about that, too. Parties or no parties, someone is going to be whining.

In elementary school, I think the last few weeks of school should be spent in review. Middle school and high school students have finals to take. I think it’s silly to be teaching new material three weeks before school lets out for the summer. If you don’t think your kids are doing enough, encourage them to read.

Really, even when we were in school, the school year ended at least a week before the “official” end. Let the kids enjoy the summer, but have them ready once school begins again in August. I’m looking forward to a bit less structure as well.

Regarding the physical maturing, etc., the middle school had a parent class. They advised the parents of what their children should expect, and what the parents should expect as well. It’s up to the parents to discuss these matters with their children. The resources are out there, the effort has to come from the home.

By lynn d

May 23, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this

My son (4th grader) had a bunch of homework up until this past weekend. Fifth graders had two projects due on Monday. But now they are all playing. Yesterday, the school had a storyteller. Today begins honor days, etc. I think parents are done as well.

I am thrilled that school is almost over! Can you hear it in my voice!

By decaturparent

May 23, 2006 09:03 AM | Link to this

You can thank NCLB for the loss of learning in the last month of school. Before this law took effect, it was really just the last week that was a loss, but now it creates such a crescendo of stress and frantic preparation in April that everyone, teachers and kids, are completely burnt out by the end of testing week. My kids were complete zombies at the end of the week.

There is just no energy to test or teach anymore after everyone has had the life sucked out of them by this poorly conceived high stakes testing.

In fact, you can thank NCLB for the loss of learning in the entire last quarter of school because beginning in March, teachers are forced to drill for bubble filling rather than actually teaching something useful.

This phenomenon is especially the case in schools that are stuggling to meet AYP because the school is under so much pressure to avoid punishment just because they teach the most challenging kids. The law hurts low income and minority kids the most. Of course under the current law, as we approach 2014 (and the requirement of 100% pass rate - even for special needs kids) even the best performing schools are going to be failing AYP - then what?

I could go on - but I don’t want my blood pressure to go up!!!! Ugh!

Thanks for the opportunity to vent.

By b. white

May 23, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

As a teacher I know the CRCT testing and the NCLB requirements are necessary evils. Without uniform testing and reporting requirements a lot of schools have been getting by with little evidence of improvement or consistency. As far as the end of school goes - there are now rumors that students will be throwing bleach and eggs at administrators and security officers, the very people responsible for those same students security and well being.

By Jesse's Girl

May 23, 2006 09:46 AM | Link to this

What the heck is a bleach egg? Or do I even want to know?

By Jesse's Girl

May 23, 2006 09:48 AM | Link to this

Sorry…just read the post more carefully. Bleach AND eggs. Still…..how in the name of God do you throw bleach?

By Mark

May 23, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this

You can put bleach in a balloon and throw it just like water balloons.

By Jesse's Girl

May 23, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this

Well that sucks

By LG

May 23, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

I remember back in elementary school, the last week of school being play time. We were out on the playground most of the day, and the last day was only an hour long - long enough for state aid. That was in the 70’s before NCLB. The same happened in middle school until 8th grade, and then there were finals. High school was totally different because we had to pass the regents exam to get a regents diploma to go to a 4 year school in NY state.

As my kids go through GCPS it seems to be the same (except for the hour long day). My son, who’s in 7th grade, had finals yesterday. My daughter, who’s a sophomore, had exam month the whole month - A/P tests, EOCTs, and finals this week.

By Robert

May 23, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

While I agree that summer breaks can be long and at the expense of your newly acquired knowledge, I don’t place the blame on the teachers. One, teachers and students need a break from formulaic tests and REAL tests like finals and AP Exams. Year round schooling is notthe solution to lazy or idle minds. Do parents expect their college students to dwindle at the end of semesters and ruin their previously good grades, No. I belive we should hold our students, which I am one of, to a higher standard and expect more of them but at the same time appreciate their need for break every once in a while. I also feel that parents who are not teachers are a little too idealistic in their perception of schooling and I suggest sitting in on a class or subbing to see what goes into lesson planning and keeping the interest of kids all while maintaining the AKS and State requirements.

God bless, Robert

By Katie

May 23, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this

Why can’t we ever just let kids be kids for once? Goodness, they have to do all the state required testing and whatnot. They get worked a lot harder than previous generations. With all this cutting out recess and making everything so rigid, it seems like we are no longer allowing children to enjoy their youth.

You know what they say about all work and no play……..

By myalibi

May 23, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

I know that at my daughter’s elementary school they have their Terrific Ten Days. So the last two weeks are wasted on parties and such. Some of the activities may have educational aspects, but I have to wonder how much emphasis is put on those areas vs. the “fun” parts. My personal preference is to go to year round schooling (and uniforms) so that ther is not such a long break and opportunity to “lose” information over the summer break. Just my $.02.

By myalibi

May 23, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

*there

By MrLiberty

May 23, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this

From all the statistics about Georgia schools, its sounds like every week is wasted. Why exactly do we continue to let the government pretend to educate children???

Homeschool. You owe it to your kids’ future.

By E. Lewis

May 23, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this

Part of the reason that some schools seem to take it easy during the last week is because the district has determined that all paperwork regarding grades and promotion for all 150+ students that a teacher might have be turned in shortly after the last official day of class and in some cases it’s due on that final day.

I still remember getting calls from parents who didn’t want to wait past the end of school for their child’s report card.

That’s the nature of the beast I guess.

By teach

May 23, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this

Decatur parent, I completely agree. NCLB has ruined education. I teach at an elementary school. The kids are well aware that the CRCT is over. We’ve even put in grades already. So, why are they still here? I feel like nothing more than a babysitter at this point. We are even having our class parties today. Why? What ever happened to having class parties with the parents showing up and contributing. I only had one parent provide food for the party. The rest of the teachers bought food for their classes. We will be doing some of the fun activities that teach kids social skills that we weren’t allowed to do all year for the rest of the week. Maybe they’ll learn something about how to get along in an arena other than their desks/chairs.

By Jeff

May 23, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this

Well, dunno about the lower levels, but at my HS last two weeks are solid work. Kids have finals up until 3:30 on the last day of school. Last four days are modified to 3 classes per day, with the front two days being senior finals/ review for underclassmen and the back two days being finals for everyone other than seniors.

By Teacher2

May 23, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

I’m in the same boat with Jeff. We’re still working in my HS, with the except of the seniors who have already taken finals and are involved in graduation activities. The underclassmen are getting ready for the finals that start tomorrow. We also have a modified schedule with one two-hour exam in the morning and one in the afternoon, except for Friday when we will give back-to-back exams and then release the hounds! Like many other teachers, I’m fighting two extremes: the kids who have shut down and the kids who are trying to eke out every last point in order to pass. Frankly, it would be much easier on us in the fall if the lower grade teachers would continue working and perhaps present a preview of the next year’s subject. I hate spending the first 2 or 3 weeks on review!

By Middle school teacher

May 23, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

I am a middle school teacher and to me the last days of school are a waste. The students have already taken all required tests and they are hyped up. There are more fights, agruments, and clowning around on the last days of school. The students know that too much won’t happen to them because school is out anyway. Some are looking to get suspended so they can start their vacation early. At my school we do have final exams. I think school she be half days during the last couple days of school.

By Jeff

May 23, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this

I must make a note though: As everyone over at Get Schooled knows, I’m leaving my current HS and moving to a South GA MS next school year. Therefore I am packing and getting my classroom down to bare bones, what the kids have to have for the final and nothing else. With the exception of my CD player and one of my CD cases, all of my personal gear in my classroom lea es with me tonight. My goal is that my workdays next week involve saying goodbye to the other teachers here and little else.

By jim d

May 23, 2006 01:11 PM | Link to this

Finals this week seems to keep them pretty busy but last week was a joke.

By Mary

May 23, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this

My son (2nd grade) had tests and homework up until last Friday. His last day is this Thursday. This week they do not have tests but they are still reviewing and reading in class. I think his teacher did a great job with the kids these last few weeks. I talked to her the other day and she said the class has been really excited about school coming to an end but they have been very attentive and still were able to get a lot done. I think it has to do with how much effort the teacher puts into those last few weeks. Kids can be made to behave.

By luvs2teach

May 23, 2006 01:41 PM | Link to this

My son is a freshman and he had a project due today, and he has finals on Thursday and Friday - he is on semester block, so there is no time to waste.

As an 8th grade teacher, my kids definitely had the mentality that the school year was over after the CRCT - I even had a student ask yesterday, “Why are you giving us finals if we already passed the CRCT and know we are going to the 9th grade?” Argh!!!

I spend the last 6 weeks on longer term activities that are fun and peak the students’ interest, but still involve work and research - we did a project on planets and some environmental activities - they really enjoyed that.

By t

May 23, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this

I think schools should give standardized test during the last week of school. This way teachers would be more inclined to work up until the last day of school.

By grade8tchr

May 23, 2006 02:19 PM | Link to this

t, I would much rather teach all the way to the end - rather than fight with kids who know they are being promoted/placed regardless of what they do or don’t do in the last week of school. My principal made all kinds of comments about CRCT being the be all and end all of what we are in school to accomplish, so our kids have been “finished” since April. I agree that standardized testing should be later in the year.

By luvs2teach

May 23, 2006 02:26 PM | Link to this

t - for the most part, it’s not the teachers who are disinclined…

By Tamika the Great

May 23, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

The Last week of school is a complete waste— Yesterday my Kids were playing Board games all day— What a Joke — Public schools are getting lazier and Lazier. I may as well go ahead and letthem skip— they would learn more being with me. Today they are Have three pIzza parties and a Movie— Tomoorrow the are going to the Local bar and getting drunk probably.

By Tamika the Great

May 23, 2006 02:52 PM | Link to this

I am so excited about summer Vacation coming— I will have all four of my babies home:) We are going to have the best summer. 2 weeks in Lake Tahoe and 2 weeks traveling in Europe. Will be a crazy Long flight with four Crazy kids.

By Sam

May 23, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this

Re: Luvs2teach - you’re absolutely right about 8th grader’s attitudes after the CRCT - truth is, the kids are right - if we spend all school year building up to the CRCT Tests like they’re “finals” (because the are) then school should END right after the last test. Therefore, Ms. Cox, if you’re listening, schedule the 8th grade CRCT Tests on the 175-180th days of school. Make the 8th grade CRCT truly meaningful - meaning, no summer school and no second try for those who fail. Just mail the pass/failure notice home to the children about two weeks after school ends. Somehow it seems too simple!

SIGNED: Another 8th grade teacher tired of wasting the last five weeks of school babysitting kids while we wait for the CRCT Test results.

By Tamika the Great

May 23, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

But the last week of school is a waste— have to get those 180 days in to keep the state happy— Bunc

By Tamika the Great

May 23, 2006 03:14 PM | Link to this

But it will be fun Tammie!!!!

By Tamika the Great

May 23, 2006 03:15 PM | Link to this

Tammie — ISAID IT WILL BE FUN though!!!

By Tamika the Great

May 23, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

It is so important to send you kids to School!!

By SNY

May 23, 2006 03:26 PM | Link to this

My daughter is in 3rd grade in GCPS and she only had one project all year long. Guess when they assigned it and made it due. You guessed it, it was due last Thursday. She got it back yesterday and the teacher gave everyone who attempted to do it 100%. So the kids that put all of their heart and soul into their projects, like my daughter, got the exact same grade as the slackers. I don’t so much mind that her only project was saved until the end of the school year. I was actually glad because it gave me one last time to help her with her work this year, I just mind that the teacher didn’t take it seriously. It seems like the kids took the project more serious than the teacher. My daughter spent alot of time doing her paper and her project, I think that her continued dedication to school should be commended. Anyway, it’s over. Tomorrow is the last day of school!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Still_Teaching!

May 23, 2006 03:39 PM | Link to this

I teach second grade. We are working—on things that will be assessed until Wednesday. On Thursday, we will have an assembly to honor those who did well academically. However, when it’s over, we will return to our room, finish up our unit in SS, practice cursive, and review reading, l. arts, and math. My students all know they will be expected to work until the bitter end! They know I expect reading logs to be done daily, and will be expected to complete work daily until Friday!

I am still giving new material to my students, and continue to teach my GPS. Sure, there are plenty here who are having “game days,” but I have found in my numerous years of teaching that if you DON’T provide structure, the kids lose their marbles, and you have discipline problems.

My students know I have high expectations from them; I know when to stop beating that dead horse-Friday!

By Still_Teaching!

May 23, 2006 03:52 PM | Link to this

Does anyone who doesn’t work outside of a school ever see the checklists of STUFF that has to be done prior to the last day??? It is nervewracking!!!

I got grief from some of my colleagues for giving ‘real work’ this week. Their classes had “puzzle day,” “game day,” and “p.js. and movie day.” My class is still jazzed because they are perfecting their cursive, writing letters to their third grade teachers, writing letters to rising second graders, and working on wrapping up our SS unit on Australia.

I do have several who have decided, however, that they’re already on vacation. Quick phone calls home have remedied that! We don’t have a choice as to when we have to collect books- we are TOLD when we have to submit book numbers to make sure everything is accounted for. Much of our day is no longer planned by us-Administrators plan special events, etc. that eat into our teaching time.

My busy class is a happy class—and they’re doing meaningful work.

At the HS level those kids don’t even start finals until tomorrow!!! No time for them to have any downtime-unless of course, if you are a graduating senior..then it’s “Finding Nemo!”

By hot_mama

May 23, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this

The best part about summer is LESS TRAFFIC!!

By Ernest

May 23, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this

My point from my earlier post is that we seem to have more ‘non productive’ time in our 180 day school year. In fairness, more is being asked of everyone, from the central office staff to those in the trenches at the local school house. More depsite the fact the school day has remained the same as the school year. Maybe it’s time to consider lengthening one or the other….

By VAL

May 23, 2006 05:09 PM | Link to this

High School kids have been playing Cranium in the classrooms, watching movies, and leaving ampus. No one seems to care. AP exams were 2 weeks ago, and in those classes, teaching has just been non-existent.
In the Middle schools, movies and “Field Day” are the activities. Same for elementary schools, except they add more class parties and awards ceremonies.

By decaturparent

May 23, 2006 05:26 PM | Link to this

Ernest, lenghtening the day or year will do no good. The kids are exhausted. You can’t teach dead kids anything.

Kids need to be kids - if either the day or are lengthened, I would pull my kids in a heartbeat and so would a lot of other parents whose kids don’t need extra hours. Kids who work hard and excel shouldn’t be punished because there are kids with families who (for whatever reason - maybe for good reasons) don’t or can’t give a rip about education.

Let the failing kids go to summer school or after school tutoring or whatever they need, but don’t punish the ones who excel by making them also sit around until dark or for half the summer in perpetual boredom.

And there lies a whole new problem with NCLB…. but that’s for another day.

By Lauren

May 23, 2006 05:27 PM | Link to this

Personally, I like a break at the end of the school year. After the tremendous crunching all through April (for the AP tests) and all the clubs and extracurriculars that are more or less required, it’s nice to finally be able to lay back and actually get to, you know, act my age. A lot of people think that students have a really easy time of it, but unless you’re under the age of ten, that’s not really true. I’ve had projects that require student-made films and other such time-consuming ventures; a trifold is considered completely unimaginative. And all this has to be done at home. Throw in studying the particulars of cellular respiration and photosynthesis and some two-hour service projects, and hey! Will you look at that, I don’t have time to sleep. Are we surprised that today’s youth is living off of caffeine?

Therefore, I say let us have our fun. We’ve officially lived through another year of nose-grinding. It calls for some celebration.

And honestly, we miss a lot more class to standardized testing. I mean, seriously. The students don’t even like missing class for that; I think that says something.

By Lauren

May 23, 2006 05:42 PM | Link to this

VAL: Well, DUH. No offense, but of course AP teachers have stopped teaching. Do you have any idea how much material we have to cover in less than a schoolyear? What separates AP classes from regular classes is that they are much more similar in both content and style to college courses, except high school periods are significantly shorter. Not to mention students like me, who often take more than one AP class at a time. The contract for each class states that about two hours of homework should be expected each night. That’s twelve hours of homework tops. We’re at school for seven hours, and then most of us have work, which is at least four. Throw in one hour for meals. So when are we supposed to do anything else? I’m sorry, but I’ve been watching my GPA steadily decline for four years despite doing my best because I’m exhausted and burnt out, and I haven’t even graduated. I used to like school, and now it seems like a chore, because I literally do not have time to do anything else. The word play is nonexistent in my vocabulary, except as a form of literature that is written in dialogue and is meant to be performed on stage. It’s ridiculous.

By Still_Teaching!

May 24, 2006 08:04 AM | Link to this

Yanno…

I am a wee bit tired of “there’s less teaching going on…” Really be honest and think back to the dino days when we were in school. We had HALF DAYS for the last week. We brought in cards, board games, crayons, etc. and did NOTHING. The last day wasn’t even party day—we went to school and picked up our report cards, and immediately left.

And this was NOT in GA..it was in a n.east state with a MUCH better ranking academically!

There is a greater push-at least in elementary—Kdg. now “is the new first grade.”

So sure, let’s work these kids until the bell rings on Friday. After all, they aren’t stressed from all this testing, etc..right?

By Beccaann

May 24, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this

It has really been difficult. Our 8th grade grades had to be completed by May 18th. I would have loved for us to read, but all library books had to be turned in by May 12th.

By Robert

May 24, 2006 08:50 AM | Link to this

Good grief no!!!! The high school science content is so very full, we have to use every minute. Any teacher throwing parties is not only wasting time but also not teaching the content per the State GPS.

In addition, some students still need to pull up their grade to pass and these last few weeks will determine if they have to go to summer school. A teacher would be cruel to not use every minute to help students pass.

By Mom of Two

May 24, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this

I have a 2nd grader who hasn’t had any homework for the past 3 weeks. All of their school supplies have already been sent home. Books could not be checked out of the school library for the past 3 weeks. I haven’t been able to discern that there is any learning taking place for the entire last 4 weeks of school. When I was in the school last week, I noticed that a majority of the teachers had already undecorated and packed up their classrooms. All textbooks were collected last week. They’ve had field day, game day, movie day, yearbook signing day, beach day and various other social events instead of any type of instruction.

They have the next 10 weeks to do nothing except relax and forget anything they may have learned this past school year. Every school day through the actual last day of school should be utilized for learning.

Of course, if we would implement year-round school, as other 1st World Countries do, the end of the school year slacking off period would be a mute point. Our long summer break is one of the factors keeping our children behind the children in other countries.

By DENISE LLOYD

May 24, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this

I FEEL THAT ALL SCHOOLS DAYS SHOLD BE UTILIZED FOW WHWAT THEY ARE, A DAY OF LEARNING. I WANT MY CHILDREN TO LEARN ALL THEY ARE CAPABLE OF LEARNING WHETHER IT IS THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR OR THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR. GEORGIA IS RANKED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE ACADEMIC SCALE AND THERFORE HAS NO TIME TO WASTE WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING OUR CHILDREN.

By abc

May 24, 2006 09:36 AM | Link to this

Don’t second guess the schools, it’s pointless. Just be a parent, and let the teachers handle the teaching in school.

By cd

May 24, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this

You are right Mom of Two. I have a 2nd grader too and the same exact thing you said is happening at their school in Henry. Yesterday, he said told me that he doesn’t have to take his backpack today and the teacher said that if anyone brings it, he or she will get in trouble. Only playing is what they are doing since the end of CRCT. I just can’t believe the school system in Georgia. I moved from New York and, the way kids learn in NY is much better thant here. I am a very active and involve parent, I am always at school, volontaring, helping, but I noticed a big different. In NY you are two teachers in all classroom and they give the kids a lot of homework to challenge them. One thing I am proud of is I assist my kids and I am always on top of their education and I teach them and no matter what, they know what to do when they get home. Always 1 page of math, writting, reading and comprehension, read a book, etc,. I think we have to help the kids here in Geogia if we can’t afford to take them to private school. Low income people are the one that pay the price of the bad situation in Public school.

Help your kids no matter what. Don’t under estimate them. Kids are very smart, but if they know that the parents are lazy, hey, what do you expect. Stop blaming the teachers, they can’t do everything. The good education start from home.

God Bless, CD

By mrl

May 24, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

Just because a kid isn’t studying a text book or doing worksheets doesn’t mean they aren’t learning something. Children learn through play. God knows children in ES today don’t get enough time to be creative and enrich that part of their lives as well as the math/reading/science/history part!

By VB

May 24, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this

Beccaann, you hit it right on the head! We should all go to a year-round calendar, maybe 6 on/3 off. The research has even shown that summers off have a direct correlation to high drop-out rates.

Aside from that, though, is the flawed reasoning for testing with the CRCT so early. With the technology we have, we certainly could test during the last week of school, and have results back by the last day. I think too much money is being made by some who want to keep things just the way they are, folks like Linda Schrenko.

Those in decision-making positions are really putting teachers in a bad situation. Meanwhile, the children suffer. We really can do better.

By SNY

May 24, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this

VB & Beccaann,

If we go to a year round school, how are those of us who have to work for a living going to find daycare? The daycare centers only accomadate schoolage children for certain hours of the day. They bring on extra staff at 3:00 in the afternoon for the schoolage children. If we go to year round school, they are going to have to find employees that will work funny hours every 6 weeks to accomadate the children running in and out of there. Do you want to have a job like that? Then think about that. Most people send their children to grandmas and grandpas house for the summer, some people have no help at all. For those people, they depend on daycare. What are they going to do if we have 6 weeks on, 3 weeks off? Summers should stay just the way they are. Period. If you want your kids to go to school year round, move to one of the other countries that provide that service. We are asking these kids to grow up too soon as it is. When are they suppose to be kids, every 6 weeks?! That is ridiculous!! If you don’t want your kid to forget what they learned in school, do what I do, keep the worksheets throughout the school year and touch on important concepts every other day at home. This is I went so far as to ask the 4th grade teacher at the private school that my daughter will be attending to put a packet together for me and my husband to go over with her this summer. The 3rd grade teacher gave me one as well. (I have to catch her up because GCPS is behind the private school in their cirriculum). Both of the teachers happily put the packets together for me and my husband picked them up this morning. Her private school let out last Friday. These teachers took extra time after the end of their year to do this for me. That is the type of dedication to excel that I am looking for and I can respect. Now my husband and I have a blueprint for my daughters summer education. She can play all day and when I get home from work (after picking her up from daycare), she will work on a concept or two and then play some more.

By Tamika the Great

May 24, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this

We Need School Choice and End these Disatrous public Schools

By Tamika the Great

May 24, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this

Tamika for President 2008

Its Time for a Change— Its Time for Ms. Tamika as President:)

By Tamika the Great

May 24, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

Bob Hope for VP

By teach overseas

May 24, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

So now we need to make educational decisions based on some parents child care needs? Sorry- educational decisions should be made in the best interest of the child and their educational needs- not what is best for daycare. School is not a day care option for children.

By VB

May 24, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this

SNY, your point is well taken, but without merit. Apparently, you think that public school is a day care service. You are wrong. And, therein lies much of the problem with public schools today. Furthermore, it’s not our responsibility to find day care for anyone. You find it the same way thousands of others do, by being responsible parents using family, friends and private day care services. Some of you are so busy focusing on your own careers that you have neglected your own children. Believe me, it shows in the classrooms and your children know they are low priority with you.

Tamika, I think you are right, school choice might just be the answer.

By Mom of Two

May 24, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this

SNY - What exactly do you do with your children when you’re working during Spring Break, Thanksgiving Week, Winter Break, Teacher Workdays, Early Release Days, One Day off for no discernable reason days, and all summer? The same daycare choices that are available to you then would be available during shorter breaks during a year round school calendar. The organizations that run 10 straight weeks of summer camp would run camps during the breaks. The same day care facilities that take the kids during currently existing days off of school would be available. Where are the stats that say “most” children go to Grandparent’s for the summer. I don’t know any families that do that.

Year round school works in other industrialized countries. They manage to have working parents and kids cared for during shorter breaks. We’re just so backwards in this country and care so little about the education are receiving - or not receiving - that for some strange reason many people seem to consider the public school system a free babysitting service. I shouldn’t have to move to another country to obtain a good education for my children just because you’re not willing to make day care arrangements for yours.

Studies have consistently shown that our children are poorly educated in relation to children in other countries. Studies have consistently shown that it takes our children several weeks at the beginning of each school year just to catch up with where they were at the end of the previous year. Based on the posts on this boards, it appears that several weeks at the end of the school year are wasted while they bide their time after testing, not learning any new material, until the end of the year.

Do the math: 11 weeks of summer. 1 week of Thanksgiving. 2 weeks at Christmas. 1 week at spring break. At least 1 week’s worth of 1 day holidays. At least 1 week’s worth of early release days - usually have assemblies these days with no instruction. 2 weeks of conferences - early release days with assemblies every day and no instruction. 1 weeks worth of Teacher’s Workdays. There are 52 weeks in a year. I just accounted for 20 that have either no school at all or no instruction taking place. Add to that the first 4 weeks of schools relearning everything they forgot over the summer and the last 4 weeks of school where they are getting ready to forget everything. Now we’re up to 28 weeks of not learning. That means that there are only actually learning 24 weeks out of the year. That’s less than half. Pretty pathetic and pretty much explains why our kids lag behind the rest of the 1st world countries.

Oh…and the good thing for you about year round school? The kids will be in school more and off less. That means you would have fewer days to find daycare…not more. That should make your life easier.

By Tamika the Great

May 24, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

NO WAY YEAR ROUND SCHOOL FOR MY KIDS

We need to keep the Summer Vacation!!!!

We all work so hard and need to chill out a little—

Just SAY NO TO Year ROUND SCHOOL

By Tamika The Great

May 24, 2006 03:23 PM | Link to this

I take my kids on 6 week summer Vacations So we cant goto school all the time—

I would cry if they took our summers away!!!

By Tamika The Great Peace Corp Worker for World Peace

May 24, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this

Bottom Line—

School Choice, end the teacher Unions, Privatization of schools will create competion and better schools

By Teacher, Too

May 24, 2006 03:43 PM | Link to this

I try to teach up through the last day of school. I have my students doing various writing activities and grammar games (such as Mad Libs- grammar and silliness). I have pushed my students very hard throughout the school year, so it’s fun to have the last week of school to do some “fun” learning and thinking activities that we don’t have time to do the rest of the year.

Also, it nice to have these kinds of activities that I don’t have to grade.

By I'm a librarian

May 25, 2006 08:31 AM | Link to this

I have to respond to the comments about the school library being closed at the end of the school year. Teachers and administrators don’t know how long it takes to get all those books returned. Actually, I don’t think anyone knows, because they are never all turned in. At the elementary level, we have no leverage for making the families return them. Once the kids are out of school, the books (this year, I’m estimating $500 worth) are gone. Most of the parents won’t pay for a lost book unless forced, and we have no way to force them (Freedom of Information Act means parents must be able to recieve their child’s report card, no matter how much the child has pilfered from the school.). Then, the next year teachers get upset with me because I can’t replace an out-of-print book that they want. If the library closing down bothers you: take your kid to the public library, volunteer to help with inventory or making calls home about overdue books, spend some money on books and magazines for your family.

By Beccaann

May 25, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

SNY - If you didn’t want to be responsible for your kids, why did you bother to have them?

By Beccaann

May 25, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this

As a former librarian, I know exactly what it takes. BTW - our librarian took this last week of school off for a vacation.

By SNY

May 25, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

First of all I am a d*mned good parent to both of my kids. I take more responsibility for my kids then you obviously do. Mine are in private school. My points came partly from things that I have heard from my sister and my cousins because their kids go to school year round. I would never let my kids go to school year round. I had a summer vacation every year and I turned out fine. If more parents would remember what it was like when they could enjoy their summer vacations, no one would ever even think about year round schooling. For the record, when we have spring break and thanksgiving break and all those other breaks that VB brought up, I take those weeks or days off or my husband and I tag team those days. You can’t do that when the break is 3 or 4 weeks long. DUH!! BTW I do not think that school is a babysitting service, school is school. Period. The teachers should teach, the children should learn, then everyone should go home. Not wanting year round school has nothing to do with needing a babysitter. I have a son who isn’t even in school yet and I make arrangements for him. Do not insult me by using that as an escape from the point.
VB, I’m not too busy focusing on my career for my children. I’m busy working to afford food to put in their mouths. I have to work in order for them to eat and have some place to sleep at night. Have you seen the price of everything these days. My kids don’t get alot, but I do give them alot of my time and energy. I am there when they need me and I am at work when I should be.

By Beccaann

May 25, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this

Why do you expect me to take responsibility for your kids when they are not in my class/school?

By Beccaann

May 25, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this

All I said was that I like the idea of year round school and you went into a tirade. I just wanted to point out to you that your child is your responsibility and not the schools. BTW - just keep telling yourself what a good parent you are and maybe someone will believe you.

By SNY

May 25, 2006 12:38 PM | Link to this

How do you figure that I expect you to take responsibility for my kids when they are not in the classroom?

I didn’t go into a tirade, I just pointed out a few problems that people run into when their school system goes to the year round school. I hear it from the horses mouths. My sister and my cousins wife. Neither of them like the new school structure and my cousins wife is a teacher. You think you have problems now, try going to this format. According to the teachers on this blog, trying to keep kids under control under normal circumstances is hard. How hard do you think it would be during the “spring fever” days. At least with our system, kids are only in school for a couple of weeks once it starts to get hot. They don’t want to sit still, they want to get outside and play. After 2-3 weeks, they are out of school and they have 8 or 9 weeks to enjoy the warm weather and have fun. Under the other systems, kids are trying to concentrate when they would rather be outside playing. Compound that with the fact that most kids remember having the whole summer off, because the program is so new, and you have all kinds of problems. According to my cousin-in-law, she makes more phone calls to parents and writes more referral during these months than she does all year long. Year round school is not the answer.

By Beccaann

May 25, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

Let me quote you, ” I take more responsibility for my kids then you obviously do.”

By SNY

May 25, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

I meant than you take for your kids.

By past50mom

May 26, 2006 10:36 AM | Link to this

For elementary school kids who are ready for summer and not wanting to continue structured learning I have a suggestion; start a summer reading program during the last few weeks of school. Take a field trip to the local public library and show them how the library is laid out, how they check out books, and if you have parents accompany you on the field trip you could get those kids signed up for library cards that day. The teacher could bring in library books in the different subject areas, have some reading marathons, oral book reports, and maybe some exercise where they act out the stories, or change the endings. Read poetry aloud, tell jokes, and expand their reading worlds. Summer reading should be the focus for the last few weeks of school, so that the kids will transition their learning to an informal summer reading plan.