MOMania

By TheOne

April 24, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this

This issue is a double-edged sword to me. While it is imperative for our kids to get as much “classroom” time as possible, and longer summers make it harder for working parents (esp. single working parents) to fill the days of summer with constructive activities, family quality time is crucial, too. However, family quality time can and should be all year round….this can come in the form of many activities. So, I have to say leave the school year alone, our kids have enough time to goof off and do nothing!! And no matter how long or short the school year, there will still be parents who will pull their kids out to go somewhere all year long!!

By landsaf

April 24, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

WELL, I am a strong supporter of all year school. I have lived in Asian countries and all go to school year round with 2 week periodic breaks. Now, people wonder why Americans (and Georgians) have a tremendously low education system and graduation rate. (compared to other countries). Parents complain when their kids are out of school for a day for one reason or another, then they complain because the summer break is too short. hmmmmm

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this

landsaf:

I agree. My fiance and I LOVE her having two weeks off periodically. (She is a teacher, I am a software developer after having spent a year as a teacher as well.) This way we can go on vacations wherever we want, essentially at whatever time of the year we want. Want to see Vermont in the fall? Not gonna happen on a “traditional” schedule! What about a vacay in FL in February - when the rates are cheaper and the weather is just as nice? Again, NOT gonna happen on a “traditional” schedule.

Those who worry about daycare: Daycare centers will adapt to whatever the schools do. They will have to, to stay in business. The fact that you worry about it so much shows EXACTLY what you think of school as…

By Clint

April 24, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this

I agree 100% with your comments about how you felt about the three month summers we used to get. I personally believe that our children are missing out on other important learning opportunities by the shortened summers. I would gladly go back to the longer summers right now without hesitation.

By JJ

April 24, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

I think its too long, especially if you have pre-teens or young teenagers. There aren’t enough programs available for this age group. The kids are left at home every day, and god only knows what they get into. Times have changed since we were kids…….. Most of the “day” camps are geared towards the stay-at-home mom, with times like 9 - 1:00, for ages 10 and under?????. How in the world do I get my kid to a “day camp” when I work 7-3, and work one hour away from home?????

I wish we had more programs available ALL DAY long for pre-teens, etc……

By Darrell

April 24, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

I say one option is to extend the school day itself. You don’t want to add to the 5 o’clock rush hour traffic with school buses and parents picking up their kids, but extending the school day an hour a day would almost be like adding a day a week. My children’s current school changed their hours by pushing back their start time by 15 minutes becuase of traffic issues, which made 2:45 as the let out time, but the school still goes by the old release time and has kids lined up for car riders before 2:30 and bus calls start at 2:30. What happened to that 15 minutes of education? Gone like the wind. Part of the problem is school systems doing what they say they are going to do. School meals are terrible, overall. Divorced parents are great in number. Parents have to plan around splitting up school breaks. At least, I do. I get my children spring break one year and fall berak the next. I prefer a long summer personally, and with no real reason to support it, just what I pefer. Actaully, if I could, I would home school my children. I don’t think there has been a true resolution to the school problem yet because too many Americans have such differnt ideas and priorities and demands and wants. I had a teacher last year consantly sending home assignments that conflicted with previous assignements, in regards to content. I was the only parent that confronted this issues and it took 6 months before the school board finally got involved and they released the teacher. The principal refused to even look into it siting that if only one parent is complaining, must be a problem parent, and he said that to me in front of the Board. The school system here is terrible. I don’t have the answers, but I have many ideas.

By Coach Nick

April 24, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

I’m a teacher in a “premier” county and realize that over the years the kids essentially pack up the brain and go home after the CRCT. I teach math so i still ahev the end of course test to use as motivation, but after May 8th and before Finals most kids completely check out. I say 170 at the most!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Casey

April 24, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

Well Theresa - I can tell that you’re a stay at home mom. For those of us that work, summer break is a pure nightmare. Having to find a place for our children to be for 5 days a week all summer is extremely hard and expensive.

I know you couldn’t care less, they just stay with you. But for those of us that work, it’s a serious time and financial crunch.

By Work1

April 24, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

The summer breaks are already to long. I think two weeks is enough with Georgia falling behind all other states with education and testing I think these kinds need more school time not less. So I say make the summers shorter two weeks is enough just like any working adult who get two weeks vacation per year. These teachers get to much free time

By Tim

April 24, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

I agree with “TheOne”, this issue is like a double-edge sword. When my wife and I was growing up we were oout June, July and August. We have notice in the last few years our daughters have two months out(June and July). Most of our family gathering are in August. Alot of times they will miss two Fridays in August but we always let their teachers kow ahead of time so they will have their work to take with them. We usually takw two week in the summer to go away for our family time. We never go to other family homes because it’s our time just to be together. We allow the girls to bring their cell phones but they can only use int twice a day so it will not interrupt with our time. so far it works.

With our education and graduation low rate, I am almost tempted to agree to keep the school year longer but i can’t because I look at each child and parent as an individual. We need more parents involved in their child education, not just when they are in trouble. It is so sad to me to see the lack of support parents give to the school but yet they are ready to curse, scream and yell when their child has failed a class or expelled for acting out in class. I was amazed one evening talking to a parent at my daughter gymnastic class. she was speaking on her oldest daughter would not get her diploma because she failed two classes last semester and is failing two this semester. I asked her what was the problem, she said so nonchalant, I send her to school everyday, I don’t know what she is doing. I asked,”where is her daughter seem to be having problem”… she replied, ” she don’t know, she never brings any work home.” I had to step away before I stepped out of place.

By leen

April 24, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

As the mother of two teens, it doesn’t matter to me how long the summer break is. Because of sports the kids have to be at school every day anyway. When my kids were younger, I loved the long break. Now, I think 2.5 months is plenty. What I would prefer is year round schooling, or at least more leeway to pull the kids for family trips. We have a wedding out of state in May, and since we’re spending a lot to fly out, we want to take the boys to the Grand Canyon. I will have to lie to get them excused.

By scott

April 24, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

We do year-round in southwest Georgia, and while it has it perks, it has its disadvantages as well. The main disadvantage is that if you have children who are active in any extra-curricular function, then they won’t have the time away that they do need. Example, my oldest son played baseball for four years, and during the magical 2 week spring break, they had seven games scheduled, so in essence, seven of his supposed ten days off, he was taking part in a school function. My kids are also in the band, which means that during the two-week break in the fall, they had band practice every day and football games on each Friday, so there really isn’t time away during the year, if your kids take part in school activities, and the same is true whether it’s football, band, baseball, etc. They also had one week of band camp before school started in July, so the six week break that’s scheduled turns into five weeks. I’m all for bettering academics, but I believe now that year-round school is not the way to get there.

By just an observation

April 24, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

i agree w/some of the previously posted comments re: summer break. it’s long enough just how it is. actually, i don’t remember ever having 3 whole months off. even in the northeast, when we returned to school after labor day, we didn’t end school until late june. thus giving us only july and august as a break.

By Kaye

April 24, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

To the parent who thinks the homework not coming home is a problem parents can control, dont be so quick to judge. I had the same problem. Teachers do not communicate with you and there is little to nothing you can do. Reports cards are sent out to you once a semister. This does little to help the kids having trouble. Dont tell me that a child having trouble with school is going to bring a progress report home weekly. The teachers dont give them like that. You know that your child is having trouble just before midterms. Its to late by then.

All these teachers have home pages, but if you look, very few of them actually have classwork and homework in it. Its a empty space. Until the schools and teachers allow the parents to check on their kids, its a mute point. I know, I have been there. Thats why I took my child out of the public education and placed him in a private school. Parents need to wake up. Public education is not what its cracked up to be. These kids need the summer break now more then ever. Let them be.

By I_Teach

April 24, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this

….fingernail hit the post key!…

Anyway….. the problem isn’t QUANTITY folks, it’s QUALITY OF THE CURRICULUM. GA’s curriculum is sadly lacking. So,okay, let’s make the school day longer…whatever…if we have substandard materials and substandard curriculum, it won’t matter. If we have poor teacher training, that also won’t help.

“Back in the good old days,” we had off ALL of July and all of August. Went back to school after Labor Day. Standards were different-not lower.

Now, with these so-called high standards (kindergartners must be able to READ now or else ‘fail.’), students are being forced to do work that is against all developmental reasoning. Of course people are screaming for MORE school. More school won’t fix the ills of GA schools.

I teach; I get six weeks off in the summer. I am looked at as if I am crazy if I announce that “I am NOT coming up to the school this summer to plan, decorate, etc.” It is expected that I will be here.

I do recall, however, going STIR crazy with a longer summer break, and having that love-hate relationship with school.

By cemeeli

April 24, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this

I agree with landsaf and Jeff:

I think kids retain more and are more refreshed in year long school than those of a ‘traditional school’. My kid attends a prvt school that follows traditional school calender in additon to 5 or 6 addtn’l days off for what, i’m still today not clear on that. Anyway, as the world is progressing in technology and education is not progressing as fast (here in the USA anyway.) I think it wouldn’t hurt us to step it up a notch with the education system for our future leaders and educators that will be running the country as we become seniors (remember we are grooming futer leaders). Even though for me personally it would mean I would be paying more tuition with the added days of school. After comparing where our Asian neighbors are in education and where we Americans are, hmmm, I would definitly agree to educate year long. & I’d be first in line to sign my children up.

By Teacher, Too

April 24, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

Kaye, I know some school districts have the teacher’s gradebook on-line (Cobb County does) where parents can check on-line to see their child’s grades. If a child has failed two classes previously, wouldn’t the parent see that as a sign that maybe he/she should check up on the child more often? In high school, it should become the student’s responsibility to keep up with assignments and study for tests. If the parent doesn’t see homework coming home or see his/her child studying for tests, then whose responsibility is it to step in?

The teachers that I know and work with return phone calls and e-mails. I would hope this is true for most teachers (I know not all teachers fulfill all their teaching responsibilities, just like all parents don’t fulfill all their parental responsibilities.)

By Jesse's Girl

April 24, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

I’m sure there are those of you who will blast me for this but…..screw the calendar! We take family vacations when we want to. We have taken them in almost every month accept Sept. Luckily, our kids are bright and earn all A’s. We have never had any problem with the school. We explain what we will be doing well in advance, letting them know that we are aware it will be unexcused. Last year the principle excused the week’s absense on the condition that the girls do a detailed geography report on where we visited. They loved it! Education is paramount in our family…we expect and get stellar grades. But family time and making memories is just as important to us. So bring on whatever school calendar you wish…..its all the same to us!

By Becky

April 24, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

Casey, did you not think about the high cost of doing things for your children before you had them??If you don’t want to pay for their daycare while their out of school, you shouldn’t of had them..Guess Theresa writing this column isn’t work huh??

By MM

April 24, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this

Considering we’re still floating around #50/50 in the nation in public education…maybe we should just go back to the older method. Kids have a lot of lessons to learn outside of the school, too.

By Jesse's Girl

April 24, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

Becky…please do not feed the animals:)

By Bill Kecskes

April 24, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

For all the whiners and complainers: sit down and draw up your own school calendar remembering these requirements:

Do the math - following the above guidelines, you have now stretched the school year out to cover a 44 week period. That leaves 8 weeks off.

I’ve got a great idea - Start school on September 1st - go 190 days straightaway through and the children can be home for Spring and Summer on March 9th!

By julie

April 24, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

Just stop with the year-round school and add grade 13. We are already starting our kids at 3 or 4 yrs old. When do they get to be kids and PLAY?

By Lisa B.

April 24, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

One advantage of the modified year-round calendar is that the longer breaks between grading periods allow time for remediation. In the traditional calendar, children are expected to grasp everything during summer school that they didn’t understand during the year. With the year-round calendar, in some schools, a week of remediation is offered during the breaks. That way, if Little Johnny is “stuck” after the first grading period, there’s an opportunity to catch him up before the next grading period begins. Teachers are paid extra to work during the breaks.

This way, the stronger students get more leisure time, and the weaker students get more help.

By Tim

April 24, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

Kaye - I hear what you are saying but we can’t put all the problem on the teachers. You are right we have teachers that don’t communicate. I had one to say my wife and I communicate too much. I email my daughters teachers on a weekly basis. I send note. My wife is at the school at least once a week. I understand that everyone can’t do this and also we go above and to the extreme sometimes but if we don’t who will. I have a problem with that parent because of her nochalant attitude regarding her daughter graduating. When she stated her daughter never bring any work home I asked her have she been to the school and spoke to her counselor, she said she don’t have time because she don’t wake up until noon and by the time she eat, take a bath and get dress she has just enough time to spend with her boyfriend before going off to work. (She works the 4pm to midnight shift).That’s my problem. At some point we all must pull together to raise our children. With the over crowdiness in class room, it’s sad to say that some of our children are getting over looked and labeled as a slacker. There is no way I will accept a failing grade when my child has been to school everyday and has not complained to me about not understanding the work. Being in school physically everyday doesn’t mean you are in school.

By AR

April 24, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

I have lived in GA all my life and would first like to point out that I NEVER received a full 3 month summer break (June, July and August). In elementary school (late 70’s - early 80’s) we always started back after or right before Labor day, but we didn’t get out until the second week of June. By the time high school rolled around, we would start back the last week of August and get out the first week of June. We almost always had a 10 week summer, not 12. The school year has been 180 days for decades so the argument that kids get less time off now than they used to just doesn’t hold water.

I am now a teacher in a metro school system. During the 06-07 school year, we were on a schedule that began the first week of August, had 1 weeks breaks scattered throughout the year and ended the 3rd week in May. This year, due to angry parents, we are on a more traditional schedule. We started back in the middle of August and had very few days off during the year (only scattered single days aside from Christmas and Spring break). Would you like to know what this has done for us? Absenteeism, by students and teachers, has skyrocketed and discipline referrals have almost doubled from last year. Everyone, principal’s included, places the blame squarely on the schedule we had to follow this year. It is obvious, at least at our school, that a shorter summer with more breaks during the year is the most beneficial schedule for the kids.

By This sucks

April 24, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

I think that they should leave everything alone. I mean we are doing the opposite of everything we did as kids.These kids get one day of P.E. a week and wonder why the kids are so fat.We keep change from year round to 170 days and the kids are no smarter. Its all about the parents teach them anyway.We grow up and what ever we didnt like in schol as a kid we change it but some of those things you didnt like made you the person you are today.I mean the kids work,work, work it may be an over load Some parent cant afford to stay home,this is hard on the kids and the parents. I went to college yet I dont own my own company does that make me a bad parent because I think my kid needs a break from the books and just run around release some of that energy he has had bottle up all school year long. Once some parents get home and help with all five pages of homework its dinner time and then bedtime so. Give the kids a break you had one!

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this

Tim:

As a former teacher, I would have gotten EXTREMELY upset with the way you contact teachers. Quite simply put, they do not have the time nor energy to put forth that much effort keeping track of ONE student. (Maybe the elementary teachers, who typically have only 30 or so kids do, but the MS/ HS level - where you see one teacher having upwards of 100 - 200 students in a day - DO NOT. You want to keep track of your kid? Feel free: ASK THEM. DO NOT bother the teacher, they have enough on their plate already. If you have the OCCASSIONAL concern, feel free to voice it. But NOT on a weekly basis! That is what take home folders and agendas are for, and even they can be (ARE!) a major headache. (To the point that I was CONSTANTLY forgetting to do them simply due to how much other stuff was going on!)

So my point: Lay off already!

By Wm.

April 24, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

This is a some what interesting discussion.

From the posts that I read no one mentioned that the 3 month Summer break started when kids had to work the crops over the summer and there was no air conditioning to cool the hot classrooms.

Wanting 3 months off because we used to have 3 months off seems pretty dumb to me.

I think that most employers understand that most parents with school aged children take time off during school breaks. Almost half of my office was out during Spring Break and the same thing happens during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

When you have kids vacation planning is difficult.

Bill Kecskes nailed all of the relevant issues.

By decaturparent

April 24, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this

Casey, you think it’s hard finding good camps and stuff so you can work in the summer? Wait until you try to find a camp during the 6 or 7 two week breaks that you would be stuck with in year around school.

I have friends who work full time and had their kids schools go to year around. They moved to get back to a traditional calendar. It was a complete nightmare for them to find child care when there were no college students out to staff summer camps.

College kids who staff camp and summer daycare programs are on a traditional schedule. They are not around for a couple of weeks in October and March. At best parents are stuck with a school sponsored programs run by burnt out teachers and random “workers” who can’t find regular work.

I know all of this from my friends’ experiences. Year around school is a complete nightmare for working parents.

By Pious opinion

April 24, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Education doesn’t happen is a schoolroom, it happens in your brain. Your brain needs experience as well as memory retention exercise. Most here seem to complain that somebody else isn’t there to provide these experiences for them when not in school. You need to do it and you need time to provide it. Extend the summer.

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

decaturparent:

See the last sentence in my original post today….

By RJH

April 24, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

GA is so far behind the rest of the country that there needs to be 200 days in each school a year.

By Dick

April 24, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

Year round schools, longer summer breaks, shorter summer isn ‘t going to help the education system in Georgia. Until you can get the spoiled brats (not talking about parents at this time) to sit down and shut up when they are told to do so, education will continue to spiral down. Our local school system (south Georgia) will not allow a teacher to give a grade below 60. Why?? Because it might hurt his self esteem.Okay, what is going to happen to their self esteem when their boss chews their butts out for not working.

By MOT

April 24, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

Keith

Per the article on Prom, there was a blogger, Mandy, whom I may have a solution for. I know of no other way of contacting anyone other than this. If you want to contact me to find out the details and then give my info to Mandy that would be great.

Sorry to interrupt the topic today.

By Lynette

April 24, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this

If it were not for help from my folks and my oldest son I would have been up a creek for all the years the younger child has been in school. I just am really blessed and thankful that I get the help that I do. Summers could be a real problem otherwise.

If I feel the need to take a break during the school year and hit the beach the off we go!

By cemeeli

April 24, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this

Decaturparent. What if all schools systems change over to the year long schedule? Don’t you think the day care facilaties and other care givers (even colleges) eventually will follow suit? College sem. schedules are based on traditional school schedules anyway. I don’t see why their calender would switch as well. You mentioned working parents would have a hard time with the year long schedule as afar as getting care for their children when there are 2 week breaks. But camps, day cares and such make there business by how the school calenders are set.

By Cammi317

April 24, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

I don’t know the answer to this summer break question. It’s a double-edged sword as was stated in a previous blog. Given the current status of the Georgia education system, it seems that Georgia children could use all the educational time they can get. On the other hand, with limited vacation time, every working parent would be trying to take off at the same time. How many employers would allow that? What I do wish is that they would bring back daily recess. Right now it seems to be an “optional” choice. It’s given as a reward and taken away at will by the teacher depending on the actions of the class that day. I grew up in Chicago and we had recess EVERYDAY after lunch for 30 minutes in addition to having gym class twice a week. Perhaps if children had a chance to unwind and let loose in mid-day the would be more apt to pay attention and asorb information. As it is right now, they are basically working an 8-3 job with a quick lunch break in between. That’s just my opinion anyway.

By JJ

April 24, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

Casey Theresa didn’t write this article, Keith did……ready the “By” line at the very top.

By Ms. Jones

April 24, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

Kaye My daugther is in high school, and all of her teachers e-mail progress reports every other Friday to me. Great way to monitor their progess. I can tell if she is missing any assignments, and know what her grades are on tests. Therefore, we can address certain items, and if a grade starts slipping, we can immediately correct it. See if your school doesn’t do something like that. They did it at her Middle School also.

By cool breeze

April 24, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

oh, how did we ever have 3 1/2 months off from school and have time to play, watch tv, go fishing, watch cartoons, take vacations, attend family reunions, think, enjoy friends and family and still be able to get into and graduate college? People get stupider or something the last 10 years?

By LM

April 24, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

I went to schools in Florida and Michigan, finished school here in Georgia. I remember 3 month break for summer while I was in school both in Florida and Michigan, but once I moved to Georgia it was a 10 week break. I am much divided with longer/shorter summer breaks and year round school. I see the benefits on each side and have not been able to make a definitive decision about my feelings.

As an aside, my daughter attends Spalding High School. This year we received a notice from her advisement teacher that they were implementing MyGradeBook, great, now I could keep up her grades. I check it regularly not one has a grade been posted. I can’t get a return email. I have called, and have gotten in touch with the advisement teacher, but not one other teacher has returned a call or email. I have tried to keep up with her grades, in high school we don’t get weekly reports may received mid terms, at least two of her teachers don’t do mid term reports. Lucky for me she is responsible and does her homework and makes decent grades. But I still worry since I can’t check her grades online and don’t get reports from her teachers.

By Noelle

April 24, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

I am an advocate for year round schools also. My youngest started school in England, they go year round with breaks in between. This worked a lot better for me as a single parent and my son because he got short intermittent breaks app. every six-eight weeks. He retained a lot more and was more advanced than his peers when we returned to the US. I agree that kids would retain more on a year round schedule. Also most kids between the ages of 12-15 are less productive during the Summer because most camps stop taking kids at 12/13. I have found it very difficult to find things(educational) for my 15 year old to do which do not cost $200 plus per week. …………..YEAR ROUND SCHOOLS……

By MrLiberty

April 24, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

Aw. What’s the matter? The government babysitting service not giving you enough free time with your kids?

Here’s a thought…homeschool them. Then you can finally get into the correct perspective and treat all of your family adventures as learning adventures and it won’t matter when you go.

For as many that whine that the government mandated break is too short, I hear plenty of parents near the end of the break complain that the school year can’t come soon enough. Just why these people have children is a mystery to me, but thank goodness I can help pay for their kids education.

If someone were to give me free $7000-$10,000 day care and babysitting services for each and every kid I drop out I don’t know that I would be doing a whole lot of complaining as to when the day care center is open, etc. But I guess that’s what america has become.

You know the alternative - freedom, personal responsibility, the free market, private schooling and homeschooling. The only recipe for success.

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

Ms.Jones,

Depending on your school system, your daughter’s teachers may have a grade book program that makes that EXTREMELY simple. If that is the case, then I applaud them and I encourage EVERY teacher in that system to use it. (From the way your post reads, it seems the principal at that school may REQUIRE it… the program I’m thinking of also allows secretaries into the system, so it could be that the office handles it as well…) My response to Tim is based more on personal emails and the time it requires. Even when looking at the program - assuming you’ve gotten everything set up and entered - by the time you type up the email, it is roughly 3 min (MINIMUM) per student. Not THAT bad for ONE student - assuming the parent doesn’t respond and that there are no other issues. HOWEVER… multiply 3 min X 127 students (the number of students I had when I taught HS)…. almost 6.5 HOURS spent JUST emailing parents. FAR too much time!

By Ms. Jones

April 24, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

Jeff I understand where you are coming from, it is very time consuming for these teachers to send these progress reports, and very helpful for me. I am able to monitor my daughter’s progress. I keep in touch with her teachers via e-mail and I know it may take a day or two for them to respond. I think it’s a great way to correspond with parents and also with the teachers. Maybe that is something some of us parents could “volunteer” to help out with……????? Sending the e-mails……

By Becky

April 24, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Casey, sounds like you didn’t think before you had children..If you don’t want to pay for their upkeep during the summer, why don’t you become a stay at home Mom? Summer’s aren’t something that just happened..Yes Cobb County does have on line grade checks. I have a co worker that checks for her children regular & she emails & calls the school. They (for the most part) return emails & calls…

By dorrie

April 24, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

Students have to go to school 180 days, no matter how you slice it. What is the difference between eight weeks off in the summer and ten weeks? More screen time? It is so hot in August that all students do is stare at a tv or computer or talk on their cell phones when they are on vacation.

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

MsJones:

Can’t happen. Privacy laws.

What parents COULD do - at least in my class - is give the lecture while I handle the emailing. Habit I developed - particularly at Randolph, where I had a SMARTBoard - was to develop my copy of the notes when I did the lesson plan. At that point, ANYBODY could have given the lecture. As long as I was around to answer the occassional question, it may have even worked out better! :P

By Dick

April 24, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

You know after reading the above items and responses, I have come to a conclusion. Parents wshould ahve decided how these problems/ situation, challenges would be handled BEFORE the pregnancy.

By Tim

April 24, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

Have you heard of teacher planning. The girls teachers email me during their planning time. And so you will know they enjoy emailing me because of my girls high academic. Twice a year the school has conference but they only schedule conference for the children who need it or failing. My girls are above but it’s still nice they keep me informed on all the things that are going on with them. It’s a system that works great for our family and the teachers. As far as communicating with my girls, we do but as a teacher you should also know their are things you would like for the parent to know first(awards, ceremonies, nominations etc.)

I am glad to know that you do not like for your parents to be involved and that’s your right just as it would have been my right to remove my girls out of your class. I guess my response to your point is, that’s the reason why our children are heading the direction they are going because too many of you want the parents to lay off until the child becomes disruptive in your class. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

By Becky

April 24, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this

Sorry for the double post..Jesse’s Girl, OK I won’t. Sounds like you & Mr Jesse are doing a good job of being involved with your children..

By Casey

April 24, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

Hey Becky - known as airhead. If I had enough money, I’d be a stay-at-home mom, but some of us in the real world have to work!

By kp

April 24, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

If you’re really interested in checking up on your students, get a group of parents together and go to the school board. Almost all major pieces of grading software that many schools districts use have a component where parents can check every detail of their child’s progress online. Where I teach, you can check individual assignments, see when the kid was tardy to class, and even set up automatic emails anytime a grade pops up that is below any score. This has made my life much easier, because I don’t have to spend the few minutes I have every day to plan emailing parents grade, and can actually plan for the classes I have to teach. I would be interested to see if there is a correlation between parents who check their kids scores online and the scores of the student. I’m willing to bet that the students who need to be checked up on the most will be the students whose parents will not log on to the service.

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

Tim:

My expectations for parents are simple:

Send them to me with the discipline and work ethic already instilled. If you do, I will take them wherever they are and make them subject matter experts in the class I am to teach them. But I want you to stay the HADES out of my way. My measures are unorthodox and sometimes quite draconian, but they WORK. As I’ve said before, I’m a good mix of Joe Clark, Jaime Escalante, and your Marine Drill Instructor from PI, with a bit of Stone Cold Steve Austin thrown in.

I WANT my parents to be involved with their child’s education. Simply not with me. You should ask the KID the questions you ask me (such as “How is my child doing in class?”) Don’t bother me with such inane drivel! Ask your kid! They have a better idea than I do! All I do is look at the computer!

Ah, planning time. What is that? I had 5 days worth of “planning” time, but three days of meetings in that time. Which leads 2 days to both plan the lessons AND grade papers. Oh, but that’s right. Many parents - yourself included- would rather I simply rubber stamp that “A” on the paper and move on without really telling you that your child is MAYBE average, but certainly not ready for the college level work.

A teacher already works 60+ hour weeks - and that was when I DIDN’T have a wife and kids. That JUST counts at school hours. Not even everything they take home. Guess how much time that allows for THEIR families?

Parents need to quit being so friggin selfish and realize that teachers are already overworked WITHOUT you constantly pestering them!

By Brian

April 24, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

Summers as a kid were great. It is good for a kid to occassionally get bored. Who can forget sometimes just sitting in the sun as a kid? The idea that kids have to have constant activities/camps/etc is relatively new and may not be so good for them. School is NOT a babysitting service. It is absolutely not the place of government to supply ‘free’ daycare (school is far from free but many people seem to think it is). While year round school might have some benefit academically, that is not necessarily what life is all about. I’m for 2.5-3 month summers and perhaps more intense learning during the school year to make up for it.

A bit off topic, but every senior in the state should have to take a personal finance class that includes such topics as the cost of daycare and raising kids, how to balance a checkbook, how to handle credit, savings, how to save for retirement, investments, etc. It is clear not many adults got that instruction until it was way too late or never did. Definitely didn’t learn it and now can’t afford their own kids so expect the government to take care of them.

By ap

April 24, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this

As a teacher, I think that the summer is too short. Many of us are forced to get second jobs during the summer just to make ends meet. It is difficult to find a job and make enough money during the summer when we only get 4-5 weeks off. (For those of you who complain about teachers getting time off, our pay more than makes up for that)

Additionally, school starts so early (for the students) that many of the teachers don’t get a break at all. There are a lot of us who teach summer school.

Like many of the other posters have said, education should not begin and end at school. There are many valuable things that students and teachers can learn outside of the classroom during the summer and beyond. Parents have to be willing to put in the time with their kids. The difference between the education system now and how it was 20 years ago has to do with the fact that we have forgotten that we are working with children. It’s not just about the teacher and the schools (and how long the school day is or how many days we’re in school). There are entirely too many parents who do not take the time to know their own children. We all need to re-evaluate our priorities because the people we are failing are the children.

By Becky

April 24, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this

Casey, I’m not an airhead, so think what you want to. I work out of the home & I am in the real world. There are plenty of jobs that you can work at home, while your children are there with you..Dick, I agree with you.

By JJ

April 24, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

Dick Or sure, this is what you think about when you are having kids.

“Gee honey, before we have kids, I wonder if the teachers will be able to communicate with us about Junior’s grades in 15 years.”

Where were you when I was trying to get pregnant, with all your wonderful advice about parenting????

You sound like a typical poster who doesn’t have any kids, but is an expert at raising them.

And Jeff Sorry, but you are paid to do the lectures. I would not want an unqualified parent “volunteer” teaching my kid YOUR lecture, while YOU, the paid teacher, is e-mailing weekly progress reports…….IMO….

By Tim

April 24, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

You have just proven my point. I would not like my girls in your class. I like teachers who don’t just look at the computer but look at a child for their individuality.

I’m not about to get into that back and forward with you as fas as my girls grades are concern. But I will state this all parents ” including myself” are not interested in that rubber stamp. With my girls being in honors that rubber stamp doesn’t work. Not only is my girls ready for college but the oldest are taking college class now in her Junior year. The question I ask to the teacher ” How are my girls doing in your class” is based because my youngest is so far ahead that at times she forgets she is a student too. She begins helping the others. In which my wife and I have said okay but we notice at times she is rushing to do her work to her others. That’s a problem when she falls below that number we set.

Once again, I am glad to know you don’t like your parents involved. what ever WORKED for you and your parent is fine but as for me and you it would NOT have worked.

By JJ

April 24, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this

Is there anyway to block Casey and her vile comments? She never has anything to contibute, only nastiness. She sounds/posts like a VERY bitter person…… I knew it was matter of time before she came on an started name calling. Anyone else notice how nice the discussions can be until she shows up, spewing vile and unwanted comments?

By Bobby

April 24, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

I think it’s humerous when teachers complain they have to work during their summers, so they don’t have any time off. They still have the weekly breaks during the year, compair that to the TWO weeks of vacation most people get.

By gtfan

April 24, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this

You know, you could solve alot of these issues for both sides, if schools went to quarters.

Once I graduated from HS, I went to GT and we were on quarters for the first 3 years. It was great. After we went back to semester, I didn’t like it. I felt like the 12 weeks was just enough to keep me interested, not burnt out, and forced to stay up on my grades.

You’d obviously have to tweek the cirriculum but it gives a you the breaks that most people want around traditional times of the year with a summer.

Three 12 week sessions instead of two 18 week sessions.

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this

JJ:

My point with that WASN’T that I WANT the parents doing it. Simply that they COULD. I build the lectures THAT exacting. To the point that I built many of them to be COMPLETELY autonomous. - Using Pre-recorded voice recordings, timings, and other automation features. This way, I knew my lecture lasted EXACTLY x number of minutes and that the students could work on the assignment for y number of minutes with me there to ask questions of. Got to be a good combination of my computer and teaching skills, and it worked well to combat my forgetfulness. (When I give a “live” lecture, I can be a bit of the absent minded professor, and that is particularly hard on slower students.) The recordings also FORCED students to pay attention or get lost. And MANY of my comments during assignment time came back to “look at this portion of the notes”. For those with vision problems or any that were absent that day, another benefit: I can print the slides and you get the EXACT notes we took that day, not just the ones your friend happened to get.

Actually considering taking the GPS Math and building a several sets (a complete set covering all GPS standards for each grade level 6-12) of automated lectures. Could be a decent side business for me.

By Ms. Jones

April 24, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this

Tim Please tell me you are not a teacher. You last post was very difficult to read.

and Jeff I don’t want my kid in your class either. If you feel that I, as a parent, am taking too much of YOUR valuable time, then you aren’t the teacher I want for my child. I want my kids’ teachers to communicate with me, not wait until there is a problem. That way, I can be made aware of my child’s progress and “nip things in the bud”. Teen age kids are not the best communicators. At least I’ll get an honest answer from the teacher.
If you are teaching my child, I will do whatever is necessary to communicate with you.

Now, put the shoe on the other foot, and say my kid was failing your class, and acting up. How would you feel if my response to you was “I don’t have time to deal with the teacher”?????” I am already working 50 hours a week, and he needs to stay out of my business. ?????

By Cletus Snow

April 24, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this

I no longer have children in school,but I have grandchildren that I only get to see for extended times during summer,I like the 3 months off. we have grandkids in the Washington DC area and in California, so theres a lot of travel involved.I understand the a lot of families have boxed themselves into a financial lifestyle that require two incomes to support, they do that knowing that they have children that require attention. When summer vacation rolls around they have to find something to do with those pesky kids.Our neighborhood’s full of them latchkey kids, it’s a damned shame that the parents need the big house and a couple of BMWs, so the kids roam the hood till 6:30 or 7:00 when Mom gets home with the rotissary chicken from publix.

By ap

April 24, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

Bobby I was not complaining about having to work during the summer. I was commenting on the fact that many teachers HAVE to work an additional job because of the pay. I don’t know of many other careers (especially those which require a great deal of education) in which people are forced to work an additional job to pay for basic needs (house, food, childcare, etc.).

Most teachers also work enough hours during the school year to make up for the time off. I’ve had many jobs and teaching is the most stressful and time consuming job I’ve ever had.

Additionally, I, along with my of my co-workers, use the summers to take classes to better our teaching skills (in addition to working). I don’t know many other professionals that could put up with all of the extra work and take home so little pay.

It is because of people making comments such as yours that many teachers are leaving the profession for others where the feel appreciated instead of ridiculed.

By decaturparent

April 24, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this

By cemeeli - Did you ever attend college? Colleges have summer breaks precisely so students can get employment experience and other enrichment experiences outside the typical classroom setting. This is when kids have internships, educational travel and intensive, hands-on experiences that get them ready for careers.

Do you know any professors? Did you know that most of the publishing that many professors do happens during the summer? Professors worth their salt don’t just teach - they publish and do research. Summer is the only extended period that they can get research, etc. done. Colleges will never, ever go year around for these reasons.

So, tell me again… who is going to staff these mini “daycares” that you will need all year long? Some minimum wage, second rate, so-called employees that are unemployed the rest of the year? Seriously, who will staff them? Not college students!

Also, Jeff, I don’t look at school as daycare, thank you. I work at home part time as a consultant. I’m one of those moms who is actually involved in my kid’s school… I’m one of the ones looking for them to have more time at home!

Actually, since I don’t use school for daycare, I could actually arrange my schedule so that we could enjoy some “off season” vacations. I’d love a cheap week in Colorado in March! However, I know what a nightmare it is in reality for parents who have to work in an office every day. I’m just thinking of them.

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this

ap:

AMEN!! Leaving was the BEST move I’ve ever made other than asking my fiance to marry me or my Lord to save me.

Only thing I miss is working with the kids. As much of a pain as they generally were, I gentuinely liked it. Just couldn’t stand the PPs. (Parents and Politics).

Ms.Jones:

Unfortunately, parents tell teachers that ALL THE TIME. I GARAUNTEE that if parents did their jobs and let the teacher do theirs, a) teachers would be SOOO much better off, b) teachers wouldn’t be leaving the profession in DROVES and c) we would be near the top in education in this state. We really do have some SMART kids. The problem is the PPs!

By dee

April 24, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this

Summer break really needs to go back to 3 months for the family time, but if you look at GA calander everytime you turn around the kids are out of school for this or that or whatever, if it can’t be year round (which it trully needs to be) then give us the month back. Oklahoma is where I am from and they are just as hot there as it is here and they start after Labor Day because it is soo hot. Legislators really are not the ones to decide school time it should be a state vote.

By JJ

April 24, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this

Jeff Thanks for the clarification. That was very informative. Sounds like you put alot of energy and creativity into your teaching.
Thanks.

By kimadeen

April 24, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

All of this chatter about ‘retaining’ information makes me itch. If your child forgets over the summer, then they have not learned the material and maybe they need to repeat the course. If they have truly learned the material, they will have no problems at the beginning of the next school year. The length of the school year does not concern me…the strength of the curriculum does. As a previous poster stated, if they are in school year-round and the curriculum is sub-standard, the children will still receive a sub-standard education.
My son attends academic camps for gifted students during the summers, and that is one of the reasons I prefer that we not change to a year-round calendar. The experience he gains, regardless of the course he takes, is invaluable and I would not want him or any other child to miss out on that.

By Cletus Snow

April 24, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

JJ @ 1:31 No JJ theres not a thing you can do about blocking Casey or any one else, why would you want to block someone because they said something you didn’t like.If anyone needs blocking it’s you all you do is whine, If you have something to say, By all means say it, and stop the constant whining,Theres enough whining moonbats without you adding to it.

By cemeeli

April 24, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this

decaturparent; I was not implying that there are not any college students that work in the day care, day camp business at all. But we are all aware the is less than most. I did attend a 4 year college and very aware of how “college schedule” are set. I am was speaking of that if this year long school is implamented i believe college is go back to maybe quater system in the like. No need to feel insulted because, if you have more time for your kids and work from home, pick them up at the ring of the afternoon bell then more power to you!!! Congratulations, most the avg. wrkng public are not doing the same. B-ut here is what I wanted you to think on. My comment was on the subject of traditional or year long school schedule. Adding to that surely childcare businesses will follow suit in the event of an across the board change to year long schooling. There wouldn’t be much to complain about getting care.

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

JJ:

Ah, that’s the rub. The more parents want to talk to me, the LESS time I have to build those lectures the way they need to be built. I COULD teach like several others I knew, but a) that wouldn’t be my style and b) I wouldn’t be upholding my own standards for a good lecture.

By SC

April 24, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this

Yes, the summer is to short!!!

By cemeeli

April 24, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this

Oh- Sorry for all the grammar errors in my last post. That tells me my multi-tasking skills have subsided. BTW

By meeeee

April 24, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

Heres the deal. You can’t get kids out of the house and swimming or doing anything nice outside for one day in the middle of January. Summer is the only time most kids can do anything active outside. So, is it swimming for weeks or playing videogames all day that one day off.

By Jeff

April 24, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

meeee:

I was outside in SHORTS in Albany on New Year’s Day. (It was about 75 or so!)

Summer has the unpredictable severe thunderstorms that so many kids are so afraid of that they go inside as soon as a dark cloud appears on the horizon. GA is decently warm enough to do pretty well anything you want dang near anytime you want. (Though I will grant that it can get to pants and t-shirt weather, making swimming difficult. However, swimming is NOT the only outdoor activity to do, and I would go so far as to say that a minority of people actually do it.)

By JJ

April 24, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

meeeee my kids are outdoors all year long, not just nice summer days.

Fresh air is so good for you, no matter what time of year.

By steve

April 24, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

When and if i have children they WILL NOT go to school year round. My child will only go to school 8 months out of the year. My child’s summer vacation will begin May 1st and end September 1st. I dont know why you people that call yourselves parents cant stand up to the schools your children go to.

By Judy Lapidus

April 24, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this

It has been proven that children begin to lose learning within the first 6 weeks of a long break. When there was a 12 week break, the first quarter of the year was review of the previous year’s information. The country as a whole is falling behind the rest of the world academically and Georgia is already near the bottom in the US. Oh yes, don’t forget the move to remove 10 days from the school calendar in Georgia!!

By Mandy

April 24, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

As for colleges, colleges are year round. They do not shut down in the summer. Many students take classes during the summer. I know I did. And as for summer, as a teacher, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had parents tell me at the end of the school year how much they dread summer. Most parents think summer is too long as it is. For the one that said summer vacation would start May 1 and end September 1: That is about 2 months (approx 40 days)worth of school that your children will miss. I hope you realize that your children can be taken away from you for missing too much school.

By Becky

April 24, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this

Steve, guess you don’t know that if a child doesn’t go to school the required amount of time, the parent’s get in trouble with DFACS. You need to research this. When I was a senior in high school (a long time ago) I missed 11 days one quater with a Doctor’s note as to why