Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Marietta extending school 15 minutes during solar eclipse for safety

People observe a 2012 solar eclipse in Chico, California.
People observe a 2012 solar eclipse in Chico, California.
By Ben Brasch
July 26, 2017

In order to keep Marietta City Schools students and staff out of “harm’s way,” class dismissal will be delayed 15 minutes the day of the upcoming total solar eclipse.

The school system announced the Aug. 21 schedule shift on Tuesday in the wake of both the Cobb and Gwinnett school districts also announcing delays of 45 minutes and an hour, respectively.

Student can be individually picked up at normal dismissal times with parental supervision, the district said. And notes that classes will still start at their regularly scheduled time.

School systems are viewing the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse as a safety concern because they are afraid students won't heed warnings from scientists that looking at the eclipse can burn a crescent shape into the back of your eye.

Some STEM students of the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy are taking a field trip to the North Georgia mountains to see the eclipse.

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On Aug. 21, people living in northeast Georgia will witness the rare eclipse in which daylight will turn to dusk.

About the Author

Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.

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