Wednesday, February 6, 2002
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Wednesday, February 6, 2002 |
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Year-round school: Time we moved away from old way I have found the news about the proposed school calendar quite interesting. I think that it's about time we move away from a school schedule based on agricultural needs, and one based on student needs. Students need less review time when they have shorter breaks between school years. Retention is so vital when it comes to core subject such as math and reading. Having several breaks through the year will give students and teachers time to regroup, giving much needed rest and relaxation. Thanksgiving week has needed to be a full week off for a long time. My family, along with MANY others, pull their kids out of school so that we can travel to be with family on Thanksgiving. With so many of us living so far away from family, you really do need the whole week off. When I've told teachers ahead of time that my children would be out on those days, the most common response over the years has been that they don't do anything important on those days anyway because they know they will have a large number of students absent. As to the concern that the single mom had about child care, day care centers and groups that hold camps will adapt to the changed schedule. So will the teenagers who like to baby-sit. There will be plenty of time to do special activities during the weeks off during the school year that you can't do in the heat of the summer. The cost of a week of day care in the summer wouldn't be any different than a week during the school year. I have seen plenty of quality programs in this area that fall far below the $750 per week for the three kids Ms. Zhuño quoted. Only the very elite camps charge $250 per week for one child. Keep in mind that the kids would still be getting a full two months off during the summer. To the Fayette County School Board, I support the "balanced calendar" that gives us Thanksgiving (along with several other weeks) week off. My only concern is recess in the heat, but that's already a problem, which one week earlier won't make a huge difference to. Cathie Coppedge Oak Grove and Rising Starr parent Peachtree City
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