Wednesday, April 3, 2002
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Wednesday, April 3, 2002 |
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Forget 'balanced,' reinstate the 'traditional' calendar What ever lies that have gone half way around the world in the form of year-round school with all its aliases (including the so-called "balanced" calendar), it's time we looked firmly at truth and consequences and squared things up for the best possible value in terms of long-term effects as the goals most appropriate to meet the needs of public education. The traditional calendar is the most effective and efficient means to accomplish the public school systems' role in American life (grades 1 through 12). Traditionalists seek the highest standards in academic achievement, optimal opportunities for diversity and individualized growth, and all at the best possible price. Highest possible academic achievement: Maintain onetime effects of memory loss/retention and review. Maintain focus on building stamina and strong work ethic while still providing maximum down time for freedom of choice, and individualized growth potential. Maintain focus on traditional foundation building of basic skills. Optimal opportunities for diversity and individualized growth: Maintain parental influences with their children and sustain family values by utilizing maximum summer block time off from required academic pursuits. Maintain traditional summer programs such as Scouts and 4-H. Maintain remedial catchup opportunity in summer program and especially provide English programs for foreign nationals, as this need continues to rise even in our community. Cost effectiveness: Minimize building use and expenses by leaving only a single magnet school open during the summer for the disadvantaged or to meet remedial needs. Minimize seasonal expenses such as air conditioning costs for all school buildings during the hottest summer months. Maximize teacher compensation and time off for professional development seminars, college courses for advanced degrees, accreditation requirements, time with their own families, time for self-improvement or R-and-R, and time to plan adequately for the upcoming year. Teachers are effectively involved in academic pursuits year-round regardless of the calendar and should be rewarded appropriately to assure the best possible professional outcome. Even teachers' down time provides the opportunity to renew their creative energies and build stamina for their demanding jobs. It's been difficult enough to get adequate pay raises using the cost-effective traditional calendar; the modified "balanced" calendar further reduces the funds available. The best choice: The needs of the school system, parents, teachers, and children are best met by reinstating the traditional school calendar that provides a summer break lasting from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Any compromise of this summer break reduces the effectiveness of the school system. The only acceptable compromise is and always has been the need to offset days missed during the school year for unforeseen inclement weather. Further, there's no need to align grades 1 through 12 with colleges and universities. Children (ages 5 through 18) should have the maximum opportunity for diversity and freedom. It's their only opportunity for a creative, individualized childhood while being supported by both their family and the school system. College life is and should be meant to align closer to the rigors of adult life. Even a modified calendar is a gross compromise that has clearly opened the door for further compromises down the road, as we have seen developing over the last several years here and all around the country. Each time a day, a week, or a two-week block is given up to effect the "balanced" calendar, it further erodes the cost-effectiveness of the traditional calendar and all its educational objectives, as well as further eroding parent/child relationships. Reinstate the traditional calendar. Anything else would be shortsighted and irresponsible. Kathie Prado Peachtree City
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