Wednesday, April 17, 2002
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Wednesday, April 17, 2002 |
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New Fayette school calendar combines shorter breaks Mr. Beverly, I enjoyed reading your thoughts about the balanced calendar. My child is graduating this year, so I really don't have a dog in this fight, but I do wish they had done it years ago. After a year or so of the new calendar, I'm sure parents would fight like Tigers (no pun intended, Fayette High alumni) if they ever tried to change it back. For one thing, the summer break is not that much abbreviated under the new plan. High school kids will still have plenty of time to take summer jobs, and younger students will still have plenty of time to get bored of the summer break. The change essentially combines briefer one- and two-day breaks that previously have been scattered throughout the school year into week-long breaks that will give students and teachers a better time-out. Kids get stressed out with the academic load they are carrying these days, and with the pressures of this standardized test, that standardized test, gateways, exit exams, ad infinitum. Even the brightest and most successful students begin to look anxious and ragged around this time of year. I wouldn't be surprised if the same weren't true for teachers, as well. We are probably around the same age, and how often did you hear about academic anxiety when you were growing up? You hear it constantly these days. Beyond that, I would have LOVED the opportunity to plan family vacations at different times in the school year, rather than always trying to juggle plans during a spring break period when most of the rest of metro Atlanta was competing for reservations, as well. Ever try to get a cabin at one of our state parks during the first couple of weeks in April? G-o-o-d luck. The real advantage of this calendar is that it will give families better opportunities to spend time together. That in itself is well worth the change. Elizabeth Neal Melizabethneal@aol.com
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