Going back to school on Aug 5.....WHY? (Decatur: lenders, house) - Atlanta - Georgia (GA) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

matt8325 · 08-05-2010, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntownHomes247

I've been wondering about this too. I know they build in extras for snow days but this is insane. Of course, maybe it's a compromise in relation to the idea of year-round school. There's an argument (very valid, if you ask me) that a 3 month vacation is not only anachronistic (since very few kids need summer's off any more to work in the fields), but detrimental to the learning process. Still, I'm not sure a 2 month vacation is significantly better and I'm really not sure if that's the reason they have moved up the start date. Perhaps one of our school experts has more info.

They've been out of school longer than 2 months. Most schools had their last day around May 21st. So, basically 2 1/2 months. About the same as students everywhere around the country. The reason why students go to school so late elsewhere is because they're in school until the end of June. It can be just as hot in June as it is in August, so I guess people who want students to start back after Labor day want kids to be in school well into June ?

matt8325 · 08-05-2010, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

Are you serious?? This is what is wrong with kids these days, the parents are too soft. Parents not wanting their kids in school because it's hot is a joke...SMH

It's hot in Georgia from April until November. Do people want kids to go to school just 4 months out of the year ?

matt8325 · 08-05-2010, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil0311

I knew someone would contribute a meaningful, insightful, and thoughtful comment. Thanks Tony.

What I'm asking is why Cobb County ends the school year in May and starts up in ealry Aug., as opposed to most northern schools that end in late June and start up in early Sept.

For those unfamiliar, like tonygeorgia appears to be, summer begins on June 21 and ends on Sept 21. It doesn't begin in mid-May and end in early Aug. I'm not advocating going to school for fewer days, just letting kids have summer vacation DURING summer.

Actually summer in Georgia DOES begin in Mid May. When I say summer I'm talking about temperatures. Summer in Georgia lasts much longer than up north. By the time kids get out of school in May it already feels like summer.

Neemy · 08-05-2010, 01:31 AM

This drives me crazy, too. I grew up in East Cobb, graduated from Lassiter HS in '88, and I remember my graduation date was June 6. I also remember school usually started at the very end of August - the 28th, or so.

My son is now in the Cobb School System, and he's out before Memorial Day, and back the first week of August. Summers are definitely shorter, thanks to a "balanced" school calendar (http://wsbradio.com/localnews/2009/11/cobb-schools-shorter-summer-va.html - broken link).

When I was in school, we would get 3 days off for Thanksgiving, I think it was two weeks for Christmas, and a week for Spring Break, with various teacher workdays scattered around, as well as Labor Day and Memorial Day, etc. and a nice, long, nearly 3 month summer break.

Now there's a week off in Sept, week off for Thanksgiving, a week off in February, and then a week for Spring Break. They're still getting their 180 days, it's just spread all around.

I do remember when I was in highschool, there was always this talk about going to "year round school", and we were dreading that. Now looks like that idea may be coming to fruition, after all.

The logistics are difficult; it's hard for working parents of younger children to schedule around several week-long breaks.

And, besides, call me old fashioned, but it's still summer!!!

matt8325 · 08-05-2010, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neemy14

This drives me crazy, too. I grew up in East Cobb, graduated from Lassiter HS in '88, and I remember my graduation date was June 6. I also remember school usually started at the very end of August - the 28th, or so.

My son is now in the Cobb School System, and he's out before Memorial Day, and back the first week of August. Summers are definitely shorter, thanks to a "balanced" school calendar (http://wsbradio.com/localnews/2009/11/cobb-schools-shorter-summer-va.html - broken link).

When I was in school, we would get 3 days off for Thanksgiving, I think it was two weeks for Christmas, and a week for Spring Break, with various teacher workdays scattered around, as well as Labor Day and Memorial Day, etc. and a nice, long, nearly 3 month summer break.

Now there's a week off in Sept, week off for Thanksgiving, a week off in February, and then a week for Spring Break. They're still getting their 180 days, it's just spread all around.

I do remember when I was in highschool, there was always this talk about going to "year round school", and we were dreading that. Now looks like that idea may be coming to fruition, after all.

The logistics are difficult; it's hard for working parents of younger children to schedule around several week-long breaks.

And, besides, call me old fashioned, but it's still summer!!!

The end of August is still summer too, and that's when kids used to go back to school in GA.

billl · 08-05-2010, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neemy14

Now there's a week off in Sept, week off for Thanksgiving, a week off in February, and then a week for Spring Break. They're still getting their 180 days, it's just spread all around.
...

And, besides, call me old fashioned, but it's still summer!!!

I'd rather have a chance to go do something with my kids when the temperatures are reasonable than to cram all the vacation time in to the hot summer months. I'm glad they have the weeks off in September and February. Gives us a chance to take decent vacations.

lastminutemom · 08-05-2010, 05:39 AM

It is a very controversial issue. I will say that it is cooler in June than in August. If summer has to be shorter, I believe from a budget standpoint, school should end in June and begin back in late August.

Fulton has actually shortened the number of days students are attending and slightly lengthened (less than 10 minutes) the school day.

roxyrn · 08-05-2010, 06:34 AM

Schools in the Northeast have 180 student days. Fulton County had the same until this year when they were decreased to 177 but extended the school day by 10 minutes to make up the time. Each district can determine start/end dates and vacations. My experience working in a Connecticut school district was that each year the board had parents wanting to change the schedule and so every other year vacation times, start times, etc. were different. As much as we all may love summer vacations, an extended time away from school is not beneficial for kids.

darkone · 08-05-2010, 06:46 AM

And for many students it doesn't matter frankly ...

noah · 08-05-2010, 07:26 AM

Average temperatures: June through August are about the same. Is this really an issue of parents not wanting their kids going to school when its hot our or something else.

It was nice to see Cobb county will now allow kids to have water on the bus. Were they serious in preventing that before. No matter what the temp everyone needs water.

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