St. Mary’s schools propose new calendar

[sockgirl77 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

I got no dog in this fight, but I do think it's sad that we're administrating away our kids' childhood. Summer vacation is a time-honored American tradition; families could get away for a couple of weeks; kids went off with grandparents or other relatives for the summer; they went to camp.

Why on earth would we want to take that away from them?

With this schedule they'd still get plenty of time off.

[awpitt]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

I got no dog in this fight, but I do think it's sad that we're administrating away our kids' childhood. Summer vacation is a time-honored American tradition; families could get away for a couple of weeks; kids went off with grandparents or other relatives for the summer; they went to camp.

Why on earth would we want to take that away from them?

No one is proposing to take that stuff away. Summer break would be from mid-June to the second week of August. Plenty of time for all of the traditional stuff.

[bresamil]

Originally Posted by MMM_donuts

What is the importance of having so much time off? Why don't kids go to school all year long with a schedule that mimics common work schedules? With time off for holidays and a possible vacation time?

Before anyone gets offended that I asked, I'm asking because I'd think it would be an easier transition into adulthood as well as harmonizing the relationship between work and child care for the parents. So, I'm just wondering if kids get 2-3 months off just to have a break from learning or if there is another reason.

Its for their safety and the teacher's sanity.

[terbear1225]

Originally Posted by bresamil

Its for their safety and the teacher's sanity.

That too

[cheezgrits]

Some places go 9 week semesters with 2 weeks off in between all year round.

[awpitt]

Originally Posted by cheezgrits

Some places go 9 week semesters with 2 weeks off in between all year round.

That is very simular to what I did in Colorado Springs around 73-75.

[drivingdaisy]

Originally Posted by ItalianScallion

The problem is that they don't know what to do with themselves during their days off. I know I'm an "oldster" but we had over 3 full months off in the Summer and we never had a problem keeping busy ALL Summer long.

Because their parents didn't teach them or allow them freedoms to figure this kind of stuff out.

[drivingdaisy]

One bad thing about going back a little early is how hot it is in August. It makes it hard to have recess which makes the kids crazy. I guess that is possibly balanced out by winter weeks off when they might not be allowed outside due to cold or snow.

[sockgirl77 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by drivingdaisy

One bad thing about going back a little early is how hot it is in August. It makes it hard to have recess which makes the kids crazy. I guess that is possibly balanced out by winter weeks off when they might not be allowed outside due to cold or snow.

As opposed to the kids playing outside when they're home?

[drivingdaisy]

Originally Posted by sockgirl77

As opposed to the kids playing outside when they're home?

There's nothing teachers can do about what kids do when they are home. I was thinking of what kids get like when they've been stuck with inside recess for a week or so. It's not pretty.