St. Mary’s schools propose new calendar

[drivingdaisy]

Originally Posted by sockgirl77

You also were not required to learn half of what kids are required to now.

I don't know how you could possibly know that since I have yet to post my childhood report cards.

And whether I was required to know it or not, I was usually above level in most subjects because my parents did additional learning things with me. They also made me learn to figure out things on my own so I could teach myself things when necessary.

Not to mention that while there might be higher academic standards in some cases these days, the level of social/emotional/etc abilities have gone way down in many students.

Some kids would surely benefit from a different kind of school year. Some kids can be sucessful even with the current one.

[sockgirl77 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by drivingdaisy

I don't know how you could possibly know that since I have yet to post my childhood report cards.

And whether I was required to know it or not, I was usually above level in most subjects because my parents did additional learning things with me. They also made me learn to figure out things on my own so I could teach myself things when necessary.

Not to mention that while there might be higher academic standards in some cases these days, the level of social/emotional/etc abilities have gone way down in many students.

Some kids would surely benefit from a different kind of school year. Some kids can be sucessful even with the current one.

I have 3 children that are in school. They are learning at a much faster pace than I was ever required to. I was referring to what they are teaching in school now. There is no possible way that you can even think that kids are not learning at a more advanced level nowadays. Well, unless you're a teen mom.

[BushwoodGirl]

Originally Posted by sockgirl77

That's just a miserable way to live. My point was that the kids do not need that long period of time off.

I know you have a sense of humor from your other threads...

[sockgirl77 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by BushwoodGirl

I know you have a sense of humor from your other threads...

Oh I do. I just do not see why anyone thinks that their kid needs such a long summer break.

[MarieB]

Comptroller says no to shorter summer break from school

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot weighed in on Superintendent Michael Martirano’s notion of an extended school year, calling it “a terrible idea.”

Franchot (D) questioned Martirano about plans to adjust the public school calendar in St. Mary’s County to shorten the summer break during a meeting Wednesday on school construction funding in Annapolis.

Franchot said in an interview Thursday he is firmly against start a school year before Labor Day. “It’s mainly because of the kids,” he said, adding that summer break should not be shortened.

SoMdNews.com: Comptroller says no to shorter summer break from school

[awpitt]

Originally Posted by MarieB

Comptroller says no to shorter summer break from school

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot weighed in on Superintendent Michael Martirano’s notion of an extended school year, calling it “a terrible idea.”

Franchot (D) questioned Martirano about plans to adjust the public school calendar in St. Mary’s County to shorten the summer break during a meeting Wednesday on school construction funding in Annapolis.

Franchot said in an interview Thursday he is firmly against start a school year before Labor Day. “It’s mainly because of the kids,” he said, adding that summer break should not be shortened.

SoMdNews.com: Comptroller says no to shorter summer break from school

This doesn't mean the proposal is dead. Despite the Comptroller's feelings there are a few school systems looking to move the calendar around.

[Wolfess88]

Originally Posted by LostNFound

And I ASSumed theyd leave it alone in their infinite wisdom and Id plan a longer winter vaca with my family the next year.

However- I figured assuming rarely works out so I did not plan ahead.
Glad I didnt- apparently whatever the point of that long vacation didnt work out (at least for those making the decision)

I heard they tried in order to turn the heat off for 2 week (save money) - so didnt they? I never did hear why they changed back - if parents complained or what.

Personally- it makes/made no difference to me and year round school wouldnt either. I would expect people to complain MORE that the kids get too many days off- since its still 180 days per calender year.

The longer Christmas Break was put into action to deal with some mandatory furlough days that the County Commissioners set down. Then we had Irene blow through, used up most of the snow days, had to make those up and they rolled it all into a long Christmas break. Then they got a refund on healthcare costs, made up the days lost from Irene and adjusted the calendar back to "normal" the following school year.

[Wolfess88]

Ok the new calendar doesn't change the required number of days, 180, doesn't change the school day at all and would mean that they would get a week in October, then Thanksgiving Break, Christmas, a week in February and then Spring Break. Really not all that bad. As for the Summer Vacation debate, the majority of households both parents have to work, which means for Summer Vacation they can't do the enrichment activities, so the kids are having to entertain themselves. If you look at it now, Chesapeake Charter Schools and some of the Special Ed kids are already on a calendar similar to this, it would mean just putting the rest of the county on this calendar. I think for our children to compete in the global market they now face they needed not only year round schooling but they also need a slightly longer day. And I say that so they can ADD more things like availability to Art, Music, Photography, Drama, Creative Writing, Ethics, Philosophy, slightly longer break for Lunch and in the younger kids cases recess so they can socialize, can be more rounded. We have taken a lot of these extra curricular type classes out of the schools, or cut the funding so the only way the kids can take them is by having the money to pay for the courses. I mean really, the only place I had to pay course fees was college, but now we have to pay for our kids to take classes in our high schools. And if you can't afford it your child may not be able to take the more advanced classes or the extra courses like music, orchestra, band, art, photography etc. Things that help children express themselves. That is the true travesty, not switching the calendar days around, but what little we actually get for our tax dollars concerning our children's education.

[MarieB]

Originally Posted by awpitt

This doesn't mean the proposal is dead. Despite the Comptroller's feelings there are a few school systems looking to move the calendar around.

Yes, I'm well aware of that