Starting school in early August

Cadenza · 08-05-2006, 03:02 AM

Caddo Parish teachers go back to school this Monday, August 7. The students soon follow on Wednesday, August 9. Back when school started around Labor Day, students and teachers suffered in the heat for at least a month. Now it is two months at minimum. Yes, the schools are mostly air-conditioned, but many have window units that freeze up and leave us miserable. It also means much more of the budget goes to cooling the schools in the hottest two months of the year.

As a teacher, I would much prefer to go longer in the spring and into June, if necessary, and not return until late August at the earliest, and preferably September. The rationale for going back so soon is so that high school students can take their final exams before the Christmas holiday break. It is apparently believed that they are going to forget everything they learned all semester in two weeks. This doesn't say much for the education system, does it? The powers that be think the kids won't study. Truth be told, those who won't study won't anytime, and those who will, will study even over holidays.

My sister teaches in Texas. She told me they have now passed a law that starting next year, no district is allowed to start school before Labor Day. Sounds like a good plan to me!

kansast · 08-06-2006, 04:42 PM

Who starts school.. especially this early in August !

now when I went to school back in the day, we didn't start until after Labor day as well.. Of course we used to go to school, sometimes well into June, due to the number of Snow days we used to have.

Kansast

Cadenza · 08-07-2006, 09:12 PM

Although we have a few "snow days" built into the schedule, we almost never use them. I grew up on the Texas coast and we always started in September. I think you could bake cookies in my classroom right now, without a stove or microwave. It isn't so bad in the "wings" where the A/C is central air. But those of us with window units really suffer.

It is also freezing cold on those rare days that the temp drops below normal in winter. My main heater doesn't work and they can't seem to fix it. I just ask the office to announce for the children to be sure they wear coats to music class. I have a small annex type heater that actually looks like a window unit A/C, but it takes all day to make a difference. If it is bitter cold, they will bring in a gas style heater and hope the fire marshall doesn't show up and discover the violation.

I finally invested over $250 of my own money in a remote microphone unit. I was always getting laryngitis trying to talk over the window unit's noise. At least they seem to have finally fixed the leaky roof and got rid of the termites, at least the ones that were visibly swarming.

Isabella · 08-22-2006, 09:23 PM

Students should start after Labor Day and go to the end of May without so many holidays during the year. If they must have the holidays then go the first week of June. It is not near as hot as it is in August. School buses are not airconditioned.

Shreveopolis · 08-22-2006, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isabella

Students should start after Labor Day and go to the end of May without so many holidays during the year. If they must have the holidays then go the first week of June. It is not near as hot as it is in August. School buses are not airconditioned.

Agree.. school shouldn't start until AFTER labor day. August is still "SUMMER". certainly doesn't feel like the beginning of a school year.

And yes it seems they have more 'holidays' during the school year.

Cadenza · 08-23-2006, 01:19 AM

Whether there are "too many holidays" or not is debatable. But in my experience, we have started earlier and earlier without the addition of holidays. Those have stayed the same. I did notice one "fall holiday" this year that we haven't had before...October 13. I don't know what it is for although it does occur at the end of a nine week grading period. If anything, we are getting out earlier in May than before. It is like the whole year has been moved back a few days each year for the past few years.

Pocahontas · 08-05-2007, 03:51 PM

Here we go again! School starts Wed. the 8th in BC! It is by far the hottest month of the year. I always feel so sorry for the kids that have to ride the bus the first month too. They are NOT air conditioned! That long Elm Grove ride in the afternoon is just unbearable!

Isaac-Saxxon · 08-05-2007, 04:50 PM

ME TOO !

rhertz · 08-05-2007, 04:52 PM

FYI, I agree as well! It's just now getting really really hot!

Texasbelle · 08-05-2007, 06:23 PM

My poor son has a long haul down the stairs to home school! Thank goodness he doesn't have to ride a school bus. I feel so bad for the kids that are going to have to ride them this week. It will be miserable.

joepole · 08-05-2007, 08:26 PM

Students of every grade should go all year long. it's ridiculous in an age when we don't need kids home for the harvest to have three months out of the year when they do nothing.

Pocahontas · 08-05-2007, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joepole

Students of every grade should go all year long. it's ridiculous in an age when we don't need kids home for the harvest to have three months out of the year when they do nothing.

Easy to say when you just have toddlers at home. Just wait and see what it's like when they start kindergarten and have to be in school every day! Your entire life as you know it will change. It will totally revolve around their school schedule and you will look forward to a break from it or at least your wife will!

Pocahontas · 08-05-2007, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texasbelle

My poor son has a long haul down the stairs to home school! Thank goodness he doesn't have to ride a school bus. I feel so bad for the kids that are going to have to ride them this week. It will be miserable.

You must have the patience of Job! I would have a difficult time homeschooling!

rhertz · 08-05-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joepole

Students of every grade should go all year long. it's ridiculous in an age when we don't need kids home for the harvest to have three months out of the year when they do nothing.

OK, if not in the the name of the harvest, how about in the name of carbon credits?? Going to school while its August hot is down right un-American!! Daylight Savings Time is no different. Why not learn or work while its dark?

Isaac-Saxxon · 08-06-2007, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pocahontas

You must have the patience of Job! I would have a difficult time homeschooling!

08-05-2006, 03:02 AM	#1
Cadenza Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Shreveport Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	Starting school in early August Caddo Parish teachers go back to school this Monday, August 7. The students soon follow on Wednesday, August 9. Back when school started around Labor Day, students and teachers suffered in the heat for at least a month. Now it is two months at minimum. Yes, the schools are mostly air-conditioned, but many have window units that freeze up and leave us miserable. It also means much more of the budget goes to cooling the schools in the hottest two months of the year. As a teacher, I would much prefer to go longer in the spring and into June, if necessary, and not return until late August at the earliest, and preferably September. The rationale for going back so soon is so that high school students can take their final exams before the Christmas holiday break. It is apparently believed that they are going to forget everything they learned all semester in two weeks. This doesn't say much for the education system, does it? The powers that be think the kids won't study. Truth be told, those who won't study won't anytime, and those who will, will study even over holidays. My sister teaches in Texas. She told me they have now passed a law that starting next year, no district is allowed to start school before Labor Day. Sounds like a good plan to me! __________________ Cadenza

08-06-2006, 04:42 PM	#2
kansast Advanced Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 108 Rep Power: 233	I agree 100% Who starts school.. especially this early in August ! now when I went to school back in the day, we didn't start until after Labor day as well.. Of course we used to go to school, sometimes well into June, due to the number of Snow days we used to have. Kansast

08-07-2006, 09:12 PM	#3
Cadenza Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Shreveport Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	Snow days Although we have a few "snow days" built into the schedule, we almost never use them. I grew up on the Texas coast and we always started in September. I think you could bake cookies in my classroom right now, without a stove or microwave. It isn't so bad in the "wings" where the A/C is central air. But those of us with window units really suffer. It is also freezing cold on those rare days that the temp drops below normal in winter. My main heater doesn't work and they can't seem to fix it. I just ask the office to announce for the children to be sure they wear coats to music class. I have a small annex type heater that actually looks like a window unit A/C, but it takes all day to make a difference. If it is bitter cold, they will bring in a gas style heater and hope the fire marshall doesn't show up and discover the violation. I finally invested over $250 of my own money in a remote microphone unit. I was always getting laryngitis trying to talk over the window unit's noise. At least they seem to have finally fixed the leaky roof and got rid of the termites, at least the ones that were visibly swarming. __________________ Cadenza

08-22-2006, 09:23 PM	#4
Isabella Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 487 Rep Power: 246	Students should start after Labor Day and go to the end of May without so many holidays during the year. If they must have the holidays then go the first week of June. It is not near as hot as it is in August. School buses are not airconditioned. __________________ Where there is a will there is a way! Last edited by Isabella; 08-22-2006 at 09:25 PM.

08-23-2006, 01:19 AM	#6
Cadenza Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Shreveport Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0	holidays Whether there are "too many holidays" or not is debatable. But in my experience, we have started earlier and earlier without the addition of holidays. Those have stayed the same. I did notice one "fall holiday" this year that we haven't had before...October 13. I don't know what it is for although it does occur at the end of a nine week grading period. If anything, we are getting out earlier in May than before. It is like the whole year has been moved back a few days each year for the past few years. __________________ Cadenza

08-05-2007, 03:51 PM	#7
Pocahontas SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,691 Rep Power: 281	Here we go again! School starts Wed. the 8th in BC! It is by far the hottest month of the year. I always feel so sorry for the kids that have to ride the bus the first month too. They are NOT air conditioned! That long Elm Grove ride in the afternoon is just unbearable! __________________ "The greater your capacity to love, the greater your capacity to feel the pain." Jennifer Aniston

08-05-2007, 04:50 PM	#8
Isaac-Saxxon SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4,421 Rep Power: 327	ME TOO ! __________________ Maranatha Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

08-05-2007, 04:52 PM	#9
rhertz SBLive! Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,834 Rep Power: 303	FYI, I agree as well! It's just now getting really really hot!

08-05-2007, 06:23 PM	#10
Texasbelle SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: In the woods Posts: 1,819 Rep Power: 274	My poor son has a long haul down the stairs to home school! Thank goodness he doesn't have to ride a school bus. I feel so bad for the kids that are going to have to ride them this week. It will be miserable. __________________ One shoe can change your life! Cinderella

08-05-2007, 08:26 PM	#11
joepole SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,606 Rep Power: 268	Students of every grade should go all year long. it's ridiculous in an age when we don't need kids home for the harvest to have three months out of the year when they do nothing.

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