When Should School Start?
Posted by Neena on 08/29/07 in Children of All Ages
As children everywhere prepare for a new school year, a new controversy is brewing. According to USA Today, several states have or are proposing to require that school should start after Labor Day. This is in response to pressure from the Tourism industry and from parents that would like to plan vacations in August.
However, school boards across the nation want the authority to determine the start date on an individual basis. With standardized tests on the horizon, schools need to scramble to make sure that students are prepared. Teachers also want to squeeze in as much learning as possible before the winter holidays.
Today is the first day of school in our school district - the Wednesday before Labor Day. For me this is perfect. It takes children a few days to get settled into their classrooms and their new routines so I look at this 3 day week as an adjustment period. When the children return to school next week (after Labor Day), they will already know what to expect and be ready to learn.
When do/did your kids go back to school? Are you satisfied with the start date?
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Heather | Aug 30, 2007 | Reply
Mine go back on Sept. 4 - and that pretty much the norm. I like going back then.
We’ve tried a few years going back before the long weekend, and to me that’s a bit tough. Families are either going out on their last camping fling of the season, or they have other events planned as an end of summer wrap up.
I can’t believe some places go back in early August though. To me, that make no sense
Neena | Aug 30, 2007 | Reply
I think that schools in the south probably go back in session in early August. That would be reasonable as the heat is probably unbearable. I think they finish earlier as well, to take advantage of the milder weather that May and early June would offer. I am not sure of this, though.