Someone in Georiga wants you to think this legislation is asking for a shorter school year, but it’s not. I grew up in New England. We started school afer Labor Day, ended around the 10th of June, and not only had two weeks off during December, but also had a week in February, a week in April, plus public schools were closed on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Columbus Day, plus all the other days they get off. Even snow days were counted into the system. One year we had alot of snow days and had to go to school until June 19th, but it still felt like a long summer vacation. As a parent, former student, and member of a family that lives in several states, I oppose year-round education in the public school system and I support getting back to a “normal” school year. One that doesn’t put my child into a freezing classroom because the school can’t regulate the air conditioning properly during the hot August month, and one that ends at a reasonable time in June so that we can plan family vacations, and summer camps, and summer jobs, and all those things that we did growing up and that we want for our own families. If I wanted more education for my children I would send them to priviate school or home school them.

And by the way, this comment goes to Parag…if you think puting commercial interests over students is despicable, how do you feel about the teacher’s unions forcing the early start and end to accomodate the teachers. That is truly one of the reasons why Georgia schools start and end so early, because of the teachers union. It has nothing to do with helping GA kids get a head start on learning. Oh, that is what sounds good and you can argue that it could be a result of starting early, but it wasn’t the impetus for the change.

Parag - Now I remember reading about that on your blog. It is really despicable that they would put commercial interests over education…is it a Southern thing??

It seems that many summer-tourist-oriented businesses employ high school kids and teachers who have summers off. If the schools start earlier, then these businesses will lose their temporary workforce and they will have to close down for the season earlier. It has nothing to do with kids helping parents on the farm.

This move is mainly supported by people with these business interests and some nuts who generally are against organised education and think that there is nothing to be learnt at schools.

Well I guess that’s an increasing trend.. a jobs paper this week mentioned that ppl are increaasingly putting conscious gaps (of a year or two) in their careers too, just to catch up on life’s pleasures :).. they feel like they have lost out on life by working straight after college etc..with no substantial breaks in between.