I vote "NO" to the balanced School Calendar! I have an 8th grader and a 6th grader. My 8th grader did great in 6th grade with a traditional calendar. He struggled in 7th grade with the balanced calendar. The whole year, he worked hard trying to meet deadlines, having assignments to be completed during the Sept. and Feb. breaks, however, the assignments were given on Thursday before break and due Tuesday after break (I guess that doesn't count as an assignment during the break). This year, it is like 6th grade again, relaxed learning and without feeling the pressure of deadlines before break every 3 or so weeks. My 8th grader said to vote "NO". Also, think about the working parent! Not all parents are able to allow a parent to be a stay at home parent. There are not many college students available, programs or other types of care for the middle school kids that aren't quite old enough to leave at home with smaller children. I talking mainly about if you have a 6th grader and/or younger school age children. I often see on Facebook and hear people in our education system talking about how much longer until a break! I think that this is where society is moving toward "learn more" but school the students "less". On the other hand, I see dedicated teachers everyday who want what's best for the students. I applaude them! School is for learning! Do the parents run our schools or do we have educators that are paid to look out for what is best for our children? School vs Disney or the beach....hmmmmm, you decide. (I thought that was what spring break and summers were for.)

#279: Janet Gill - NO to the balanced School Calendar

Yes, school is for learning. Yes educators do look out for what is best for our children.  That is why the majority of educators want a balanced calendar.  The students are taught 180 days on both calendars.  Maybe 7th grade was just too hard for your son regardless of the calendar.  Oh, and long summers were initially created so children could work the farms and the fields.

#279: Janet Gill - NO to the balanced School Calendar 

 

Lean more but school the students less??? Where shall I begin? 180 days vs. 180 days? I'm sorry I just don't follow? Please have your younger child, the one who seems to handle the "stress" of being on a short break, explain to you that they were in school the same amount of time and the same amount of days. Now run on back to the Georgia needs summers fokes and tell them how mean I was to you, if you can figure it out!

#279: Janet Gill - NO to the balanced School Calendar

Everyone who argues that the traditional calendar is better for students academically has obviously never taught a day in their lives.  I worked for 15+ years as a teacher in the Title I schools.  Do you honestly think that sending our neediest students off for close to three months each year benefits their acheivement?  I can tell you that we typically would spend the first month or two of the school year having to reteach and make up for the regression that always occurs over the summer breaks.  Those of you that are yelling about having your 'summers back' can obviously afford the overnight camps, regular trips to the waterpark/pools/beaches, and any summer tutoring that might be available, but that's not the case for everyone.  If we had any common sense- not just in Georgia but around the country- we'd do away with the extended summer break altogether and opt for a calendar that embraces the 9 weeks on, two weeks off (or something to that effect) schedule. That's much more developmentally appropriate for children, and seeing as how the United States  no longer operates as an agragarian economy and summertime is no longer about helping out on the family farm, it's time to adapt to the times.  Here in Georgia, it's so hot in the summers we spend the majority of our time indoors anyway, so my kids might as well be in school.  I'd rather have off the entire month of October than August, when the weather is perfect and we can enjoy being outside, but that's neither here nor there.