Shorter summer could be outcome of Cobb vote Wednesday
As in most districts, proposed changes to the school calendar in Cobb County have riled some parents who fear the system is drifting to “year-round” school.
Some Cobb parents worry that the system is drifting toward year-round schools where summer fun will be far more fleeting.
The board leaning seems to be toward the balanced calendar in which school starts the first week of August and ends right before Memorial Day. In exchange for the shortened summer break, school is out for a week in September and in February. (My own system has adopted this calendar for next year. )
What has contributed to parental unhappiness is that some board members have changed their position on the school calendar since they were elected.
The system maintains that its survey of employees showed 51.1 percent in favor of the balanced calendar.
Here’s what Cobb board members will consider at their 8:30 a.m. meeting, according to the posted agenda.
1. Current Calendar: Most closely resembles the 2009-2010 school year calendar; first day of school is second week of August; last day of school one week before Memorial Day.
2. Mid-August Start Date Calendar: First day of school begins one week later in August; three-day Thanksgiving; Winter Break shortened three days; last day of school one week before Memorial Day in 2010-2011; 2011-2012.
3. Current Calendar Plus February Vacation: Resembles current calendar but adds week off in February; last day of school is Friday before Memorial Day.
4. Balanced Calendar: First day of school is first week of August; one-week vacation breaks at mid-term in September and February; last day of school is Friday before Memorial Day.
For parents who like the current calendar or prefer an even later starting date, the trend in metro Atlanta seems to be going in the opposite direction.
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105 comments Add your comment
Singing to the Choir
November 10th, 2009
6:07 pm
45% of the teachers did not vote and they did not actively seek parental input. While the trend here may be balanced calendar it is not the trend in Texas and other states. Several states have laws on the books that do not allow school to start so early in the summer. Once again, Cobb County is working on that Corn Cobb reputation.
ScienceTeacher671
November 10th, 2009
7:19 pm
You mean there are school boards in Georgia which actually care what parents and staff think about the school calendar?
Reality Mom
November 10th, 2009
7:26 pm
I LOVE the balanced idea….where can we sign up?
Donald Hoffman
November 10th, 2009
7:37 pm
I think school should start after labor day and end the first week of June. Two of the reasons are the cost of air conditioning and Georgia is having kids go to school almost all year long. If the kids were getting a better education, it would be okay, but we are still near the bottom of the pile when in comes to educated kids in this country
Jennifer
November 10th, 2009
7:39 pm
I teach in Cherokee, where we have this type of calendar. I LOVE IT! Remember that it is not a longer school year. It’s still the same number of days. The shorter summer break means that kids get back in the groove a little easier. Many of our parents love having a week off in September. If you’re looking for a vacation to a popular travel spot, September weather is still good, and the crowds have gone home. Yes, coordinating with family out of state means that August is out of the question, but our family up north knows this and we work things out. As a teacher, I really do think my students benefit from this. They get regular breaks, but none too long that we spend too much time playing “catch up.” The area day care centers and camps offer their services during the break weeks. Child care costs are spread out more through the year. But the bottom line? I do believe that it benefits student achievement, and THAT is the most important consideration…not a summer schedule that based on an antiquated agrarian calendar.
Impressed
November 10th, 2009
7:46 pm
Good for the Cobb school board for doing what is right for academic achievement rather than bending over backwards to raucous parents that never seem to have long enough vacations.
high school parent
November 10th, 2009
7:48 pm
I know a lot of people like the balanced calendar but my family would not like it at all. If we had a week off in February, we’d be sitting at home with no where to go. We don’t ski and with money tight there is no vacation $$ anyway. For those who have kids that go to summer camp such as Boy Scout camp, it will hamper their efforts to provide space for all the kids with fewer weeks to choose from. I can’t how it would be cost effective running all that A/C the entire month of August. As far as “catching up”, wouldn’t the same be true of you having all these breaks throughout the school year? You would be catching up over and over. We may not farm around here but we do love our summers! Fulton Co. is actually going in the opposite direction and will not be starting until August 23rd next year.
Babysitter
November 10th, 2009
7:48 pm
Parental opponents of this schedule are just upset because they will have to pay for childcare during the weeks off in September and February instead of getting the free childcare that they have now when they send their children to school. Don’t they realize that it is still the same number of weeks out of school, so they will still be paying for the same amount of time for childcare? Wake up people and realize that the free education in this country is something to be treasured. Research shows that students and teachers perform better with more frequent breaks. Who cares if you have to farm out your kids for a week in the fall?
ECM
November 10th, 2009
7:53 pm
The argument about the cost of air conditioning during the summer is weak. For a school of 1,000 students, it is more cost effective to air condition a school than it does 1,000 homes. I would rather have my children in a cooled school learning something than at home being lazy because “it’s too hot to do anything”. And yes, I grew up where school starts after Labor Day. Starting after Labor Day meant that midterm exams were after Winter break, and the last thing kids will do is study during a break. Just because that’s what we grew up with (or what other states do) doesn’t mean it makes sense.
Also, keeping kids’ minds active continually makes them better students. Keep in mind that hte Cobb County students and test scores are among the tops in Georgia and comparable to other good school districts in the nation, so applying the “bottom of the pile” argument is irrelevant because this only applies to Cobb, not the entire state.
Having said that, I have already contacted my Cobb County representative for the “Mid-August Start Date Calendar” option. It seemed to be the best compromise among the available options. Thank you to the county for welcoming our input.
FulCo teach
November 10th, 2009
7:57 pm
ScienceTeacher and Impressed: You mean in contrast with the Fulton Co school board, right? There is NOTHING in the calendar they just approved that supports student achievement – ALL about greasing the squeaky wheels of the JC and Milton parents (in particular). Just wait till CRCT, EOCT and AP scores come back after next year (especially in our struggling schools). See how grouchy their kids are after only two days off from August through Thanksgiving (no early release breaks), then waiting for winter break until 12/23 (a Thursday, not a Monday). And Ashley was whining on and on about not getting two years of this ridiculous schedule approved at once.
HistoryTeacher
November 10th, 2009
7:59 pm
Who cares what other states do with their calender…180 days is 180 days. As far as Corn Cobb goes, I would think Cobb county is going against that trend, their not worried about farming or harvesting crops, their getting kids back into the classroom. Also cost of A/C doesn’t matter, you can run the A/C in August or June, which difference does it make. Lastly I work in a district that has the balanced schedule and it helps with attendance for both students and teachers.
FulCo teach
November 10th, 2009
8:01 pm
Oh, and the FCSS school board did get input from parents and educators (17-member committee) AND principals AND county office personnel – then ignored not only their recommendations but their reasoning for their choice of 8/9 and then 8/16 start dates.
State Rep. Jan Jones is from our district and is strongly pushing joint enrollment options for high school students in Georgia. Our schools in Fulton won’t open for students until the week after colleges start in Georgia. Guess our school board showed her what they think about joint enrollment, eh?
dd
November 10th, 2009
8:28 pm
To be honest, I prefer a later start date. I feel that block scheduling forces us back to school in early August. Having said that, I also realizre that a later start date is not likely in Cobb (they seemed to make the calendar with a mid August start date very undesireable by cutting into just about every vaction period), so we’d might as well go back one week earlier and enjoy the September break.
Gilita
November 10th, 2009
8:38 pm
As a teacher in another metro county that operate using the “balance calendar”, I find that right before the scheduled breaks, the students are in need of a break as well as the teachers. Intially the parents may think this is not a good idea, but after it is implemented they will understand that the balance school calendar is good for everyone.
Gilita
November 10th, 2009
8:42 pm
You’re absolutely right HistoryTeacher! I really wish many of the policy makers would seek input from those who have work directly in the FIELD! We are on the frontline!
jeanette
November 10th, 2009
8:44 pm
The official end of the summer season is September 24th. This means starting school the first week of August is a mid-summer start, during the peak heat of the season.
Summer provides non-classroom learning experiences for our children and helps them develope well rounded personalities. And, it is often through “boredom” that our children learn creativity.
We could trade this valuable time for a week off here and there, but these random weeks are often squandered and not fully utilized. Summer break is an important part of childhood and if we don’t fight for it, it may soon become a relic of the past. Think about how much your summer break meant to you as a child. So, why don’t you support it for your children?
Parents in other states have fought back. Please visit http://www.savescsummers.com and see how.
YEAR ROUND SCHOOL.
November 10th, 2009
9:02 pm
My kids go to a year round school and I think it it great. Breaks are interspersed throughout the year and it is easy to plan time off, whether you go on vacation or not. The kids retain more information over the break and don’t get burned out from too many consecutive weeks of school. The cost of summer camps is reduced by over 50% because the Summer break is only 6 weeks instead of 12 weeks. It deserves serious consideration.
Love the idea
November 10th, 2009
9:02 pm
Our district uses the balanced calendar and I love it as a teacher and a parent. The September and February breaks have been great opportunities for my family to travel and have some of the “outside of the classroom” education. It’s so nice beating those summer crowds. For working parents, our local YMCA’s, rec centers, etc. all operate reasonably priced “break” camps. When the calendar was first implemented I think that there was some resistance, but now most everyone seems to really like it!
Veteran Teacher
November 10th, 2009
9:13 pm
If you want to create a situation for the more wealthy students to go on vacations during non-peak times of the year then the balanced calendar is the way to go. If you want to improve education, it is not. The calendar causes so much fragmentation that teachers cannot maintain momentum in their respective courses of study. Anyone who has ever been involved in real education–ie, the classroom–knows that students shut down for several days before a major break–and it takes several days after a break to get them back in the flow. Many, many families will take advantage of the break by leaveing a day or two early and getting back a day or two late. Much instruction time is lost. But this is Georgia, where bass fishing trumps education at every turn. And I am a 36 year veteran.
lawdawg
November 10th, 2009
9:15 pm
I’m a Cobb resident, and although I do not have children, I am outraged. Back when I was in elementary school, I enjoyed a traditional Memorial Day – Labor Day summer. Then the school districts in which I attended kept shortening the summer. I honestly do not think there is a good reason for it. If the kids are forgetting things over the summer, the things they are forgetting are things they are going to forget ultimately regardless. A few weeks are not going to make a lasting difference. They are just shifting the vacation time to places on the calendar where vacations are not as fun, where temporary work is harder to find, where utility expenses are lower, etc. The advantages of a longer summer (summer employment for students (and teachers!), summer camps, better weather for vacations, reduced AC expenses at the schools, easier to arrange child care) far outweigh the disadvantages.
Jennifer
November 10th, 2009
9:16 pm
Jeanette, as a teacher, I see no validity to your reasoning. VERY FEW parents use the summer break as an opportunity for “extended learning.” Nostalgia for a happy childhood is not a reason to perpetuate a calendar whose time has passed. You say it will become a relic of the past…yes, that’s true…and about time. There is nothing that is done in the summer that can’t be done with children during other times of the year. The reason for the long summer break, originally, was so the students were free to help their families on the farms. That hasn’t been in necessity for MANY generations.
Charter Mom
November 10th, 2009
9:39 pm
As a parent of one of the very few charter schools in Cobb, we have been on a balanced calendar from the start of our school, although this year our calendar mirrored the Cobb County calendar more….(due to a school move). I love it! A week off in October, which is great, and following the Cobb calendar for most of the rest of the year was very helpful to parents that have other children in the public schools as well. Our school year goes into the middle of June(our charter requires a longer school year), but I don’t see how that is a bad thing….
DWH
November 10th, 2009
9:50 pm
Start a week later in August (when it’s wicked hot), and end the school year a week later in May, ending the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.
TW
November 10th, 2009
9:56 pm
Do what research says is best for learning. And somebody get that kid out of the pool and onto a soccer team or a treadmill.
JMC
November 10th, 2009
10:02 pm
Good move. Student brain drain occurs during summmer. Cut summer. Cut brain drain.
Sleeping with a Teacher
November 10th, 2009
11:29 pm
The fact that so many oppose the balanced schedule is a testament to the previous failings in GA education. Guess what, I don’t want the same education for my kids that my grandparents had.
Jennifer is on point and one of the well thought out, reasoned comments on here.
The uninitiated, misinformed of the “heads in the sand” crowd can not be reasoned with and will remain on the sidelines of intelligent educational reform.
Gwinnett HIgh School Teacher
November 11th, 2009
12:42 am
As an educator , I think that this balanced calendar is a win-win situation for students and teachers. Ten weeks off in the summer is too long -ask most high school students and they will tell you that they are READY to go back to school by Aug 1.The first month of school consists of massive reviewing because most of the students have hibernated all summer and have forgotten important material. For teachers having the break in fall and winter (like in Cherokee) would be a blessing. Teachers will tell you that teaching with no break from Jan 5 until Spring Break ( in April) is too long-kids feel it, teachers feel it and it results in frustration and apathy for all. I wish that Gwinnett would adopt this policy.
Make Learning Applicable
November 11th, 2009
1:03 am
Regardless of what schedule you follow, kids forget what they learn because they are not taught how to apply what they learn to their day to day lives as adults. We focus all our efforts on test scores. Kids memorize what they need to know to pass the test or get the score, then they forget it. What they do remember, they have no idea how to apply the knowledge. In the corporate world, we are seeing more and more high scoring academic stars that have absolutely no problem solving or trouble shooting skills at all. They can quote what their text book said word for word but have no idea what to do when they are faced with a non-text book situation.
Marietta Mom
November 11th, 2009
6:31 am
We all know that when kids come back from days off that it takes days for things to come back to normal. And now they want to add more weeks off during the school year? What a waste of tax payers money. Why not vote on more security for all schools in GA, for better assistance for students who need extra help; especially those with the new curriculum. Example is with the new Math. Students are told that for extra help they can sign up for after school tutoring. Did you know that after school tutoring it is seniors actually doing the tutoring? Current junior and senior high school students do NOT KNOW the new math; they’ve never seen it before and yet they are supposed to help current grade 9 and 10 students? Yeah leave the current school calendar as it is. There’s nothing wrong with it.
Chris Murphy, Atlanta, GA
November 11th, 2009
6:49 am
The new calendars are to accommodate the wishes of faculty and staff, period. There are no studies that show more retention of subjects. The lesser cost of summer camp is certainly a plus, but the fact of the matter is that working parents have it tough no matter what is done. The cost of camp is less when the older kids are also out of school to staff them. I’d have to think that the “balanced” schedule would raise those costs.
A/C doesn’t cost more in August? Check our own bill. Educated in GA, were you?
There’s more to life than can be learned in a school room.
Karl
November 11th, 2009
7:01 am
Why does the GA DOE and Cobb School Board in particular think it is so much smarter than the rest of the country, who for the most part start school after Labor Day? Why do we, time and time again, ignore what the more successful educational systems are doing?
Dan
November 11th, 2009
7:31 am
Why not just end the whole summer vacation….Put cell phone towers at all the schools, promise lap tops, take them away, not release students from school during a flood, go back on campaign promises. I personally don’t give a darn what the teachers or overpaid central office people think about the calander. They are employees that get too many days off as it is. As far as student burn out goes….the last thing this school board cares about is the students…just ask Dr. Crooks about the cell phone tower 25 feet away from East valley elementary. NO FUN OF ANY KIND
EastCobbMom2
November 11th, 2009
7:40 am
We LOVE the balanced calendar. My kids get so bored during the summer. After the first month or so the “novelty” wears off and they are just not having fun anymore. The shorter summer will help them get back in the swing of things too! Plus I’ll only have to find camps for a couple of weeks (to break up the boredom). A break in September sounds wonderful and although we won’t travel in February a break then sounds nice too! A friend of mine already follows this schedule and her family loves it. I’m crossing my fingers for the Balanced Calendar to be the winner!
Public school mom
November 11th, 2009
7:46 am
I understand the value of a shorter summer break but interspersing long breaks throughout the year wreaks havoc for working parents and employers. We are no longer a society where most mothers do not work outside the home. Workers usually only get 2 weeks a year vacation and it is already a huge strain on working families and especially single moms to cover all the non-summer days when there is no school. There are no camps during most of these time periods.
And I agree with veteran teacher. Long breaks in the middle of the school year are MORE disruptive to the continuity of the classroom learning, than a 3 day weekend.
Pay attention
November 11th, 2009
8:00 am
Cobb County School District did seek input from parents. It’s been on their website for weeks:
http://www.cobbk12.org/generalinfo/calendars/ccsd_Calendars.aspx . Also, I was encouraged from the PTA of our school to share my input with the board. The school district’s web site is a very valuable resource of information. More parents should look there first before they complain about not having heard about something.
Ron
November 11th, 2009
8:05 am
What does it matter how the school calendar is set up? As long as teachers must teach to the CRCT and all the administrators are concerned with is the percentage of students passing the CRCT we are fighting a losing battle.
Each year school starts off with CRCT and ends with CRCT. Teachers spend the year preparing the students for the CRCT. As long as this is so it doesn’t much matter if the kids go year round or 50 days we are in trouble.
Our district has the balanced school year, it is ok but I do miss the kids having summer. The problem I have is, when polled, parents were in favor of late starts 65% to 35% yet the school board implemented the balance school calendar. Several in posts above would say good for the school board for bucking the parents and doing what is right. DOING WHAT IS RIGHT is doing what the ones you work for tell you to do.
If the majority of an elected official’s constituents want a vote for later start dates that is how the elected official should vote. Irreguardless of their feelings. THEY WORK FOR US!
Working Parent
November 11th, 2009
8:07 am
My concern is for the working parents out there and how they will juggle their schedule for the mid-term breaks. No one has considered that there are some parents (probably more than you know) that can not just take a week off without losing pay or have conflict at work. Think about some companies in Cobb where they will have multiple people out that week for the kids break. Don’t think employers will like that too much. It is great for the teachers but lets keep the working parents in mind too.
OneFreeMan
November 11th, 2009
8:09 am
I don’t like the idea of year round or balance. I prefer school star after Labor Day and end by the end of May. Make the days longer if necessary.
The kids need to learn more than whatis taught in scholl. Parents need to spend time during the summer.
THis should not be about what make the teachers happy. The current education model is flawed. You learn English every year and it is the native language. Not all students are college bound, yet the curriculum is designed to prepare for college.
Driver’s EDUCATION should be REQUIRED, and it’s not even taught. EVERY student will ultimately drive and very few will used the other crap they learn.
Cherokee Mom
November 11th, 2009
8:11 am
We’ve been on a “balanced” calendar for several years now and I hate it. Trying to coordinate vacation time with my co-workers is an absolute nightmare when all 5 of us want the same week in September off and the same week in February off. Somebody always gets denied. The bus situation is another nightmare. We live in a rural area and my kids are on the school buses for just about 3 hours every day and in August, when it’s so incredibly hot, it’s cruel to make them ride unairconditioned buses (but of course, teachers and office staff don’t have to ride the buses, so who cares – right?).
Gail
November 11th, 2009
8:56 am
High School Parent—–you are right on……I live in Cherokee and we have this calendar and the RICH people love it BUT the majority of the kids are bored….I do not like it at all. I especially hate going back to school in EARLY August. THEN you turn right around and it is FALL break in September. AGAIN most people here go to DISNEY that week.
I wish it were the OLD way. Start after LABOR DAY.
Gail
November 11th, 2009
8:58 am
Cherokee Mom you are right too……and agree with you too Onefreeman!!!! The buses are unbearable fo the kids. IT is still summer in AUGUST!
Cherokee mom
November 11th, 2009
9:02 am
I HATE the “balanced calendar”, I resent it being forced down my throat and I resent Dr. P’s bulldozing it through pretending to have asked the parents.! Here’s the deal…I love time with my kids. Throughout the school year, it’s non-stop school and homework- 4 to 5 hours a night! There is NO time for play or rest, just go, go, go. I can hardly allow one soccer practice a week for all the homework and projects dumped on the kids. So summer time is our main family time. MY kids grow, rest, relax, READ! My older kids need to work to save money for school. Employers are reluctant to hire someone for only 8 weeks. As a nurse, we have to work our vacation schedules so that only one or 2 nurses are off at a time…getting nearly impossible as the summers get shorter. Daycare centers plan scheduled activities for summer programs…but during those ridiculous “rest breaks for teachers” the daycare centers are absolute free-for-alls! Those ridiculous week breaks for the most part only stress parents as they do not have suitable childcare-so the choice is pay and put them in an unsuitable environment for a week or leave them at home to get into all kinds of trouble…not to mention safety issues. AND- starting school in August during 90 to 100 degree weather is STUPID… the buses are moving ovens, the kids aren’t able to go out and play at all because the air is too bad and mostly because the teachers can’t stand the heat. This is all about what the teachers want and never, ever was about what the parents want or what the kids need! Education has not improved one iota! Of course teachers support this…they don’t have child care issues, can plan their vacations without problems and get a break from the kids they get so tired of…not a legitimate reason for these changes.
Cherokee mom
November 11th, 2009
9:04 am
Sorry-didn’t mean to take someone’s name- make me Cherokee mom2
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
9:06 am
Well my post got hung up- so when the raving one from Cherokee mom shows up- know that it was me- and I ditto Cherokee mom
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
9:08 am
Yeah- I know how that “seeking input from the parents” goes…put the questionnaire somewhere where regular, working people can’t find it and only the teachers know about it…been there, got the T-shirt!
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
9:09 am
Apologize if it duplicats-just want to be heard…
I HATE the “balanced calendar”, I resent it being forced down my throat and I resent Dr. P’s bulldozing it through pretending to have asked the parents.! Here’s the deal…I love time with my kids. Throughout the school year, it’s non-stop school and homework- 4 to 5 hours a night! There is NO time for play or rest, just go, go, go. I can hardly allow one soccer practice a week for all the homework and projects dumped on the kids. So summer time is our main family time. MY kids grow, rest, relax, READ! My older kids need to work to save money for school. Employers are reluctant to hire someone for only 8 weeks. As a nurse, we have to work our vacation schedules so that only one or 2 nurses are off at a time…getting nearly impossible as the summers get shorter. Daycare centers plan scheduled activities for summer programs…but during those ridiculous “rest breaks for teachers” the daycare centers are absolute free-for-alls! Those ridiculous week breaks for the most part only stress parents as they do not have suitable childcare-so the choice is pay and put them in an unsuitable environment for a week or leave them at home to get into all kinds of trouble…not to mention safety issues. AND- starting school in August during 90 to 100 degree weather is STUPID… the buses are moving ovens, the kids aren’t able to go out and play at all because the air is too bad and mostly because the teachers can’t stand the heat. This is all about what the teachers want and never, ever was about what the parents want or what the kids need! Education has not improved one iota! Of course teachers support this…they don’t have child care issues, can plan their vacations without problems and get a break from the kids they get so tired of…not a legitimate reason for these changes.
Nikole
November 11th, 2009
9:15 am
Question for high school parent——Do you all go somewhere every week of the summer? I don’t think there is anything wrong w/ staying home for part of your vacation. You still have the same amount of time, just spread out throughout the year.
chanceman
November 11th, 2009
9:16 am
Don’t you think that we should think about the teachers and staff and their well-being a little bit here. First of all, they just took a 2% paycut and many had to use furlough days this year. They are already underpaid for what they do. State insurance just jumped 40-60 bucks again this year. They have to make sure that many kids that were never taught anything by some of the parents, come up to grade level. Plus, have to put up with non-compliant children (with no help from parents)and have basically no recourse for their actions. How about this…Why don’t we say that public education is not a right, but a privilage. Let’s get those kids out who don’t want to behave and cause major issues and let parents actually take responsibility for their learning or put them on some type of track to do “grunt” jobs. I’m sorry, but a couple of kids in each class should not have the right to take up all of the teacher’s time with behavior, so that the majority of kids can’t learn (especially the Kindergarteners that are throwing chairs across the room…it happens more than you would think). Yes, parents should have a “say-so” in public education, but if the state is giving them a free education, then the state should be able to say how things are going to happen. If parents don’t like it, there’s always private or home school. And by the way, unless you have worked several years as a teacher, don’t give me “They only work part of the year” junk, because you do not have a clue what you are talking about. Ask some of those business people who tried to transition to teaching with a big flop a few years back.
Disillusioned Parent
November 11th, 2009
9:19 am
It is very sad that the major complaints on this site are about work schedules and a balanced calendar not being easy on the parents. If you were not interested in making the necessary sacrifices associated to having a child, then why did you have one? Also, why is it such a bad thing that teachers would like a break mid-term? These are the people educating our children! They are underpaid, underutilized and (as noted by the comments on this site) definitely not appreciated. I think people have become far too self-absorbed and have forgotten that it is the children who should come first.
Shayneman
November 11th, 2009
9:22 am
What if you add a an hour a day mon – thurs and have three day weekends every week. Saves money only opening school and running busses four days a week.
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
9:23 am
Summer time- weather is generally predictable, Swim, swim, swim, kids want to swim and play in water. Late dinners with the kids out on the deck, cook-outs, FAMILY TIME. Vacations doing things for all family members to enjoy. Family reunions are possible. Days are long- lots of fresh air and time for kids to socialize, rest. Ever try to plan a February family reunion…right….
Fix the real problem
November 11th, 2009
9:24 am
Why doesn’t the Cobb school system focus on the real problem . . . their inability to educate our children regardless of the “school calendar”. There are thousands of schools system across the country that are very succesful in educating this country’s youth on differing calendars. If Cobb can’t do it in 180 days it really does not matter what kind of schedule is followed! Learn how to educate, then worry about the school calendar.
good old days
November 11th, 2009
9:24 am
Whenever the issue of scheduling comes out, you see a lot of people who just continue to live in this “good old days” that never existed. They somehow thinks summer is wonderful learning opportunities for all kids, or breaks are too disruptive for learning. They think August is too hot, but not June. They think because the summer ends in September, according to the calendar, the nature will bless us with cool comfortable weather and wait to turn the heat up until the calendar says the summer begins. They complain about non-air-conditioned school busses but forget how school buildings didn’t have air conditioning.
It is so amusing…
chanceman
November 11th, 2009
9:25 am
Disillusioned Parent-Well said!
Cobb Parent 4
November 11th, 2009
9:36 am
Disillusioned Parent- Underpaid teachers in Cobb??!?!?!? You must be kidding. Check out http://www.opengeorgia.gov.
Christi
November 11th, 2009
9:37 am
I grew up in Colorado where “year-round” school meant nine weeks of school followed by three weeks of break, repeated four times. We got an additional two weeks in the summer when classes would be moved to the next grade and two weeks in December. I remember taking family vacations to Disney World in April when it wasn’t hot, skiing in November and avoiding the crowds, not missing school for regular doctor/dentist appointments, and still attending two-week summer camps. Before you yell at me for being spoiled and “rich,” we took only one of these trips every few years. Having the different breaks made it more flexible and easier on the parents.
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
9:37 am
It is NOT about being easier on parents…it’s about having time with your kids, having family time and allowing kids a break.
Normal day for parents who work and their kids: Up at 5:30…rushing to have breakfast, get out the door, work all day- home at six, some kind of “quickie” dinner…kid does homework until 9 or 10…jump in bed and do it again- Homework, school projects and chores on the weekends- maybe a sport if your kid didn’t have to give it up for school demands. Can you blame us for wanting the long summer days to enjoy our kids and families? Hell, we’re the ones paying for this public schooling…we should have some input!!!
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
9:46 am
good old days -that’s pure BS- June IS cooler than August, September IS cooler than August and the kids DO have great learning experiences over the summer…along with all the other benefits…Do you not have kids that you want to spend time with? And I flat out do not care how hard you had it as a kid! It is bogus argument to think we should inflict our past miseries on our kids, especially since our memories of them are grossly inflated…yeah..the old walked 10 miles in the snow with bottle caps glued to my shoes…I for one want a better life for my kids and have been a mom long enough to that these times are short-lived. And I’m not raising working machines, but people…well-rounded, happy, caring people!
meanie
November 11th, 2009
10:04 am
And who would babysit?
Darren
November 11th, 2009
10:09 am
Cherokee County schools are horrible. The people up there don’t want to pay their taxes. Please, no input from Cherokee County on anything school related.
Smyrna Charter Supporter
November 11th, 2009
10:17 am
I can’t believe the Cobb Board passed it, 4-3, anyone have an idea of who voted how? I’d like to think my rep voted for it….
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
10:23 am
Darren- if that’s the best you can come up with…we need no input from you! Of course we pay our taxes and SOME of our schools are really great-
Disappointed
November 11th, 2009
10:24 am
Disillusioned Parent, you seem to care an awful lot more about the teachers than the kids. There is not one shred of evidence that the balanced calendar begets enchanced learning. As far as the teachers wanting more breaks, maybe they should find a new vocation. It wasn’t a landslide vote for the balanced schedule, so apparently there are some teachers out there that do have integrity and are more interested in educating the kids than having more breaks interspersed throughout the year.
Darren
November 11th, 2009
10:30 am
‘There is not one shred of evidence that the balanced calendar begets enchanced learning’
Baloney. When subjected to the traditional calender they lose approx 6wks material over the summer.
Google it.
school bd watcher
November 11th, 2009
10:35 am
The vote was 4-3 in favor of a balanced calendar:
Abraham, Banks, Cash, Crowder-Eagle in favor of balanced calendar;
Bartlett, Crooks and Morgan – opposed
Bartlett tried to get the current calendar w/ Feb break passed but no go.
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
10:36 am
IF they were to lose 6 weeks material, it is because they NEVER learned it in the first place. Spending six weeks going over last years’ material is ludicrous- Test them when they come back and cover only what the majority doesn’t know…and then follow up with the teachers who didn’t do such a hot job of getting it across!
decaturparent
November 11th, 2009
10:40 am
You can have a balanced calendar for whatever reason you want, but improved achievement is not going to be a result of a different calendar. I was on a calendar committee and we did a lot of research on whether these calendars improve achievement. We looked at Henry County data which showed no improvement since their new calendar was enacted (they have had a balanced calendar for five years or so). We also looked at (nonbiased) university studies, which overwhelmingly showed fleeting or insignificant differences. Here is one study to look at … the most complete and unbiased one we could find….
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070811151449.htm
Our district is going to a balanced calendar next year primarily to use it as a recruiting tool and to give teachers and students a rest. Apparently teachers like it. We did a poll and most of our parents were against it (especially at the high school and middle school level) while most teachers/staff were for it. The admins were strongly for it.
Smyrna Charter Supporter
November 11th, 2009
10:48 am
Thanks for the info on the vote, and I’m happy with how my representative voted….change is good!
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
11:02 am
Well, as the Republicans like to say…change for the sake of change is not necessarily good…
Disappointed
November 11th, 2009
11:04 am
Agreed, Cherokeemom2…again, not change I believe in!!
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
11:15 am
As I see it, public school is paid for by the public, with taxpayers’ money and the needs of the parents and students should be addressed-not manipulated by the teachers and administrators, whom we pay. I sure as heck would not go to my boss and tell him/her that I am now changing my schedule to meet my needs…too bad the consequences to you!
See old blog about out of control school boards and superintendents…
Darren
November 11th, 2009
11:17 am
Wow…guess it’s no big secret why Cherokee lags…lol…
Disappointed
November 11th, 2009
11:35 am
Your lack of maturity is nothing to brag about, Darren.
flipper
November 11th, 2009
11:45 am
Cherokee mom2, the problem is that they get your money whether you send you kids there or not. They don’t give a rip. I have served on committees that involve central admins in my county and the admins are quite open about the fact that they get our money regardless so who cares?
I would suggest that every parent who is ticked off about this write their state legislators. We will need a state law to make the idiots running our school systems knock it off.
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
11:51 am
flipper- that has certainly been tried…and as usual deep pockets won…remember…even the hotels,amusement parks, vacation industry and commerce tried to get it changed…all to no avail. The people are captive to these folks…we need to get rid of all school boards and superintendents and replace with watch groups not in someone’s pockets.
Shorter summer could be outcome of Cobb vote Wednesday | Get Schooled School’s Rate
November 11th, 2009
2:33 pm
[...] more: Shorter summer could be outcome of Cobb vote Wednesday | Get Schooled By admin | category: calendar school | tags: bring, brown-bag, county, fear-the-system, [...]
Good Old Days... NOT
November 11th, 2009
2:48 pm
Cherokee Mom 2 obviously is educated by this inferior balanced schedule Cherokee county schools. Her argument lacks any logic and consistency.
She just wants everything that is convenient for her – sort of like Kindergarteners’ logic – not fair if you don’t get what you want.
I think educationally, having schools spread out over a loner period is more beneficial to students. Teachers won’t be as worn out – of course we need to figure out the way to compensate teachers slightly differently as such a calendar does perhaps limit teachers’ ability to get any supplemental income during the “summer.”
Working Mom
November 11th, 2009
2:49 pm
People keep saying that is the same amount of time off causing child care issues so why does it matter but good childcare is not easy to find. Summer breaks give more options for activities for the kids and allows for the option of college students providing child care while Sept and Feb breaks do not. For children who are in high school and older, they do not need childcare. For those under 8, there are daycares. But 8-13 year olds are bored at daycares and too young to stay home alone. It isn’t just the money that is a problem, it is the availability of appropriate child care,
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
4:07 pm
Good Old Days… NOT..you are clearly not interested in what I have to say …just because you disagree with me does not make me illogical. I never said anything about convenience- just what’s best for my family and my kids.. Clearly YOU are a teachers’ advocate and I am a child advocate…we’re never going to agree…but that is not a reason for you to be snotty towards me.
marlene esplin
November 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
As a Cobb parent, I feel deceived and encouraged to move elsewhere. Why the district wants to waste needed funds on utility costs is baffling. Moreover, this decision was made under the radar and without the input of parents and teachers. Hoping all will remember the “yes” votes come election time.
Sarge
November 11th, 2009
5:17 pm
High School Parent, it would appear that your primary consideration, relative to school scheduling, is the convenience/inconvenience imposed on family functions. Are you suggesting that, rhetoricaly speaking, the world should adjust to fit your personal schedules? Balanced school schedules notwithstanding, let’s just adapt to whatever it takes to get these kids up to speed with the rest of the world…I would think that’s the absolute least we can expect of ourselves.
You express concern over the fact that, given a week off in February, you would be compelled to sit at home with nowhere to go…what’s that all about? The family must be entertained or all bets are off? It’s just a suggestion…you may wish to re-evaluate your priorities.
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
5:37 pm
Since my child is blessed with a propensity for high achievement and is way ahead academically, catching up isn’t a problem here, but I could be convinced with reasonable proof that there was anything to be gained FOR THE KIDS. BUt Iet’s admit what’s really going on here- it has absolutely NOTHING to do with catching kids up. and everything to do with catering to public school teachers’ and administrators’ desires…NO evidence has been given that the kids have gained a single thing by this schedule. Use another tactic…but be honest!
Good Old Days... NOT
November 11th, 2009
7:19 pm
Cherokee mom2,
One of the principles for effective teaching by US Dept of Ed is that learning be spread over time. Clearly, nothing in education is clear cut, and a focused experience may be helpful in some cases. But, in general, it is helpful for learners to have opportunities to reflect on what they have been studying instead of keep moving on.
The huge difference between the traditional summer break and these short (1 week) breaks is that these breaks do happen during the school year. Although teachers probably won’t give students too many assignment over the break, it does give opportunities for students to reflect and digest what they are learning.
You are not asking for convenience when you seem to be focused only on me, my family, my kids, etc.??? I don’t see that as child advocacy. I’m not a teacher advocate. I am more focused on students’ learning, not about childcare, family vacation, etc.
By the way, I try to spend some quality time with my kids every evening/weekend, not just during the summer. So, it makes no difference when they are off.
ScienceTeacher671
November 11th, 2009
7:26 pm
Since people are so concerned about AC costs in August, I suggest we also have vacation in January & February when heating costs are high.
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
8:07 pm
Of course, I spend quality time with my kids- every single day, but it’s busy time during the school year- little or no time for play…as I’ve said before. And it does make a difference when they are off- By October, there is no time left to play outside. By the time many kids get home, it’s nearly dark and by the time homework is finished, it is dark. In the summer, even if they’ve been in daycare, there are still hours left to play outside. Play and family time are as important (if not more so) for kids’ growth and development as sitting in a classroom. Still- no concrete evidence of any improvement in education with this plan…and it’s been in place here for years. Truth be told, if public education was completely restructured in such a way as to produce measureable improvemnt in a child’s education, I would support a calendar that supported the change. But as long as NOTHING is any different except which days the kids attend school, it’s what it is…nothing good for the kids.
Cobb Teacher
November 11th, 2009
8:31 pm
As a teacher I wish parents would stop spending time complaining about the schedule and start spending time on your child’s education & the flawed system at hand. As far as Georgia being on bottom of education as someone mentioned, learn the facts. The schools in other parts of the country do not force everyone to take the SAT – hence higher scores. Also, other parts of the country do not socially promote students. You want to know why so many schools, especially High Schools, do not make AYP well when you have students who can not read, write, or do basic math at the high school level EVERYONE loses! Kids are so far behind they can’t catch up, teachers get the blame for the flawed system, & society gets a bunch of morons….Stop complaining about the unimportant stuff and get off your butts and advocate change!
Just saying....
November 11th, 2009
9:16 pm
Cobb teacher: Not to be mean…but, judging from your grammar and writing here…change is definitely in order.
Cherokee mom2
November 11th, 2009
9:38 pm
Cobb teacher: Well- along with long summer vacations,I advocate teachers with proper grammar and writing skills….
Jeez Louise
November 11th, 2009
10:46 pm
@ Just Saying…& Cherokee mom2 – here’s some support for Cobb Teacher – it is generally accepted in the so-called “Blogosphere” to adopt a more conversational and informal style of writing. It’s a shame that his/her points, which are valid, BTW, are being negated by an ad hominum attack. Outside of a run-on sentence (which is probably the result of a typo – missing a comma – than an actual grammar mistake), the writing isn’t bad – it is definitely conversational in tone, which is ok here. I would be more concerned if s/he were using there/their/they’re or your/you’re incorrectly (and ‘were’ is the correct tense – this sentence is in the subjunctive – just in case you were going to bash my defending of him/her – and ‘my’ is ok to use with ‘defending,’ since defending is being used as a gerund, which makes it a noun, not a verb…I’m just sayin’ (that, of course is a colloquialism…well, you get the point, right).
Cobb Teacher
November 11th, 2009
10:54 pm
I am writing on a blog, not a term paper…which by the way I recieved my Master’s with a 3.9 GPA, scored in the top 10% of the Regents writing exam, and so if you are judging my intellegence/skill due to my rant on this blog then all I can say is WOW! Also, my students typically score 4’s & 5’s on their AP Exams (the two highest scores possible) so yeah…I’m a bad teacher who obviously is unintellegent. It just goes to show you guys are yet again ignoring the IMPORTANT stuff.
Cobb Teacher
November 11th, 2009
11:21 pm
I should have said the important stuff I was trying to bring to light. Yes, grammar & spelling are important in certain situations, but not on a blog. If you read most of the comments on here, you will find tons of grammatical & spelling errors…I suggest that you re-read some of your own comments because they aren’t perfect either.
Thanks Jeez Louise for backing my “poor” writing on here
Good Old Days... NOT
November 12th, 2009
5:38 am
Cobb Teacher,
Don’t worry about Cherokee Mom2 – she just doesn’t have any logical argument to make. It’s all emotional, personal, and self-centered.
Cherokee mom2
November 12th, 2009
6:46 am
I’m just a lowly parent, but I can write with proper grammar, even while blogging. Of course, I hold teachers to a higher standard. Correct use of grammar should be innate in someone teaching children…especially ones who try to tell me that this calendar is necessary to improve my child’s education. Let’s rally round the wagon, though, teachers.
And Good Old Days- all YOU have done is make personal attacks. Fighting for the kids is neither self-centered, nor selfish, but it IS personal and emotional.
Cobb Teacher
November 12th, 2009
7:41 am
I never said the calander is innate to improving the children’s education, you are putting words in my mouth. If you go back and read your previous blogs you use incorrect grammar a lot. Starting sentences with “And” & “But” is not proper grammar, putting punctuation where it doesn not belong is not proper grammar, and using …. in between long senetences is not proper grammar. Don’t be hypocritical! There are several issues with education today and instead of bashing me as an individual, maybe you should have focused on the points I was making. All I was trying to say was there are much larger issues we should focus on besides the calander.
Good Old Days... Not
November 12th, 2009
8:13 am
Fighting for MY kids, MY family, My *** is self-centered. There are plenty of parents who favor a balanced calendar. So, fighting against the balanced calendar does not appear to be “fiting for the kids.” I suggest spacing learning opportunities, which a balanced calendar does some, is better for learning. Certainly, a calendar alone is not going to make any difference, but it appears to be a positive step – certainly better than 10 hour school days, 4 day school week, etc. that have been thrown around as money-saving strategies.
Good Old Days... Not
November 12th, 2009
8:15 am
Hey, CM2, don’t just pick on “fiting”… I guess I had several thoughts in my mind, one of which was something about “throwing a fit.”
Cherokee mom2
November 12th, 2009
12:00 pm
Good Old Days… Not -When the blogging gets personal, it becomes bullying and time to stop. A good beginning philosophy class will help you argue better.
Mom in Henry County
November 12th, 2009
1:28 pm
Try it you will Love it. I’m gonna kick myself for giving this away but here goes. Previously I lived in Atlanta and now live in Henry. The school calendar is what keeps me in Henry county although I work in Buckhead. Instead of taking our vacation in the summer – we now take our vacations during Fall Break – why it’s off season – which means NO CROWDS and CHEAP.
Plus the county and other places around the county offer everything from academic to crafts to sports clinic for the week. It’s easier to man a place for a week than for a day here and there. And prorating after school care is no longer a problem. It’s clean and simple.
So in essence my child goes from end of school to 10 weeks of either summer camp reading, math, history, and/or this year science camp. Back into school for 6 weeks and then we are off to where ever. Plus this gives her a chance to earn the vacation. This year we did 3 Disney theme parks, 2 other Disney attractions – a dinner show, Kennedy space Center, Wet and Wild 6 nights at Holiday Inn Sun Spree Resort a Rental Car for 7 days for $1000 flat. I didn’t have to watch a timeshare presentation or nothing like that. And we never waited more than 15 minutes for any ride – why – because everybody else was in school .
Cherokee Parent
November 12th, 2009
1:43 pm
Cherokee Mom,
I’m surprised you’re so hostile to the balanced calendar. Your district (and mine) is under the same calendar and most parents, students and teachers love it. I agree it probably won’t affect the academics but based on the positive reception it’s gotten in most communities that have implemented it, I would say let Cobb experience it and if they don’t like it they are free to switch back.
Vivian
November 12th, 2009
5:29 pm
The comments here are ridiculous!!!! You people actually believe that a calendar whether it is July 1 or August 1 or September 1 teaches our children. No, they don’t!!!! This is about money and lack thereof. Please if it doesn’t cost more to run the system in the dead of August, then why are our utility bills higher in August? Just our imagination. Can’t afford books, more cuts are on the way, but we go to year round school?????? HMMMMMMMMM