Many years ago in this spot, I advocated for the traditional American school year – nine months of schooling with the summer and holidays off.
As a parent, and a former (technically) child, I cited the financial hardships for parents in securing child care, and the benefits of a full summer for kids, as reasons for my stance.
Then, a number of years later, in another column, I changed my mind, advocating for not just a year-long school year, but a school year of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., every Monday-Friday, 52 weeks a year, minus Christmas day and Thanksgiving.
If working Americans had that schedule, why not kids? Do you think the children in Japan get a week off for Thanksgiving?
I don’t know either, but maybe they don’t, and that’s why they are kicking our butts in science scores, and Karaoke popularity. That, in a nutshell, was my reasoning.
Today, in this same space, I’m changing my mind again.
Recently, some of our local school systems released their schedules for the next school year. That led me to my latest campaign – a return not only to the traditional September-May school calender (again), but also, more importantly, a return to the traditional September-December high school football schedule.
First of all, a little history. In the “olden” days, when kids had jobs during the summers, the school year often didn’t start until September. Neither did football season. And kids went to school 180 days a school year – just like they do today.
Somehow, mostly through common sense, they made it work.
Looking at the newest school calendar, the kids start school in very early August, and have a number of “breaks” (Fall, Winter) that we never had, as well as days off for half-day releases and teacher in-service days, a week off for Thanksgiving, and 14 days off for the Christmas holidays. The school year ends in late May.
Here’s my proposal: Cut Christmas break down to 10 days off; Thanksgiving to three days; eliminate Fall and Winter breaks and some of those other assorted days off; and move back the last day of school back a little.
Voila! You’re starting the school year on September 1.
Now, let’s look at the high school football schedule.
Our team’s first preseason scrimmage was held in the first week of August. First game was August 16. There were two byes built into the regular season schedule. The season, if you’re fortunate, ends with a state championship in mid-December.
If you went back to the traditional one bye week during the regular season, and moved the state championship back one week, you could start your season in – Voila! – September. Or the last week in August.
Here are two persuading reasons why these changes need to be made: 1. Heat Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but it gets hot in Georgia in August. And July, which is when some school systems are starting classes, and most high school football teams start drills.
Kids today grow up in air conditioning, and aren’t used to running around with pads on when it’s 100 degrees outside. It’s a dangerous situation – one that could be easily remedied (as clearly noted).
And, 2. Money. Your taxpayer money, in particular. How much are taxpayers spending to run air conditioning in these huge public school buildings in August, and maybe even July?
I don’t know either, but I figure it’s more than they would be spending in December or January or February if we cut out all these breaks.
What could get this commonsense campaign more traction than our students’ safety and your pocketbook?
I don’t know either.
• Len Robbins is the editor of The Clinch County News. He can be reached at lrobbins@clinchcounty news
