FORUM
School calendar

Published on: 08/10/2004

Should the school calendar be changed? Tell us what you think.

Please keep your posts to 300 words or less. Comments longer than that run the risk of not being posted. Thanks.

READER RESPONSES

The calendar definitely should be changed. In fact, why not allow kids to return to school after Labor Day, the last official holiday of the summer? While we are at it, change the school hours? My son currently attends school in DeKalb County, where school starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 2:15 p.m. We are no longer in an agricultural ecomony. Kids are no longer needed to leave early in the day to help out on the family farm. Can we get the day to start around 8:00 a.m. and end around 3:00 for smaller children and let the high schoolers out around 4:00 p.m. (they might as well get condition for working hours)?

-- Deirdre Lawson, Clarkston, Georgia

What is the point of school in the middle of summer? Kids want and need to be playing, not sitting in some classroom, which had been cooled by huge air conditioning units, and that causes one to wonder if we really have and energy crisis, or is that a fake? Surely if we really were in an energy crisis, someone bright enough to count to ten could figure out that sending the kids back to school in the middle of summer could not possibly be the answer. When I was young, we started the day after Labor Day and got out the end of May. Don't know about you all, but I think my generation turned out okay. Without "summer" school!

-- Barbara Folds, Bremen

John Donegan accurately summarizes the thoughts and feelings of many a parent. His arguments to return to the old calendar with a later start date are logical. I can add more: the state universities in Georgia, which prepare and certify new teachers, are on a later schedule. There is presently overlap between summer semester at GSU, for example, and new teacher orientation or pre-service days in most counties. In addition, with a later school year, the school breaks would be more evenly spread throughout the school year - a plus for all. Spring break would be closer to midway between the biggest vacations in the school calendar, Christmas and summer - instead of having 13 weeks of school before spring break and only 6 after it, as happened in 2004. Moreover, a later start date will stem the disruptive tide of late registrants, who administrators say continue to stream in until Labor Day. Lastly, all Atlantans are aware o f the lighter traffic on our highways during summer break. Doesn't it make sense to lessen traffic during our worst smog days? I can see the headline now - "Public schools unite to clean up Atlanta's air." Let's get the Atlanta Regional Council involved and make it a reality!

Sue Oltman, DeKalb County

I am not in favor of the current school calendar. I live in Fayette County, where we have a "balanced" school calendar. My child only has ten weeks of summer. I would much rather than she be at home in August, when she can play outside, than for a week in November and February, when she is more apt to spend her time watching TV and playing video games. The shorter summer causes us to have to make hard decisions about camps, weeks with grandparents, etc., as I do not want her to be gone all summer. I would love to see the calendar return to a late August start and late May/early June end.

Sincerely, Joni Owens, Fayette County

Yes, the school year should be changed. I am completely in agreement with John M. Donegan. Everyone from store clerks to friends and family do not think that kids should return to school until the end of August.

Cheryl Moskovkin, Forsyth County

I certainly agree with Mr. Donegan. Starting school in early August is really not a good plan. The children are not attending school any more days and I have always believed if they knew the material, they would not forget it over the Christmas(sorry Winter) Holiday.

When I was a student in the dark ages,1950's, the semister ended in late January. I do not remember that causing any hardship on me or my friends. We were good students and I believe we did very well.

As Mr. Donegan stated and as all of us know, summer is not usually here in late May and early June. It, summer, is here in August. Do not be fooled by the cool weather we have had this summer, all of us Georgians know this is not typical.

Please Georgia Legislature, pass a law stating schools receiving state funds cannot begin before the last week in August.

Thank you, Jean E. Strickland, Douglas County, Ga

I agree with Mr. Donegan that the school calendar needs to be changed to include more time off during the summer. In addition to all of the reasons stated by Mr. Donegan, I'd like to add yet another reason. Today, children's lives are very structured with school and after school activities. Children need unstructured time during the summer to play with their friends and learn to work out problems on their own. They need to learn how to be leaders and followers on their own in a play environment. I thoroughly enjoy the time with my son during the summer, and we both feel that the time is too short and that August is not the time to be returning to school.

Start school after Labor Day or the week before at the very earliest. Eliminate some of the teacher work days if necessary. Shorten the Christmas holiday if necessary. Replace spring break with a long weekend, and end the school year around June 5th. I think the teachers will be able keep their students better focused with less breaks during the school year.

Ginger Burgess, Lawrenceville

Today's editorial clearly gave many arguments for a late August start of school. Three fourths of the country is enjoying a traditional summer vacation during the month of August.

50th out of 50 and still trying to reinvent the wheel when we could be emulating those that spin the wheel successfully.

Cindy Brown, Marietta

The school calendar should be changed, definitely, so that children have their summers back! When my older children were in school, classes started about a week before Labor Day. That was bearable. But as it is now, with most of August taken up by school, summer is painfully shortened at a time of year that most of the country still rightly regards as vacation! I miss the time for family trips and relaxation that used to take place in August. And my school-age child misses out on vacation time with his older siblings and relatives.

Anne N. Rutz, Cobb County

Having read your column in today's AJC I wholeheartedly agree that the School calendar should be changed back to traditional scheduling.

It is beyond belief to me in a climate like we live, that children are going to class, participating in sporting activities and recess in 90+ degree heat.

The fact that the basis of the decision is based on the semester end is ludicrous. First of all, schools have ended the school year mid june and returned to school after labor day for a 100 years. Why do our educators get off believing that they know better than 100+ years of precedent.

But even assuming that the Semester ending in January is in fact a valid issue there are other sensible remedies. For example move to Trimesters or quarters to mitigate the issue. As a final remedy there is always the possibility of lessening the seemingly endless number of "teacher work days" that cut into students class time and extend the calendar of school days.

Georgia wonders why our state is 50th out of 50 in education. It is decisions like this one that serve as a microcosm to the states overall embarassing performance.

Doug Sammak, Atlanta

Over the past six years I have attended The Westminster Schools and have suffered through my exams in January. Westminster begins its academic year the 23rd of August and ends the first week of June. Beginning later certainly has it's advantages as far as enjoying a little more of summer and ending later would not be as much of a problem if other schools weren't out earlier. Westminster's main justification for placing first semester exams after Christmas break has always been the amount of other activities that are occurring in those days before the break. This year, however, Westminster has decided to test us by way of "summative assessments" as opposed to conventional tests.

They have also moved these assessments to before Christmas break, assuming that these will require less concentrated effort than conventional exams and thereby will allow the requisite time for all extracurricular activities and academics before break. Many people in other schools have expressed the concern that exams after break will ruin the break by forcing people to study. While people do spend somewhat more time during break studying, they still enjoy the extra time and decreased stress of not having as much crammed into December. Another concern of people is that the mind is less fresh after having two weeks of break and then there is only one week of review before exams. This is one concern that I will claim to be true to a certain extent because that much time away from school does make the information less fresh in the mind.

If schools were able to lessen the amount of other activities directly before break then I would be all for having exams then, however if Westminster were still doing conventional exams I would be in favor of waiting until January to have them to reduce the December stress. Perhaps if all schools did move their calendars back to beginning in the last week of August people would be more relaxed before the holiday season and it would certainly make better use of summer, however they would simply have to structure review to where it could be done in one week in early January, leaving extra time over break to review if students wished to. In short, it is my belief that a correctly organized shift to a later start date has the potential to be a very positive thing for everything from student's health due to lessened stress and Georgia's economy due to the better use of summer.

Sincerely, John Ellithorp, Class of 2005, Atlanta

I couldn't agree with Mr. Donegan more. My school system has entered it's 2nd year using the "balanced calendar". Teachers returned to work on July 23 and students followed on July 30. I won't repeat Mr. Donegan's many valid reasons for changing the ca lender. Instead I would like to address other issues: First, the school at which I teach had an excellent record last year, in academics and otherwise. The reason that we had such an outstanding school year is because we entered the 2003-2004 session with a major goal - to meet AYP - and that we did. The hard work and optimism that led to this endeavor had nothing to do with school's early start, but with the competent leadership provided by our administrators and the hard work of students and teachers alike. My next point is based on an observation on my part - fewer people took staff development classes this summer, citing "the summer was too short" as a major deterrent. Several of my fellow teachers did not take a vacation trip for the same reason . If I could see any academic benefit from the disappearance of August as a holiday, then I would support it. But as the calendar stands it robs too many people of too many important things in their lives. (For an analysis of the issues cited by Mr. Donegan, please see his editorial commentary in the AJC @issue page on August 10.)

Karen Greene, Covington, Georgia

I really hope this conversation about starting school later will lead to legislation SOON! The current schedule is ridiculous. It's a personal and economic hardship to have such a short summer. It's especially bad for working parents, who have to squeeze their vacation(s) into a shorter period (especially if you have relatives in other states). The schools shouldn't have week-long breaks in the middle of the year unless they're going to offer free childcare; at least in summer there are camps and other activities available. Plus, I'm losing money on my pool membership if I can't have full use of it through Labor Day. Parents, unite and get active! This short summer causes many more problems than it purportedly solves.

Jill Howard Church, Peachtree City

The balanced school calendar that has been used in Henry County now for three years needs some fine -tuning! Band members reported on July 19th for marching band practice and teachers returned to their duties on July 26th. This is problematic because of heat for the students, and graduate courses still in session for the educators.

I was at the Henry County School Board meeting in the spring of 2001 and heard them promise that Henry Conty schools "would always have a bye" in the football schedule during the week-long fall break. This year, games are scheduled that week, in effect robbing every family involved, from cheerleaders to band members to football players, of a week that used to be part of summer vacation!

The semester should end before Christmas break, just as our local colleges schedule their semesters. However, most colleges begin their classes around August 23 or later. As a teacher in Henry County, I believe that the balanced calendar negatively affects student performance because of the break in the flow of instruction throughout each semester. Before and after each week-long break there is a "settling in period" where students seem to be less focused on their studies. I would support legislation similar to that passed in North Carolina restricting the start dates for school systems in Georgia.

Debbie Draffin, Henry County

I would like to see kids swimming and playing in Aug as well. In the mid-west they have extended their day by 20 minutes in order to give the kids more time to enjoy the summer months. they still bank up the same amount of school hours as if they attended 180 days. Our neighborhood pool is deserted in Aug. I would like to see the kids return right around Labor Day and end the 1st week of June. This would give more families time to enjoy together on trips as well.

Tracy, Gwinnett

I would like to see the calendars change to allow for a nicer summer break as well. We should finish up around the 1st week in June and return after the laborday break or just before. In the mid-west where I am from they have changed the day altogether so that the kids add approx. 20 min longer to their day and the # of days spent in school are by hours not necessarily 180 days. if we added 20 minutes in the south than we could change the calendar so that kids can acctually enjoy the month of Aug. Our neighborhood pool is deserted in Aug due to School and sports.

Tracy, Lawrencevill, Gwinnett

As a homegrown Georgian, who grew up enjoying lengthy hot lazy summers and celebrating the start of another school year around Labor Day; I'm in definite agreement with returning to our former school calendar. Not only does it make sense from an economic, health, and academic stand point, but it also makes sense on a larger more national scale. My husband's family lives on Long Island, and seem to think that we have set our school calendars to coincide with farming schedules. That's right, my father-in-law is convinced that people living in Georgia require our children to help out on the farm during harvest and planting seasons. Well, I have tried, without any luck I might add, to occasionally grow patio tomatoes, but please É how many local families do you know that get their produce from the back forty? I would dare to guess that the majority do as I do É. visit the local Pulbix.

In addition to dispelling the idea that we use our children for farm laborers, it would make visiting our ever growing number of transient family members and friends easier. You know, the ones who have children that start the school year around Labor Day and get out during the month of June. I would venture to guest that the majority of people around metro Atlanta or either originally from another state, or have some close relative, friend, etc. outside of Georgia. It sure would have been nice to send my 13 year old to camp with his "outside of Georgia" cousin during the summer, but alas all of the available weeks fell between the 1st of August and the 1st of September. And well, it's a nationally known fact that here in Georgia, we have to get ready for fall harvest and spring plantingÉÉoh well, maybe our relatives will move to one of the other southern farming states.

Jean C. Rebecky Snellville/Gwinnett

I 100% agree with Mr. Donegan. Having grown up in the North, where all my family still resides, I can't help but think that my kids are missing a whole month of summer. This year we made our summer trip up to Philadelphia in June and it was too cold to swim, the ocean temps were too chilly to make a beach trip and my 2 brothers who teach were still finishing up thier school year.

We would also love to make another long weekend trip to a beach - but as all are a 5 - 6 hour drive from here it's not something you can do without pulling kids out of scool - something I don;t beleive in doing.

August is summer! It always has been, always will be. I do not let my kids spend the day in front of Cartoon Network because it's too hot out. We make early trips to the nature center and it doesn't seem to matter how often we go - kids NEVER get sick of the pool.

Kathie McGregor, Roswell

THANK YOU, John Donegan, for expressing my sentiments exactly on the early start of school this year. I would like to see more forums on this subject and for one of our elected representatives to initiate legislation to mandate that schools not begin classes until the last week of August or preferably after Labor Day. If we don't do something, next year the kids will be going back to school the end of July. I would to hear what other folks have to say about this because I have not talked with even one parent that likes the early start.

Wendie Brown, Duluth

The school year should run from after Labor Day into June. It's my impression that many kids don't show up at school until after Labor Day anyway, so serious education is often postponed for several weeks until all students are in attendance. Every year, because of school, our Georgia family misses August reunion vacations attended by our extended family, most of whom live in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, or California. Our school year is out of sync with the rest of the country, and nonsensical for all the reasons put forth by Mr. Donegan, as well as those above.

-- Julia Foster, parent of 4 DeKalb County students

As a grandparent, I definately think we need legislation to return our schools to a more traditional calendar. I have five grandchildren and want more time to visit and travel with them during the summer. Three of my grandchildren started school on August 1st. This is ridiculous. I am a former school teacher and completely agree with Mr. Donegan that all children are thinking about before Christmas is anything but exams. I also firmly believe that there is much for a child to learn from families and time away from the classroom.

Ellen Milling, Griffin

Mr. Donegan,"Hot Under the Collar," has obviously not completed a year of starting school "early" or he wouldn't be complaining. Starting the school year in August allows students in Carroll County to have a week off in the fall, a week off for Thanksgiving, more than two weeks off at Christmas, and, of course, a week off for spring break. Spreading out those 180 days for students instead of clumping most of them together in the summer only makes sense. Students and teachers benefit from more frequent breaks in a routine. Learning comes first, not whether or not Six Flags and White Water have good years economicly or whether or not the football team plays too many games before Labor Day. Schools should adjust their calendars according to what's best for student learning; everything else can adapt. We're not an agragrian society anymore.

Jan Hembree, Carrollton, Georgia

Mr. Donegan's editorial should be on the required reading list for every politician, school board member and school superintendent in the state. His summary was a study in perfection of all the salient reasons not to start school so early. I don't talk with anyone, and I make it my mission to do so when out and about, that wants to start this soon or worse, get out so early. North Carolina has recently passed legislation mandating a school start date of no earlier than August 25 for all the reasons so clearly stated by Mr. Donegan. It's time to end this foolishness and bring some common sense back to the school calendar.

Sara Looman, City of Atlanta

I agree with Mr Donegan regarding the early start of the school year. I remember when school started after Labor Day and still we were out for the summer by the first week of June. Ah - the good old days! Which I should add was not that many years ago~!

Pam Ramsey, Powder Springs

for many reasons i think all georgia schools should open just after labor day. jack cashin, cherokee county

The school calendar should definitely be changed. In Oconee County, school started August 6. This is totally ridiculous. Cut out some of the off days during the school year, go an extra week in May, do whatever is necessary to start the school year in late August rather than early August!

Barb Schumann, Oconee County

I absolutely agree with the editorial written by John Donegan. The school year is starting much too early, eliminating August as a "summer" month. School should be let out in June and should start back the last week of August - like it used to be in Atlanta not too long ago. Mr. Donegan lists many valid reasons for a change. It is too hot in August and not yet hot enough in May. The air conditioning costs alone, that the school systems would save, should be reason enough to switch it back. Safety reasons are another - teachers are not applying sunscreen to the children when they go out for recess and PE (nor do they have the time to) and also, the buses are not air conditioned. My children, last year, literally would walk off the bus with their hair dripping with sweat. I suggest that the AJC follow up with a story on this subject matter. I am curious about the response that it would receive.

Caroline Truax, Alpharetta

I fully agree with John M. Donegan. School does start too early. His argument is valid. In addition, I disagree with the school calendar for the following reasons. In Fayette County we have a new fall break and last year began a week long winter break. According to several of my children's teachers these breaks interrupt their teaching plans and they spend (unnecessary) time reviewing upon returning from these breaks instead of moving ahead. Also, not many parents have the funds or vacation time to take a week off in the fall, a week for Thanksgiving, 2 weeks a Christmas, a week in February and a week in April. Summer is a more practical time as there are summer camps, day programs and better weather for children to be out of school. Two more weeks of summer please!!!!

Terri Hecht, Fayette County

like Mr. Donegan I also resent the fact that school begins so early in August. Getting out for the summer in mid-May does nothing for me. I like to vacation with family in other parts of the country and so can't schedule a mutual time off till June, at the earliest, and who wants to go to the beach in June? Even colleges don't start until late August.

Even more than my own inconvenience, I don't think an August start does anything for the children. It seems to me that if Georgia is so concerned about raising the test scores of it's students, it ought to look to other measures rather than adjusting the calendar to do it. Most adults went through school with the 'old' calendar and it worked fine with us. I think its a empty gesture put forward by a school board that has no meaningful measures to put forward to remedy the root cause. I also think the move to 'block scheduling' is more of the same. It's all sound and fury because the board of education seems impotent in bringing the state of Georgia out of the test score cellar.

My question is what can I do about it short of leaving the state? I wish I knew.

Maureen Beamer, Dunwoody

The trend of moving and shortening the summer break for schools is overall counter-productive. There are many reasons why the school calendar should be moved back to the traditional times of around Labor Day to the first week in June. The rumor has it that the calendar was shifted to put the end of the semester prior to Christmas break, but this has proved unnecessary in other states, and probably has not come close to justifying the shift here.

Look at the other problems this shift has produced:

(1) numerous businesses has been forced to run a shortened season. From recreational venues such as White Water and Six Flags, to various summer camps, and vacation spots ranging from the beach to the mountains. Even the local impact is felt at area lakes such as Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier, among others.

(2) increasing traffic during one of the worst smog months.

(3) increasing exposure to heat by school athletes, especially high school football players

(4) shortening the available time for construction of new schools. 3 weeks can make a lot of difference to a construction schedule.

(5) forcing the average family to condense time allowed for vacation into just a 2 month break, putting businesses into the same position with respect to employee vacation.

(6) forcing transit parents to relocate in far shorter time when moving.

(7) curtails the hiring of summer vacation teenage employees, especially in areas already hurt by the shortened summer season.

p> Seeing that the problems created far outweigh what few benefits, if any, should convince people and the State of Georgia to put the school year back to a much more reasonable near 3 month vacation schedule, starting either the last week in May or the first week in June, lasting until close to Labor Day.....

Donald Ward, Gainesville

Of course the school year should start late in August or early September. I agree with everything Mr. Donegan said in his August 10 article. In this quest for better test scores, (and please show me where starting early has actually improved test scores) it seems that we have forgotten that other things have value as well, such as our children's health. Dale White, Marietta

I agree with Mr. Donegan that that school should not start during the second hottest month of the year. It is not fair to those children playing fall sports, especially football, to have to start practicing in July and early August. The air quality is horrible and the heat is often oppressive.

I think students should be taught that it is an advantage to have the December holiday break to prepare for upcoming exams rather than fitting them in before the break. Perhaps Georgia educators should look at states with higher performing educational systems and follow their lead given our education ranking.

Sally McNulty, Fulton County

Absolutely....the school calendar should be changed to a late August start to early June. It is miserable that the kids have to go back to school now! It is also a reason to move out of Georgia since it is a schedule that ruins people's family lives.

J. Armstrong, Fulton

CHANGE THE CALENDAR

I agree 100% with Mr. Donegan's article. I can add another reason that summer is too short. Some divorced parents only get their children for 1/2 of the summer. Try fitting in family vacations, church camps, summer jobs, and athletic camps in ONE month instead of two.

As a mother of college students and a high school student, I saw one of my college student's jobs (YMCA counselor) dry up 2 weeks ago. She has 6 weeks left until college classes start. Six weeks is a long time to go without a paycheck.

Lynn Nash, Woodstoc

In response to John M. Donegan's @ issue article regarding this year's early start date that appeared in the AJC August 10th,

I, too, am extremely angry over such an early start date. While the School Board offers its explanations, they still do not adequately explain why it is that each year begins days earlier than the year before. Is there another agenda at work here? Are we being prepped for the real possibility of going to a year-round school schedule? Why can't a reasonable date, (a later date), be picked and then just stick to it each year? Why can northern schools make a September start date work well year after year while maintaining impressive achievement results year after year? It defies logic as to why a system 'in trouble' does not find the 'best system' to use as a model for change in all aspects of consistently delivering excellent education. What is the Georgia School Board afraid of? Change?! Last time I looked, our system is all about change, but let's make sure that each change actually benefits the good of the student.

Patricia Walls, Fulton County

YES the school calendar should be changed!!! The points Ms. Donegan makes should not be ignored--my son is running Cross Country every day in Code Orange smog. Our family has a harder and harder time trying to schedule vacation trips with friends and family who live in other parts of the country. Kids who have summer jobs have to leave earlier and the places they work are left unstaffed.

Who makes this decision about the school calendar? Were any parents consulted? I can't believe teachers support it since so many of them have young families too.

Families who move here from other parts of the country (and we all know they keep moving here) don't get it either, and schools do not even count heads until after Labor Day because so many children show up later in the school year. Why continue to fight this? Some people will never get and others who do get it just ignore it.

In Virginia, the tourist industry pressured lawmakers to change the school calendar back to the traditional September-June because of the negative consequences on tourism. I hope the same thing happens here in Georgia. This school calendar "experiment" has been going on for 3 years and that is long enough.

Laurie McDowell, DeKalb County

How about that, a teacher is speaking out to say that starting school this early is ridiculous, not good for education, our enviroment or business. It is unbelievable that we would construct a school calendar around high school students exams. Are these parents going to baby these kids if and when they go to college. I don't think anyone in the business world or college will wake them up for exams or make sure that they take such exams before winter break. Yes, it is time for the legislature to act and stop passing the buck and bucks to local school systems for them to use our children as guinea pigs in any and all the latest experiments.

Vivian Jackson, Marietta

Yes, I think there should definately be legislation in place. Our children deserve the best education possible and not to be used as guinea pigs in any experiment like shortening their summers to raise the almighty standardized test scores.

-- Vivian M. Jackson, Marietta Georgia 30068

John Donegan has most definitely missed the boat on the issue of school start dates. The last thing we need is for the Legislature to override local control of yet another issue. They spent most of the last legislative session grandstanding and trying to outlaw something for which there was no legal provision to begin with (same-sex marriage), while pressing issues that actually affect the day-to-day lives of Georgians got overlooked (i.e. public library funding).

My children attend public school in the county with the earliest start date in the metro area. When school started back this week for most metro counties, students in Henry already had a full week of classes under their belts. This is the third year we have been on the "balanced calendar" and I have yet to talk to a single person (parent, teacher, or student) who doesn't like it. It reduces the need for review work after the summer break, as well as the stress and exhaustion of both students and teachers. We are never more than six weeks from a full week off. And those week-long breaks in September and February are a great opportuniy to enjoy off-peak rates and minimal crowds for those who wish to travel.

The "traditional" calendar that Mr. Donegan touts was originated by and for an agrarian society. I'd love to see a survey indicating how many school children in the metro area are truly needed at home for a twelve-week period to help with the crops. Proponents of a longer summer break who rely on the argument that "that's the way we used to do it" need to realize that their arguments just don't hold water.

Regarding his concerns about the heat: late August and early September in Georgia are hot and humid. Delaying the start of school won't change the weather.

Where Mr. Donegan really shoots himself in the foot is with his argument about the detrimental effects of a shorter summer break on the operating schedules at Six Flags and White Water. I think it is a sad indicator of Mr. Donegan's priorities that he suggests that the public school calendar be structured to accomodate the interests of local ammusement parks.

-- K. Pillatzki, Hampton

All the points of the teacher are valid. Back to school around Labor Day makes perfect sense. By the way, what groups had input into early August starts? Surely this was not a decision by a select few who know what is best for the rest of us.

-- Jim Grant, Duluth GA

THROW THE BUMS OUT!

I PERSONALLY WILL VOTE AGAINST ALL INCUMBENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THIS NOVEMBER.

THEY HAVE DONE A LOUSY JOB AND SEEM TO ANSWER TO NO ONE! I DOUGHT ANY OF THEM HAVE A CHILD.

CHILDREN NEED SUMMER'S TO REST AND JUST BE CHILDREN.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO GROWING UP THAN JUST EDUCATION. SO MUCH MORE!

-- jeff tippens, lawrenceville

............ Okay ........ I'm imagining a water park unable to operate during August .... half-empty resorts ... although .... some would say half-full ... children alternately shivering and sweltering ...... ugh ... sweaty band members .... what the cost difference is between my kids running up the power bill at home versus air-conditioning a school ......... ooookay ..... I'm either seeing Sally Struthers hitting us up for some cause .... or the next piece of crap from Michael Moore ........ Did I get it?

-- Robert Cagle, Atlanta, Ga

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Michael Smith, Macon

As the pressure increases on the educational system to produce a "better product" it cannot be held back by our childhood memories of an idlyllic summer of doing nothing while our mother stayed home with us and monitored our activities. Today, in two working parent households the summer time is a time for juggling child care and often results in latch key children for ten weeks. In the interim the "product" loses their edge and must be resharpened at the cost of several weeks time before it comes up to the break standards. If you were an employer would you let one of your employees off for ten weeks and then give them two weeks to get up to speed again before you expect them to be useful again? Several mini-breaks throughout the year would be beneficial to the students, teachers, and parents - however, all of the summer camps and day care centers would cry unfair.

-- Ray La Belle, Duluth, GA

I think the school calendar should be changed. Going back to school in the hottest month of the year, when we should all be going on summer vacation is ridiculous.

Most of the country is not going back until Labor Day. My son and I miss out every year on family vacations with our extended family in the northeast. A week at the beach for them is always in August when the water and the air are warm.

Visitors to my office from places like Wisconsin are shocked we're sending our children to school already. I can never give them a good reason why that is. It certainly isn't helping to improve our national ranking in education.

I grew up going to school after labor day and taking exams in January. I turned out fine, graduated college and work as a chemist at Tech. My siblings are all educated as well one brother is a lawyer, one a police officer, one a manager and my sister is a teacher.

-- Kathleen Poll, Dulugh

Having the school year start in early August makes no sense at all to me.

I vote for school starting the last week in August at the earliest.

-- KLH, Tucker

As we are to be preparing them for the REAL WORLD, school durations should be modified to carry YEAR ROUND. The realistic job market does not have seasonal work capable of properly supporting yourself and/or family. Sure there are dream jobs which under 1% of people have, but that is not the REAL WORLD. We are already spending 2 to 3 times as much as 10 years ago and providing students with more tools with less results. If students are not meeting standards they obviously need more time in class, not less. During the early 80's there were 30+ students in all of my classes (some in trailers) and we didn't have but 1/3 money spent on us as students do today with better results. Shorter learning durations with less structure makes johnny a dumber fellow. Also, since teachers are now required to be: security guards, lawyers, "babaysitters", drug counselors, DFACS case workers, and psychologists they should be paid comparable salary with someone else who performs all of these tasks at once.

-- rob ferguson, atlanta, ga

Let's assume that the issue here is really about instituting year-round school, through the back door. I used to be a traditionalist in this area, and opined against year-round school as an editorialist at a weekly newspaper. But my view has changed, primarily because of the low high school completion rate in many Northwest Georgia schools. I know there are many factors that figure into this issue, but in my view several weeks out of school during the summer is a major disconnect for students, especially those at-risk for dropping out. The school calendar in Georgia should be changed to allow year-round school. Let Six Flags and summer camps adjust to the lengthier breaks between semesters -- better economics begins with an educated workforce, not kids dropping out of school and without jobs handing out.

-- Mark Millican, Dalton

The answer to this early start to school probably will be found in the educational beauracracy. In Cobb County, those who know say it is the superintendent who is driving the issue. Any principals or educators who disagree are too intimidated by this guy to speak up. Just think. One unelected person makes a decision opposed by so many who are negatively affected. Where are the parents?

-- Donald R. Henry, Marietta

The school calender should be changed "back" . Back to school starting the last week of August and ending the first week of June.

Judging from test scores of Georgia students, this new plan is not effective.

-- DARYL KILLIAN, STOCKBRIDGE, GA