The Heat Is On

It’s August, school opens, but next year ...

Published on: 08-11-2004

The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

Public schools are back in session in Cumberland County and it's already a notable year. This is the last time students will be told to take the heat and sit inside a classroom during the early part of August.

Next year at this time, students will still be sleeping late, lounging around the pool, selling burgers at the fast-food joints or sunning on the beach. State law will demand it.

Well, maybe not the particulars, but certainly the schedule. On Monday, Gov. Mike Easley signed into law a measure that forbids schools on the traditional calendar from starting classes before Aug. 25. Schools on the year-round schedules aren't affected.

For this victory, the state's tourist industry can take a bow. These coastal and mountain interests managed to convince legislators and enough parents and teachers that what is good for them is good for the children. That is quite a feat, although a lot of parents whose kids need summer jobs, or who want to take an August vacation, provided plenty of support.

The law takes what was previously a local-choice decision and puts the matter solely into the hands of the state.

School administration and faculty opinions are mixed statewide. Teacher workdays will be shortened by five days. Some say this will leave teachers less prepared for the school year, yet others are celebrating it as freeing them from attending meaningless workshops.

The continuing popularity of this state law among students could be affected by how they will feel next year during the winter break with January exams to dread. Or how deeply the symptoms of Spring Fever set in during April and May, with weeks of class still ahead. Under the new state law, however, school sessions must end by June 10.

But there are good feelings among the thousands of North Carolina students who want and need summer jobs so they can help their families and make ends meet during the year. So, too, for one of this state's major industries, which depends on having young employees available throughout the real tourist season, the core of which is July and August.

And there is one more upside. The old song, "See You In September," will start to make sense again.