Many (actually, most) kids in this area went back to school last week. Last week. I guess I was fortunate in that I went to private schools and usually went back to school in late August. Of course, colleges usually start back in mid/late August or even September, and there are still plenty of school districts, including one in my area, that start school after Labor Day.
But even when I was in elementary and high school, it seemed kids in public schools didn’t go back nearly this early. Why do so many public schools start so early now? It seems like every year the date moves up. Soon the poor kids will be starting in mid-July . . . can you imagine starting school in June?
Besides, not only is August the hottest month of the year here, it’s still truly summer. And summer is not the time for school, at least not in my mind. I think at least some kids might agree with me. (Anyone? Bueller?)
So I decided to do some research. Here’s what I found out.
This interesting article written in 2015 by Daphne Sashin at CNN lays out very clearly why many schools have pushed up their starting dates. And I have to admit, lots of these points make sense: an earlier start date allows teachers more time to prepare their students for spring testing; it allows for both a fall break in September/October and a winter break in February (although I knew plenty of kids who never got a “winter break,” and who the heck gets a “fall break”? I’ve never heard of that concept); and, this is a big one, allows students to take their fall final exams before Christmas break. This was never a big deal to me, as I always went to schools where we did take our final exams before Christmas; but for those who have to take their exams in January, I can understand why this change would be so great. Having to worry about final exams over Christmas? Having to come back to school and cram in a bunch of reviews? That’s awful. So I can understand moving the start date up.
The article also points out that summer vacation is a really new concept, only started in the late 1800s and early 1900s for fear of continuous school being detrimental to teachers’ and students’ health (I would vouch for that!). But before that, many schools in cities were year-round, depending on the “needs of the community.”
I had never heard this before, and I have to say it makes me thankful for summer vacation at all. I know lots of people will say, “Well, if you’re not in school, you’re not really learning”—as the woman quoted at the end of the article implies—but I think kids need breaks, not just a few days or week-long breaks here and there, but at least a couple of months where they can forget about school and deadlines and just have fun. I.e., don’t stress. (I think adults could benefit from this too, but what do I know.)
I’ve always thought starting school in the heat of the summer is not very smart; it taxes the A/C units, right? Wrong, according to this article. A study conducted by Atlanta Public Schools showed there is a very minimal impact on the A/C units in August as opposed to September. At least in Atlanta.
Well, that blows my argument out of the water. Maybe I’m just nostalgic. Maybe I just wish I could have still been swimming and unconcerned about school on August 30
It's clear that I'm the side of long summer vacations. But at least I understand why schools start earlier now, and I see the benefits. Hopefully, you do too. I suppose it all evens out eventually anyway; school is school. You have to go sometime.
At least districts have kept summer vacation around. After all, everyone needs a break. So if those starting dates ever do move up to July, the ending dates better move back to April. Or better yet, March.
