Various States that are cutting back summer vacations for kids...

[bjlc57]

I am really shocked by the number of States that are cutting back summer vacations for kids.. I hear that some places are going back to school as early as two weeks to three weeks from now. Thats INSANE.

already in Milwaukee they go an extra 10 school days "to keep kids off the streets." 190 days as opposed to 179 or as little as 176 in some smaller farm communities.


But starting school on August 10th or earlier JUST TO PLAY FOOTBALL, No thats wrong. and it hurts the tourism industry. High school is not about playing football, its about getting an education.

Both Wisconsin and Minnesota have passed laws saying that school cannot begin before Labor day.

as a teacher, I know just how much kids need a break and how much teachers need a mental break to make the classroom go.

school schedules revolving around sports is putting the cart before the horse.

its bad for business and its bad for kids..

 

[lcsrig]

My first day back is August 7 and students begin the next day. Ww are starting early to get in enough teaching so they can do testing in the spring and have enough time to get results back before school lets out.
I agree with you that students (AND TEACHERS) need a break every now and then. Teaching a whole month, getting Labor Day off then continuing non-stop until Thanksgiving!! And they wonder why teacher burnout is sooo high or why the kids give up trying. Everybody, no matter what profession, needs a break every now and then to stay healthy. And I'll be missing 2 days of school in the spring to visit the mouse!

 

[Nemo14]

My first day back is August 7 and students begin the next day. Ww are starting early to get in enough teaching so they can do testing in the spring and have enough time to get results back before school lets out.
I agree with you that students (AND TEACHERS) need a break every now and then. Teaching a whole month, getting Labor Day off then continuing non-stop until Thanksgiving!! And they wonder why teacher burnout is sooo high or why the kids give up trying. Everybody, no matter what profession, needs a break every now and then to stay healthy. And I'll be missing 2 days of school in the spring to visit the mouse!

The whole starting early thing is really getting out of hand. Both my kids were in AP classes in high school, and the teachers told us that they had to really race through the curriculum because they would be tested with kids who had a month's head start on them.

 

[mnfootballmommy]

I personally prefer a modified year round school program--One week off in the fall, 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks for spring break and a 6-7 week summer. It gives enough breaks during the school year to keep you fresh and the summer is just long enough before everyone starts to get bored. I know some districts do this, but I would like to see it more widespread.

Here in MN they tried starting schools before Labor Day and folks had a FIT--the State Fair is always the last two weeks in August and a lot of kids work there--school obviously cuts into that. Missouri USED to have that same law and then reversed it.

 

[cmatt]

how long do kids get over the summer - in the uk its 6 weeks - which is more then enough time surely? (as well as two, two week breaks and half terms (which is a week per term)

 

[Samsakara]

Yuck! Kids need there vacations. Taking them away will make it a bad situation in the schools with stressed out kids.

 

[shoppingnut]

Here in NY they get out around the third week in June and go back after labor day, which is about 9-10 weeks. Six weeks isn't enough time, I remember when we were little we did all sorts of family day trips throughout the summer and that was great, as well as basically living in the swimming pool.

 

[OneLuckyMom]

Many schools in my area (N. CA) have gone to "year round" schedules. Usually kids at these schools get only 1-1.5 months off at one chunk during the summer, but they also get more/longer breaks during the year than the "traditional calandar" schools. It allows the schools to handle 25% more kids, but many teachers and parents also like it because the kids don't forget as much of what they've learned over the breaks.

Also, when I grew up (in LA), we went back to school earlier (mid-August) than many other areas, but also got out earlier (by Memorial Day) at the end of the year.

I don't think it necessarily hurts the tourism industry to have school schedules like this - if anything it helps spread out the demand a bit. All the families I know take just as many vacations, although they may take a shorter trip in the summer with a ski vacation in the spring/winter.

 

[raven]

I don't start back until after Labor Day and the students aren't due back until 2 days after me.

My cousins in MO were in school for 2 weeks then out for 3 weeks year 'round.

Private schools do whatever they want. But I remember when I was a kid getting out at the end of May and going back mid September. Times have changed.

 

[cmatt]

Here in NY they get out around the third week in June and go back after labor day, which is about 9-10 weeks. Six weeks isn't enough time, I remember when we were little we did all sorts of family day trips throughout the summer and that was great, as well as basically living in the swimming pool.

alot of research has been put into this (mrs cmatt just finished writing her thesis on a related subject) and it is proven that although - yep, fair enough it is pretty sweet to have 10 weeks off in the summer. It can affect the childs progress whilst they are studying at school. I dont know the ins and outs as im no way near in the right area to really discuss it in great detail (i am a programmer/software tester), but there was a stage in the uk where they wanted to get rid of the 6 week gap (here it was tradition for when the farmers need all hands on deck for harvesting) and spread it over the year having more 2 week holidays, aiding childrens learning.

10 weeks (thinking back) would royally suck, surely it is better to split the holidays up during the year rather then having such a huge block of them? :veryconfu 6 weeks of no school used to drive myself and my mother nuts

Different country and all that - ill tell mrs cmatt when she gets in, she finds this stuff interesting

 

[The Mom]

how long do kids get over the summer - in the uk its 6 weeks - which is more then enough time surely? (as well as two, two week breaks and half terms (which is a week per term)

It might be enough time for the students, but having ALL US parents have to schedule their summer vacations during the same 6 week period would wreck havoc on our economy. I know that many European countries virtually shut down in August (which is why US tourists only schedule their European visits in June & July) but this would be unacceptable to most US businesses.

I remember how difficult it was for me to get even a week's vacation in July when I first entered the workforce; only those with seniority got them.

We've stopped travelling over the holidays because it's just too difficult, crowded, and expensive, to do so.

 

[cmatt]

It might be enough time for the students, but having ALL US parents have to schedule their summer vacations during the same 6 week period would wreck havoc on our economy. I know that many European countries virtually shut down in August (which is why US tourists only schedule their European visits in June & July) but this would be unacceptable to most US businesses.

I remember how difficult it was for me to get even a week's vacation in July when I first entered the workforce; only those with seniority got them.

We've stopped travelling over the holidays because it's just too difficult, crowded, and expensive, to do so.

hmmm i see now just out of curiosity - how much holiday allowance copared to us brits (im on 4 weeks a year + bank holidays) does the average worker get then? At one stage there might of been the opportunity for me to go to the states for work experience and I have always wondered.

Holiday wise (from what i can remember) my parents used to just take it in turns over the 6 week period to look after us, for holidays if i remember correctly we went normally at easter rather then the summer, and in 94 i was taken out of school for florida...

mind you - im in my last semester at uni and i broke up in may going back in october (working full time as i get no student loan over the summer!)

Sorry if i seem weird asking you about your work patterns mind you :lol:

 

[GatorDi]

As a parent of kids who used to have to start school at the beginning of August, I can tell you it was great!!!!!!! The kids don't have to go to school any longer than other kids, they just get out of school earlier (this year the last day of school was May 18. It is great to get out of school before the weather gets too hot, plus the northern schools aren't out yet so places (like WDW aren't as crowded). Also, for practical reasons, this lets the semester end before Christmas break so the kids start a new semester in January (no pesky exams hanging over their heads during vacation), and is on the same schedules as colleges. It was nice while it lasted. This year the Fla. legislature said no one could go back to school any earlier than 2 weeks before labor day. This caused no end of protest by the STUDENTS who lobbied to start in early August because it was a much better fit for them.

 

[hls1023]

hmmm i see now just out of curiosity - how much holiday allowance copared to us brits (im on 4 weeks a year + bank holidays) does the average worker get then? At one stage there might of been the opportunity for me to go to the states for work experience and I have always wondered.

Holiday wise (from what i can remember) my parents used to just take it in turns over the 6 week period to look after us, for holidays if i remember correctly we went normally at easter rather then the summer, and in 94 i was taken out of school for florida...

mind you - im in my last semester at uni and i broke up in may going back in october (working full time as i get no student loan over the summer!)

Sorry if i seem weird asking you about your work patterns mind you :lol:

Normally we get about 2 weeks vacation anf then there are about 7 National Holidays where everyone usually has off CHristmas Day, THanksgiving, Labor Day...etc.
I had to work at my job for 7 years before I would get 3 weeks vacation.

 

[cmatt]

Normally we get about 2 weeks vacation anf then there are about 7 National Holidays where everyone usually has off CHristmas Day, THanksgiving, Labor Day...etc.
I had to work at my job for 7 years before I would get 3 weeks vacation.

thats er pretty lousy tbh! i have only just started my proffesional career and i get 30 days + bank holidays, i have to subtract 4 off my 30 because of the two week gap at christmas but thats it

 

[littlemom_3]

I am from Mississippi and my kids start back on Aug 7th. We have a fall break with a week for thanksgiving and 2 weeks for Christmas plus a Spring break and get out May 21st. After Hurricane Katrina, they extended the school days by 20 min a day and kept the year rthe same length. This worked fairly well also.

 

[The Mom]

hmmm i see now just out of curiosity - how much holiday allowance copared to us brits (im on 4 weeks a year + bank holidays) does the average worker get then? At one stage there might of been the opportunity for me to go to the states for work experience and I have always wondered.

Holiday wise (from what i can remember) my parents used to just take it in turns over the 6 week period to look after us, for holidays if i remember correctly we went normally at easter rather then the summer, and in 94 i was taken out of school for florida...

mind you - im in my last semester at uni and i broke up in may going back in october (working full time as i get no student loan over the summer!)

Sorry if i seem weird asking you about your work patterns mind you :lol:

When I started, it was one week/6 months of employment for the first year, but you couldn't take it until you had worked for a year...if it was available. (I was a nurse, so only so many people could take off at once, and as I stated earlier, those with seniority - who were more likely to also have children- took the summer weeks.) After 5 years, I got 3 weeks of vacation, which is pretty standard for a salaried professional. (The 3 weeks, not the having to wait 5 years part) My husband started at 3 weekis but now gets 4 weeks per year, plus up to three weeks of continuing education time. It is VERY difficult for him to take it all at once, as again, he cannot go unless there is anough coverage. It would be even harder if students had less summer vacation, as that is when he is busiest, due to students' summer vacations.

Since ALL schools seem to have at least a week off around the holidays, that's the busiest time for warm locations and ski areas. Spring breaks are somewhat staggered, but tourist areas are still very crowded. We go to the shore as soon as school lets out, but only because we live in Florida. (and go to the beach in Florida) It would be unbearable in, say, New England. By the time things are nice in New England, it's too crowded, or we're back in achool.

I also know that it's difficult to coordinate national summer camps or college programs, and still have a summer family vacation, as many start too late or run into the school year.

I've mentioned before that our public schools tried a year round schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks, about a decade ago, and it didn't work out very well.

 

[jiminy.cricket]

Yeah; the US isn't known for having great vacation time...
I think it would be nice for students to go on year round school, though, so the real world isn't as much of a shock. Maybe have a mandatory semester off in high school for internships or enrichment programs. Although I agree, shorter vacations would make it more difficult to coordinate work vacation with school vacation.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Air conditioning really changed the school year in the South.
Before all the schools had it, there was no way students would be in school until September.
Now students go back in the middle of August or sooner.

 

[slappy magoo]

I'm one of those Grinches who thinks our kids need more school. Our education system is amongst the worst of all the industrialized nations and that just should not be. Whether we need to concentrate learning sessions within the confines of the day we already have, OR make the school year longer, so our kids' education is on par with the ecuation of children in Japan or European nations, I'm all for it.

Of course, I also feel the pain of parents trying to arrange vacation time the same time every other family in America has off. And I know an unfortunate chunk of our nation's economy is based on kids being out and spending their parents' money or providing cheap labor during the summer. The mind set of the entire country will need to adapt and accept short term inconveniences in exchange for potential long-term benefits by having better-educated children in the workforce in the future, being able to accomplish more than we have (which should be the goal of any parent anyway).

Having said all that, I'm sure we will all hail as a hero the person who would be able to figure out how to scatter 1 to 3 week-long breaks throughout the year for every school district in the country, so any economy that's based on tourism dollars (whether it's WDW or any other amusement park area or the Jersey Shore, or the West Coast or campsites near the Grand Canyon or Myrtle Beach or any of the thousands of other tourist destinations) doesn't suffer, and perhaps (depending on location) even better flourish by having tourist seasons extended - not having to fight people off one month and then starve for business the next.

However, I'd be amazed if either of those idea came to pass. Too many businesses rely on a summer's worth of minimum wage jockeys to do the crap work for little-to-no benefits.