Charles Shiflett Column February 20, 2005

Our Summer Of Discontent

Whether observing politics or social trends, life always seems to have a certain ebb and flow to it. If
something moves in one direction too quickly or for too long, an opposing force always seems to pull it
back toward the middle. So it is with the trend of moving the first day of the school calendar to an ever-
earlier start date.

Having begun elementary school in 1966, I remember our first day was the Thursday before Labor Day.
The next day, Friday, was a work day for teachers as they rearranged things to balance out class
sizes, books, and supplies based upon the number of children who turned up Thursday. The following
Tuesday, the day after Labor Day, was the real kickoff for the new school year.

School for us ended the first week of June, and this basic schedule continued for throughout my
school years. I realize this school calendar concept was based upon the needs of an agrarian society
now long gone. However, there were and still are many valid reasons for returning to a educational
schedule more in line with that of my youth.

For some, summer was a time for long vacations, summer camps, and spending time with distant
relatives. For older students, it was a great opportunity to work a summer job to earn money for a car
and the auto insurance bill that came with it.

I personally loved my school years and tried to earn enough cash during the summer so I could pay for
dates and activities (rock concerts) without having to work while school was in session. Wouldn't you
rather be out with a girl or rocking to Aerosmith on the weekend than slinging fries at some burger
joint?

The trend toward earlier start dates has been implemented in the South much more so than other
parts of the nation. This summer, many school systems in Georgia have adopted August 1 as the first
day of school, with at least one county unbelievably beginning on July 29.

While serving on the Bartow BOE in the 90's, I remember a parent who met with the board. We had
moved the calendar back slightly, with a start date around mid-August. She explained to us that her
family had a time-share condo in Florida, which they had owned for a number of years.

Their time-share was locked in for the middle of August and each year the extended family gathered
there for their summer vacation. By moving back the start date by about a week, we had disrupted
their family tradition and impacted them financially. The calendar had been adopted months earlier and
it was too late for us to make any changes, but the board was very sympathetic to her plight.

This year all across the South, state legislatures are considering bills that would mandate school start
dates of late August to shortly after Labor Day. There are many valid reasons given for considering
these changes, ranging from pollution to tourism.

Anyone who regularly drives during early morning hours can vouch that traffic is considerably heavier
when school is in session. August is traditionally the worst month for air pollution and putting all those
extra cars and buses on the road during hot weather only exacerbates the problem.

Early start dates have also negatively impacted many entertainment and tourism businesses. August
should be prime time for attractions such as White Water, Six Flags, and southern beaches. The loss
of four weeks of summer can't be made up during those new school breaks given during colder
weather.

Here's an interesting tidbit I gleaned from a recent news article. Of the top ten states in terms of
educational performance, seven begin school the last week of August and the other three start after
Labor Day. They all administer their first semester exams after Christmas break.

Some education leaders insist students can't retain what they learn after a two-week break and say
exams should be given prior to Christmas. If that's the case, we might as well require kids to attend
school seven days a week. If this is a serious concern, there's a simple answer… have unbalanced
semesters. Make the fall semester a little shorter than spring semester.

Also by inserting several short breaks in our modern school calendars, quality education hours are
wasted as students slack off in anticipation of the breaks. And I dare say anyone who has ever taught
can tell you it's difficult to get students back into their routines after being out for a few days.

I hate to see state government take power away from locally elected school boards by implementing
statewide school calendar regulations, but in this instance local boards brought this on themselves by
failing to listen to parents. The embers of discontent are smoldering across the southern states as
families begin to speak out against this trend of early start dates.

When the days of late August begin to shorten, it just feels right that school would soon begin again. I
for one hope local school boards take action before the states do.