by Pamela Sigler Taylor

Created on: June 29, 2008

I believe that shorter summer vacations are a reflection of society. They are not a sign that our school's summer vacations will come to an end.

Our original school calendar was based upon an agrarian society with low mobility. Children were needed at home to tend the fields and work the farms. This occurred because that was the way of life then. No work, possibly no food on the dinner table. You couldn't just drive to town to a supermarket. Foods had to be grown and preserved. This took time.

Today's society on the other hand wants time for family vacations and holiday weekends. School years in some districts have been extended to compensate for Easter holidays as well as spring breaks. When a school district has to have students attend a certain number of days the school year becomes lengthened when new days away are added to the calendar. Some schools have even written into their teacher contracts certain dates that the staff will be guaranteed to have off. This allows not only members of the staff to travel but families as well.

Some districts have added days off during the year that will need made up for high absentee rate times. For example, where I live the students enter the county fair and show their animals and projects. There are five days that week that several children miss. State funds are now tied, at times, to attendance counts. If that is so, then those days can truly affect a district's income. Another crucial date where I live is the first day of deer season. Now, this may sound funny to some of you. But, here some of our families depend on venison as a source of meat. Thus we always get opening day of deer season as a day off. This adds days into the summer months as well.

Politics comes into play for our calendars as well. In the state where I reside there is an amusement park lobbying for a school calendar to fit their theme parks needs. They have several lobbyists working for them. If they get what they want then the calendar will actually be shortened and not lengthened. They need workers for their parks. They also want people to come into their parks for as long as possible. This change would then put schools into the position of having to make decisions that would upset some members in their districts. There are those who want their spring breaks as well. This would also create possible contractual issues. How do you shorten your year and still allow for the guidelines placed into being by the teachers unions?

I think many people look at school calendars and think that the schools are in control of when they have the children attend. They are to a point. But, you as citizens have control also. Do you want your child to attend in the summer? Then let your political representatives and your local school board know. But, you will also have to pay the staff for longer years. Are you prepared to do that? Do you want your child to have a shorter year like some lobbyists are fighting for? Then, find out if these people are active in your state and let them know that you back them.

The school calendar reflects the wishes of the culture that it serves. You do have a say. Summer vacations are going to possibly be gone one day. But, until then allow yourself to become active in what your heart tells you is best for the children. Then God willing hopefully that will prevail.

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