Why does the School Schedule have no Summer

[lauralarissa]

I feel your pain. We start school in late Aug, and don't have a real break until Christmas. Then we have a week in Feb., a week in April, and get out of school in mid June. (depending on snow days)

What bothers me, like you, is that there really isn't much 'time off' anymore. We used to take our kids out of school for a week in Nov. (no flames, please!) when they were younger, but switched to August when our oldest were in High School. Here's the thing: even over Christmas break, my kids have had projects to work on! Our daughter is in the Drama Club, and if you want to participate in Drama Fest (their regional competition) you have to be available for rehearsals on February vacation week. There are always "math packets" to work on or something over our supposed 'breaks'. How is it fair that they tell us not to take them out of school because they'll miss work, only to assign them work/required activities for the extracurriculars they love during OUR time off??!!!


I think life should have a balance. We all need to work hard, but we also all need time off with our families. It shouldn't be this much of a struggle!

Perfect Post!! They work so hard for the schools/extracurriculars and they are not rewarded for their efforts. With any kind of "real down time"!

I could have written this post! Im looking at spring break for our next disney trip but who knows if snow days will eat into that like happened last year.

I hope this winter isn't like the last!! We had 3 Ice storms this past winter and had to do without electric for about a week all together!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'm not a teacher but looking at it from the school's perspective they have to get 180 days in somehow and it won't please everyone. School work is still the #1 priority and if kids choose to do extra activities, that's their choice. If it feels like too much then you cut back on the extra things, not school.
My teens are not into sports and need more down time than the average kid so we don't push them into a lot of extras. Ds14 played sax in the band for 4 years and after a while it became more demanding and he didn't love it so much. Fine. I guess that's how they weed out the ones less dedicated to a particular activity.

My neighbor with 3 kids had 2 very dedicated to HS sports plus extra camps during the summer and the oldest had a summer job. She also had a 2 week window to fit in a vacation and she had no choice really when that window would occur. Sure, she could tell the kids no sports, no camps but those things were more dear to them than even a trip to WDW (or elsewhere) so you do what you have to do. It's not forever. This too shall pass.

I'm all for pulling little ones out of school. In fact, our kids' 2nd grade teacher would even tell parents at BTS night to go for it & that missing a week of 2nd grade for WDW wouldn't ruin their entire future. Now that they're in HS, a week is a LOT of missed work and though our district wouldn't penalize parents for a week missed for vacation, my kids don't want to miss that much because it's so much more work to catch up.

jmho.

ETA: Back in March that same friend & I took a 3nt Disney cruise to escape winter (and only brought the youngest of our 5 kids).
Ds17 didn't want to miss school and didn't feel the dire need to escape winter. Probably because they get to stay home on snow days and I, working in a hospital, have to be in no matter what even if that means sleeping over, which some do. Our DHs didn't mind staying home with the kids so that we could go.

Anyway, my point is, sometimes a vacation is a higher priority to parents than to the kids. We think we're doing all this planning for our families but in the end it's more for us. We need a break more than the kids do. Not always, but sometimes.

 

[powellrj]

Our schools went to a balanced schedule this year which means they get more breaks during the school year and only 8 weeks in the summer. We were told it was due to what they call the brain drain. They don't want the kids to miss too much school during the summer so its harder to get caught up in the fall.

 

[Ceila]

Both as a parent and a teacher, I would love to have several longer breaks throughout the year instead of a a long summer.

The reality s that there are many different preferences, and no one schedule will satisfy everyone.

If your child chooses to participate in an activity that involves practices or meetings during beaks, then that's on your child and you. No sense blaming the school schedule when you opt to participate in activities that take up break time.

 

[luv2sleep]

Both as a parent and a teacher, I would love to have several longer breaks throughout the year instead of a a long summer. The reality s that there are many different preferences, and no one schedule will satisfy everyone. If your child chooses to participate in an activity that involves practices or meetings during beaks, then that's on your child and you. No sense blaming the school schedule when you opt to participate in activities that take up break time.

Great to hear a teacher's perspective!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I work in a classroom as an aide and really like those little breaks during the school year. Our district schedules at least one student-free day during months where we don't have a holiday (October and March). Usually it's a teacher work day which allows teachers some time to regroup and get organized while the students get a break. Those days really go a long way towards breaking up those long-haul months. I also really appreciate the full week at Thanksgiving, and President's week in February. Working with kids day in, day out can be exhausting. Despite the breaks, we still get nine weeks for summer. My DS who attends the high school district doesn't get as many days off during the year and gets 10 weeks for summer.

 

[Minnesota!]

I really don't understand how the schools these days especially in our area act like your kids are theirs and you have no say so over it

No I think I really still have a problem with the schedule. My kids have way to much time off during the school year. I would rather have a longer summer than all the days off during the year.

They start August 4th

Off Labor Day, off Fall break 10/13-10/17, off Thanksgiving Week 11/24 -11/28, Off Christamas Break 12/22 - Jan 5, Off MLK Day, Off Presidents Day, Easter Break 03/30-04/03, and 10 alotted snow days/severe weather days if needed, summer starts memorial day.

We have the same amount of time off as you, but a much longer summer break. We get out the first Thursday in June and go back the day after Labor Day. So, almost 13 weeks in summer. And then a week at Thanksgiving, a few days in October, 2+ weeks in December, a week in March, and other random days throughout - 2 in Jan, 2 in Feb, 2 in May, etc.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

With all due respect, you had summer. You opted to fill it with an extra-curricular activity.

Our summer is the same way. My daughter does a ballet intensive. It isn't that we don't get summer. It is that we opt to maximize her extra-curricular experience.

We homeschool, so don't have to worry about district calendars.

 

[Meldev]

I feel your pain. We start school in late Aug, and don't have a real break until Christmas. Then we have a week in Feb., a week in April, and get out of school in mid June. (depending on snow days) What bothers me, like you, is that there really isn't much 'time off' anymore. We used to take our kids out of school for a week in Nov. (no flames, please!) when they were younger, but switched to August when our oldest were in High School. Here's the thing: even over Christmas break, my kids have had projects to work on! Our daughter is in the Drama Club, and if you want to participate in Drama Fest (their regional competition) you have to be available for rehearsals on February vacation week. There are always "math packets" to work on or something over our supposed 'breaks'. How is it fair that they tell us not to take them out of school because they'll miss work, only to assign them work/required activities for the extracurriculars they love during OUR time off??!!! I think life should have a balance. We all need to work hard, but we also all need time off with our families. It shouldn't be this much of a struggle!

Love this!

I've got 2 on swim team and my other DD is both a competitive gymnast and also a cheerleader this year. We're pulling them out a week at end of sept/beginning oct - before all the meets begun. Once they start there is no down time - and barely any family time as we run in different directions. They won't be thrilled about the school work - I wanted to go over their break the next week but DH travels for work - life is too crazy sometimes - I figure that break time will allow them to catch up better.
I'm doing it this year because as oldest enters middle school she will be against missing school even more than she is now.
We all do what we can to get the most out of this time!

 

[lauralarissa]

With all due respect, you had summer. You opted to fill it with an extra-curricular activity.

Our summer is the same way. My daughter does a ballet intensive. It isn't that we don't get summer. It is that we opt to maximize her extra-curricular experience.

We homeschool, so don't have to worry about district calendars.

I understand everyones position on my son's baseball. He loves to play. He has been playing for 10 years and will continue to do so as long as he wants to. I just personally think our summer is too short. Also with all our days/weeks off it's hard to get in a groove. They go a few weeks get a day off, go a few more get a week off and so on.
My SIL homeschools her girls and they bust their tails to get done around early May and don't go back until after Labor Day. It's just not an option for us. All rec. baseball and travel baseball stops at 15 here. He has no other option but High School. He has to attend the high school to play ball for that school.

We have the same amount of time off as you, but a much longer summer break. We get out the first Thursday in June and go back the day after Labor Day. So, almost 13 weeks in summer. And then a week at Thanksgiving, a few days in October, 2+ weeks in December, a week in March, and other random days throughout - 2 in Jan, 2 in Feb, 2 in May, etc.

Honestly I would be happy with just 1 more week of summer!

 

[buzznina]

Our school district has a short summer too. The kids have a fall break, spring break, and a 3.5 week winter break. Anyone know WHY districts have decided to add MORE breaks during the year and take them away from summer? What's the rationale for this? There has to be some logical fiscally related reason. It's always about $$.

Counter point; We would LOVE to trade a week of summer break and have a fall break instead. So ones complaint can also be anothers wish. Right now for us, vacation can be during the dead of summer heat, or 2 of the busiest holidays during the year. As a PP noted, we would be over joyed if our district went to a balanced schedule school year. Also; here in Florida the curriculum is so strict that my DD will be starting 4th grade this year and I would not even think about taking her out for a week anymore. An example, during that 1 week, they would have covered a whole section in math and have moved on to the next section by the time my DD would be back at school. Our teachers are not a fan of it either but it is what it is.

 

[monorailmom]

Love this!

I've got 2 on swim team and my other DD is both a competitive gymnast and also a cheerleader this year. We're pulling them out a week at end of sept/beginning oct - before all the meets begun. Once they start there is no down time - and barely any family time as we run in different directions. They won't be thrilled about the school work - I wanted to go over their break the next week but DH travels for work - life is too crazy sometimes - I figure that break time will allow them to catch up better.
I'm doing it this year because as oldest enters middle school she will be against missing school even more than she is now.
We all do what we can to get the most out of this time!

I do think we all need to do what is right for our families. I understand the point some have made about the outside activities not 'counting' toward the time that the school calendar makes up. I agree, except that in my case, the Drama Club is a school activity. It shouldn't have a schedule on vacation weeks. If my son were in a "club" sport (which he is not, because we absolutely wouldn't want to keep that schedule up!), then that would be on us. No school sanctioned activities should be required on vacation weeks.

We are heading to WDW exactly two weeks from today! Even my college aged daughters are counting down the days...we are all looking forward to our yearly trip and downtime together. These experiences are priceless.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I do think we all need to do what is right for our families. I understand the point some have made about the outside activities not 'counting' toward the time that the school calendar makes up. I agree, except that in my case, the Drama Club is a school activity. It shouldn't have a schedule on vacation weeks. If my son were in a "club" sport (which he is not, because we absolutely wouldn't want to keep that schedule up!), then that would be on us. No school sanctioned activities should be required on vacation weeks.

We are heading to WDW exactly two weeks from today! Even my college aged daughters are counting down the days...we are all looking forward to our yearly trip and downtime together. These experiences are priceless.

That will never happen. Around here, HS sports start practice at least 2-3 weeks before the start of the school year.

Our schools close for Jewish holidays and they add a teachers' inservice day to make a 4 day weekend most years. It's in Sept or early Oct and we love to make a quick getaway then, either cruise or WDW. We invited our friend to join us once when Harry Potter first opened at Universal and boy, did her dd get a bunch of crap for missing HS field hockey & that they know she's not Jewish. They're just crazy. She now plays fh on her college team so obviously a 4 day weekend away from fh won't ruin her.

Now, hearing about college sports, it's really sickening. They act like they own you like a piece of property, teller her when she can have surgery, etc.
Maybe it's rewarding but I'm glad my kids don't play sports. Five years of karate was enough for me.

 

[bdoyledimou]

our kids last day of school was June 28th. They go back Sept 3.

They get 2 weeks off in Dec (20th to Jan 5)

One week in March.

it still feels like time is flying by.

 

[StitchBuddy]

My son plays baseball because he wants too and loves too! I wasn't blaming anyone. Just stating a fact. The same school district was 12 weeks not that long ago but they decided to give them a fall break and a whole week at Thanksgiving instead of just Thursday and Friday. That is my complaint. They take away the summer but add more days off during the school year. In 2012 we went to a family reunion for my kids Great Grandfather who was 85 at the time. They missed one day at school for that. And when my son handed them the note it was labeled unexcused. So he got all zeros for that day not allowed to make up anything for that day. The response was that's not and adequate excuse for an absence. So I'm pretty sure they would laugh in my face if I tried to take them out for a vacation.

You should go during your fall break. We use to get a week in the fall and two weeks for spring break. I miss it so much!!! But, I feel your pain about scheduling around sports. We had one week this summer to go on vacation without it interferring with sports.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

End-of-year standards testing happens between March and April, at least in Pennsylvania. So kids go back to school before Labor Day to get more instruction time in before the state testing.

That being said, our area usually goes back the third week of August and are let out the first or second week of June.

 

[Stephaniesue]

While I agree summer has been shortened quite a bit the last few years, I don't really have a problem with it.

My kids are involved in several activities through the summer too, so they don't always get as much fun time as they would like. I explained to them that life is all about choices, they can choose to do an activity or not. If they are old enough to play sports, they are old enough to decide as well.

Our district took a vote on what we thought our schedule should be, we settled on a modified balanced schedule. Kids start back on August 4 (in the past it has been the 11th, so just 1 extra week). They have a week long fall break (thank you school! I would rather go to Disney in the fall time anyway), 3 days off for Thanksgiving break, 2 weeks off for Christmas break (this never changed), then 1 week off for spring break. Classes ended on May 23rd this year.

Where I live there were some kids still in school the second week of June due to snow make up days, those same kids started school this past Monday.

I know my kids welcome the small breaks during the school year, I think most kids do. Mine also go to a parks department summer camp for child care during the summer, so they do a lot of fun stuff.

Most of the country has gone to this type of schedule, I don't mind it at all. I am wondering how long before they do away with summer break all together and just have more small breaks. I wouldn't be too happy about that.

As far as the absences go, the teachers aren't doing it to be cruel or mean to your child. The school probably has a special section in the handbook dedicated to this. If you have problems with it, then attend a school board meeting and file an official complaint.

In 2011 we took vacation for 1 week, we took both kids out of school. They were 1st and 2nd grade at the time. The day after we get back my 1st grader falls at school and severely breaks his leg. He required surgery and a wheel chair for 8 weeks. He was held out of school for an additional week after the broken leg. Nothing could be done. We never were punished for taking the kids out. The teachers and principal told us they were happy we went to vacation and had a good time before this happened. It's all about the school and the school board.

 

[lauralarissa]

You should go during your fall break. We use to get a week in the fall and two weeks for spring break. I miss it so much!!! But, I feel your pain about scheduling around sports. We had one week this summer to go on vacation without it interferring with sports.

We went in October in 2012. We always drive. It's at least a 14 hour drive but it's always more due to food and potty breaks. So it's a long trip there and all the adults were dead tired on the first day. Then it's a rush to get back. So they can go to school that next Monday. I guess if we flew it would be different but it's still cheaper for us to drive.

 

[shm_helene]

Our school district has a short summer too. The kids have a fall break, spring break, and a 3.5 week winter break. Anyone know WHY districts have decided to add MORE breaks during the year and take them away from summer? What's the rationale for this? There has to be some logical fiscally related reason. It's always about $$.

Actually, I think it might have to do with kids being taken out of school. A lot of families choose to take their kids out of school (which I understand) because summer can be expensive to travel or based on job not a possibility. By giving more breaks during the school year you mitigate hopefully the vacations during the year.

FYI, I am a teacher in a public school. I have 8 weeks for summer. No February (one day/I have In-Service) or Easter break (off Good Friday), 2 days at Thanksgiving, and first day off at Xmas is Christmas Eve. We also have no Columbus day break. We have a very large amount of kids taking EDT's and I think our lack of breaks is the reason why.

 

[susieh]

I've just read this whole thread and am totally shocked at the difference between the US/Canada and the UK - and by the views of parents the other side of the pond.

In the UK the children get 6 weeks off in summer, 2 at Easter, 2 at Christmas and 1 mid term in February, May and October.

Parents are not allowed to take them out of school for vacation - full stop! If you do take them out you get fined so hardly anyone does.

The consequence of this is that vacation prices are much much higher in the school holidays and you just have to pay it.

I think many parents here would love to be able to take their children on holiday (vacation) when they wanted - not only to avoid the hiked up prices but also to allow them to choose the season they want to travel in