Loading ...SCHOOL DAZE
You’ve heard about Indianapolis Public Schools letting kids out early because of the heat. Now while I could break into my story of “when I was their age…” but I won’t. I have no desire to see kids swelter in unsavory conditions in 100+ degree temperatures, but I really think a lot of this could be avoided if Indiana schools started after Labor Day and went through the first week of June.
This would make everyone’s lives a lot easier. You wouldn’t have to worry about too many uncomfortable days of extreme heat and you would save on air conditioning because you wouldn’t need it. Everyone I speak with has told me schools start earlier to adjust for the I-STEP exam that’s given in the fall. Moving the test to the spring would make a lot more sense.
This whole issue of schools and start dates continues to show what is wrong with public education and why the whole system needs to scrapped and started over from scratch.
August 24th, 2007 at 7:54 am
I too think the kids should go back to school after Labor Day. I went to IPS and did not have air conditioning and did just fine. Also think of the State Fair, most people can’t go because school is in session and the weekends are spent doing other things, like sports and shopping for school supplies!!!!! A change is needed!!!
August 24th, 2007 at 8:23 am
School should begin the day after Labor Day. Starting in mid-August is just wrong!
August 24th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Whether you agree withi time-on-task arguments or not, it’s the law.
When I attended public schools (60s and 70s), we were required to attend about 25-30 total days less.
Where are you going to get those three-four weeks extra, now required?
Given the idiotic ISTEP testing in mid-Sept., the school districts, who get punished for poor ISTEP performance, feel they need 4 weeks of prep time for these moronic tests.
Dr. White abhors letting school out. In 100-degree classrooms, frankly, there’s a health risk not worth taking.
We’re all dodging around the real answer ehre: IPS is irreparably broken. And we’re dumping hundreds of milions into buildings, for a systme that will, in all liklehood, be busted up in 4-7 years.
Kinda’ like adding bedrooms onto your hosue for teenagers, who’ll be away in a few years.
Excess space costs money.
August 24th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Once upon a time schools opened after Labor Day and commenced at the end of May before Memorial Day. Kids used to have a real Summer for three months to have fun and be kids.
Perhaps our School Boards need to understand that it’s not how much time a student spend in the classroom but what happens during the time the student is in the classroom.
Our educational system in Indiana has been reduced to teaching students HOW to pass a test. Real education has taken a back seat to ISTEP.
Oddly enough, many of us were able to survive going to school for 9 months and still be able to go on to college and gras school which in turn allowed us to get good jobs. All without air conditioning.
Year round school and starting school during the heat death days of August will achieve nothing.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:42 am
The world, the economy, and communication have changed drastically in the last decade. Let alone the time since you and I were in school, Robert.
Back then, fewer days was OK. Now, we’re last in the world, among industrialized nations, for time on task. I am not always a fan of time over substance, but evidently the rest of the world, including the Asians, Europe and Scandanavia, have figured out that time does equal smarts. If all else is equal.
You doubt my observation? Take the 11th grade ISTEP short test, which used to be available online. I think it’s 25 sample questions.
It’s a smaller world then ever, friend.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
For the vast majority of schools, the heat is simply not an issue because most schools have A/C. All ELEVEN of the public school systems in Marion County, as well as the vast majority in the donut counties have A/C in 100% of their schools. IPS is the only district that doesn’t have 100% air-conditioned schools.
August 24th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
My sister is from out of state. She was working in Terre Haute and asked me about the announcement on TV about “watching out for the school kids”. When I told her they already started she just laughed. Thankfully, we did NOT grow up in Indiana and we didn’t go back until after Labor Day. This is one of the most backward places I have ever lived in.
I will NEVER ba a Hoosier!
August 24th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Since when is SCHOOL in the IPS about the kids? It’s a political hack’s sideshow, looking for ways to get more contracts for buddies, jobs for relatives, etc. My kids are in private school. It’s tough in the $$$ department, but they are warm or cool when they are supposed to be and have not been accosted at school. IPS needs a good flushing out…
August 24th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
I don’t know how many school days that Indiana had in the 60 & 70’s, but they only have to go to school 180 days now. I went to school 180 days in the 60’s and 70’s in Pennsylvania and we started after Labor Day and ended the first week of June. But, unlike here we did not have Spring Break or a Fall Break, etc. Remove those from the equation and you get much closer to an after Labor Day school start.
August 28th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Where else do you cavelierly ignore the discomfort of your customers…and stay in business? Or provide your customers with a substandard product and keep your shirt.
Schools have a long way to go and lots to repair. Troubling to me is the fact that market competition (the increase in home schooling and charter schools) hasn’t made our schools more competitive.