I'm guessing you don't have an older student. Plenty of homework and tests in high school. |
Essentially. But there are a lot of things that can’t take place on those days. Some of the religious holidays included as observances make sense since they are major holidays for their faiths. But others just make the calendar harder to teachers and schools to plan around. Like other people on here have raised, should day of the dead be observed? Should three kings day? Would people of other faiths have included certain days as “observances” where many things aren’t allowed to occur? I don’t know. Both lists are odd for what they exclude or include based on our student population. |
I agree this is the rationale. As soon as aps (and other school systems) decided to start making religious holidays holidays based on a need to recognize diversity rather than the traditional operational needs, they stumbled off a cliff. If your rationale for adding a holiday is operational- you have a test for what gets observed, those holidays that enough students and staff celebrate that holding school becomes difficult. But as soon as you made the rationale 'diversity' then there really is no limit. There is no justification for celebrating Rosh Hashanah over say bodhi day. And there is a religious holiday around the world weekly. |
You guys have fun with the Satanic Temple suing to add a bunch of their holidays to the school calendar. |
Actually, I have two in high school. Intensified and AP classes. Mostly done during school hours. Granted, one is taking AP Consult so they essentially have a study period; but still, not much outside demand. |
I'm the PPP. Didn't say I agree with the philosophy. I'm betting even APS has its limits and won't be catering to Satanic observances. But, yes....I've been waiting for someone to raise this sort of flag! |
Sincere question: Are either of you stay- or work-at-home parents? |
I’m a teacher already pushed to my breaking point, and I don’t know how I’m going to keep track of all these days we can’t give a test or introduce new materials. Like everything else, this “solution” falls on the shoulders of teachers. Especially homeroom teachers. |
PP here, I'm a fed who works in person at the office probably 9/10 work days. |
Yes, this is a tremendous burden to schedule things in an already tight schedule. |
+1000 Teacher for 30 years. If young parents only knew how different things are now compared to 15-20 years ago. We were focused on teaching kids. Now we are focused on watching our backs, what we teach, when we teach, when to test, etc. just so we don’t upset anyone. This is so bad for kids. Why we accept this makes no sense. Glad I’m near retirement. |
What is AP consult? |
It's a class period students who are enrolled in at least one AP class can take. It's overseen by an AP teacher who meets with each student individually every few weeks to make sure they're on track in their (AP) class(es) and such. Students can also get a pass to meet with their subject matter AP teacher during that period if the teacher is available - to go over work, ask questions, whatever. Basically, it's a "study hall." |
Adding: technically, I think the Consult teacher also conducts little "workshops" or skills lessons or whatever. Not sure how much of that actually happens. |
Just received a reminder email that the public comment period to provide feedback on the draft school year calendar policy ends on Fri, May 19. |