MCPS High School 7:45am for teens is to early

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to hs in the 90s and our start time was 7:10. I wasn’t on a cell phone. It was brutal and looking back I strongly believe my hs years and my entire friggin trajectory in life would’ve been better if I didn’t have to wake up by 6am. I won’t do this to my kids.

I hear you, but is it really a good idea that kids are still in school past 3 p.m. and get home even later?

Are you serious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

+1 If folks want to have an informed discussion, they are very welcome to Google "MCPS Maryland Bell Time Study" and come back with some thoughts about how the previous analysis was flawed.

If you read it and didn't think it was flawed, nothing we will say can convince you otherwise so I'm not wasting my breath. It was predetermined that MCPS would never make substantial changes.

I read it, and I wouldn't say it was flawed. I'd say that it weights various concerns in a different order than I would have selected. It weights sports too heavily, for example. But that's not a flawed methodology, just a difference of opinion based on my own personal priorities.

+1. It definitely weighed sports over academics. But clearly there are school systems with later HS start times and functioning sports programs so it is possible to have both....

It has been a while since I read it but it also seemed to weigh the need to have MS/HS students available to watch younger siblings in the afternoon, while not really acknowledging that under the current model, many parents need to figure out both before AND aftercare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to hs in the 90s and our start time was 7:10. I wasn’t on a cell phone. It was brutal and looking back I strongly believe my hs years and my entire friggin trajectory in life would’ve been better if I didn’t have to wake up by 6am. I won’t do this to my kids.

I hear you, but is it really a good idea that kids are still in school past 3 p.m. and get home even later?

Are you serious?

Yes why? I got up early as a teen abd loved that I wasn't stuck in school so late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

Sounds like MCPS decided it would be easier on them not to change anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

Sounds like MCPS decided it would be easier on them not to change anything.

MCPS did make a change, though. So: no.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is constantly wasting money on new useless initiatives such as Leader in Me.
For a few years, they could just stop wasting money on useless programs and use the money saved to buy school buses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is constantly wasting money on new useless initiatives such as Leader in Me.
For a few years, they could just stop wasting money on useless programs and use the money saved to buy school buses.

Who will drive them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

Sounds like MCPS decided it would be easier on them not to change anything.

Bingo! They were too lazy to do the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

Sounds like MCPS decided it would be easier on them not to change anything.

MCPS did make a change, though. So: no.

Yes, just not the right change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

Sounds like MCPS decided it would be easier on them not to change anything.

MCPS did make a change, though. So: no.

Yes, just not the right change.

"The right change" means the one you wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

Sounds like MCPS decided it would be easier on them not to change anything.

Bingo! They were too lazy to do the right thing.

It wasn't about laziness, it was about paying for the anticipated costs of the potential changes. Read the report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

+1 If folks want to have an informed discussion, they are very welcome to Google "MCPS Maryland Bell Time Study" and come back with some thoughts about how the previous analysis was flawed.

If you read it and didn't think it was flawed, nothing we will say can convince you otherwise so I'm not wasting my breath. It was predetermined that MCPS would never make substantial changes.

I read it, and I wouldn't say it was flawed. I'd say that it weights various concerns in a different order than I would have selected. It weights sports too heavily, for example. But that's not a flawed methodology, just a difference of opinion based on my own personal priorities.

+1. It definitely weighed sports over academics. But clearly there are school systems with later HS start times and functioning sports programs so it is possible to have both....

It has been a while since I read it but it also seemed to weigh the need to have MS/HS students available to watch younger siblings in the afternoon, while not really acknowledging that under the current model, many parents need to figure out both before AND aftercare.

MCPS doesn't offer all sports at all schools and not every season so some kids do sports out. We are in outside music and sports and it would be an issue with a later start time as we barely get to the activities on time directly after school as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is constantly wasting money on new useless initiatives such as Leader in Me.
For a few years, they could just stop wasting money on useless programs and use the money saved to buy school buses.

Who will drive them?

Even if we buy more school buses, we don't have drivers. Are the parents who want earlier school times willing to be drivers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is constantly wasting money on new useless initiatives such as Leader in Me.
For a few years, they could just stop wasting money on useless programs and use the money saved to buy school buses.

Who will drive them?

Even if we buy more school buses, we don't have drivers. Are the parents who want earlier school times willing to be drivers?

Are you missing the point on purpose or.....

The suggestion is to switch ES and HS times....that would require no more hiring. Bus A going to HS A at 7:10 now goes to ES A at 7:10 and goes to HS A at 8:10, the elementary school's previous time. It's not difficult. There is absolutely no reason elementary school students should be in a classroom at 4:10 pm, but this is the norm around here. I tell my friends around the country and they are all baffled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

I am aware that MCPS decided that it would not be better, mainly for logistical reasons. And yes, I nevertheless think that having elementary school students start school before high school students would better for overall health and life balance. It is my personal opinion but it is not a minority opinion.