Will voting out the school board make the school calendar sane again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those saying this isn't about woke politics, I am having a hard time fathoming why a conservative school board would have allowed this. This definitely seems like woke nonsense. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Nobody is going to bite.
Push your politocs elsewhere.

That is an interesting point, i wonder how many days off they have in the bible belt.

My family member lives in the buckle of the Bible belt.

Their public schools all start around August 15th.

High school graduations are the 3rd week of May.

School ends no later than the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.

They are off the same Thanksgiving days as FCPS (Weds-Friday), roughly 10 days for Christmas break (December 23 through January 1, might be longer on the years that Christmas/NY falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday), and are off Labor Day and I think MLK day (so honoring one national holiday each semester.)

The Friday before Easter is usually a half day.

Spring break is at the end of 3rd quarter, separate from Easter.

The 1st semester ends in December. 2nd semester begins in January.

All quarters are roughly equal.

Half days and 1 day off at the end of 1st quarter.

They have 3-5 snow days built into the calender.

This is standard for all the public schools in the area, even the diverse ones.

Public schools in with this type of calendar usually only have 165 school days per year.

Disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t the calendar choices out there for us to vote on. And the calendar with the majority is the one they use. I mean you get the calendar three years in advance. How are you not planning ahead it’s not like you get the calendar month-to-month. If you don’t like it, then run for school board.

Did you actually do the calendar survey? There was no option to vote against the ton of extra days added that only a small minority of the system needs off on.

I for one am glad that our school system respects a good number of minority groups in similar measure to majority groups.

I'd rather the school system respect academics and sound operating principles. Feel free to celebrate your religion on your own time, but let the rest of us go to school.

That's exactly what they're doing, you just don't care to see it.

This isn’t true. There is no pedagogical backing for such a disruptive calendar and most early childhood education experts would agree.

Holding school on a day which will disadvantage students of particular faiths is not respecting academics (or at best, it is only respecting academics for students not of that faith) and is certainly not a sound operating procedure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t the calendar choices out there for us to vote on. And the calendar with the majority is the one they use. I mean you get the calendar three years in advance. How are you not planning ahead it’s not like you get the calendar month-to-month. If you don’t like it, then run for school board.

Did you actually do the calendar survey? There was no option to vote against the ton of extra days added that only a small minority of the system needs off on.

I for one am glad that our school system respects a good number of minority groups in similar measure to majority groups.

I'd rather the school system respect academics and sound operating principles. Feel free to celebrate your religion on your own time, but let the rest of us go to school.

That's exactly what they're doing, you just don't care to see it.

This isn’t true. There is no pedagogical backing for such a disruptive calendar and most early childhood education experts would agree.

Holding school on a day which will disadvantage students of particular faiths is not respecting academics (or at best, it is only respecting academics for students not of that faith) and is certainly not a sound operating procedure.

Then those families should go to a relgious school. Let the rest of us go to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t the calendar choices out there for us to vote on. And the calendar with the majority is the one they use. I mean you get the calendar three years in advance. How are you not planning ahead it’s not like you get the calendar month-to-month. If you don’t like it, then run for school board.

Did you actually do the calendar survey? There was no option to vote against the ton of extra days added that only a small minority of the system needs off on.

I for one am glad that our school system respects a good number of minority groups in similar measure to majority groups.

I'd rather the school system respect academics and sound operating principles. Feel free to celebrate your religion on your own time, but let the rest of us go to school.

That's exactly what they're doing, you just don't care to see it.

This isn’t true. There is no pedagogical backing for such a disruptive calendar and most early childhood education experts would agree.

Holding school on a day which will disadvantage students of particular faiths is not respecting academics (or at best, it is only respecting academics for students not of that faith) and is certainly not a sound operating procedure.

Then we certainly shouldn’t have any classes during the entire month of Ramadan. Or Good Friday. Because that absolutely disadvantages students who fast.

And yet we do, and we expect students to muddle through and find ways to practice their faith even if it is difficult— in fact when its supposed to be difficult. So fasting for Yom Kippur should be somehow different?

No religious holidays. Again, I don’t even care about Christmas. Kids deserve a stable schedule especially in the early years when repetition is so important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t the calendar choices out there for us to vote on. And the calendar with the majority is the one they use. I mean you get the calendar three years in advance. How are you not planning ahead it’s not like you get the calendar month-to-month. If you don’t like it, then run for school board.

Did you actually do the calendar survey? There was no option to vote against the ton of extra days added that only a small minority of the system needs off on.

I for one am glad that our school system respects a good number of minority groups in similar measure to majority groups.

I'd rather the school system respect academics and sound operating principles. Feel free to celebrate your religion on your own time, but let the rest of us go to school.

That's exactly what they're doing, you just don't care to see it.

This isn’t true. There is no pedagogical backing for such a disruptive calendar and most early childhood education experts would agree.

Holding school on a day which will disadvantage students of particular faiths is not respecting academics (or at best, it is only respecting academics for students not of that faith) and is certainly not a sound operating procedure.

Then we certainly shouldn’t have any classes during the entire month of Ramadan. Or Good Friday. Because that absolutely disadvantages students who fast.

And yet we do, and we expect students to muddle through and find ways to practice their faith even if it is difficult— in fact when its supposed to be difficult. So fasting for Yom Kippur should be somehow different?

No religious holidays. Again, I don’t even care about Christmas. Kids deserve a stable schedule especially in the early years when repetition is so important.

Your firm belief that being in a public school classroom is better than being at home for a child makes me think you haven't been in a classroom. There is SO MUCH wasted time every day for every child, waiting for every other child's needs to be met. Learning at home, even informally, could be so much more meaningful. I say this as a parent of public school kids AND a MS teacher...the days kids spend out of school are every bit as important to their development as those in school, except for those kids (and I know there are many) whose families cannot provide safety or a developmentally appropriate environment. I just think other parents need to know that the calendar is not harming most kids, and in fact gives them time outside of schedules and "teaching" that doesn't meet their needs anyway. Again, I realize public school is needed - and participate in it as a parent and an employee - but it is not the best thing for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t the calendar choices out there for us to vote on. And the calendar with the majority is the one they use. I mean you get the calendar three years in advance. How are you not planning ahead it’s not like you get the calendar month-to-month. If you don’t like it, then run for school board.

Did you actually do the calendar survey? There was no option to vote against the ton of extra days added that only a small minority of the system needs off on.

I for one am glad that our school system respects a good number of minority groups in similar measure to majority groups.

I'd rather the school system respect academics and sound operating principles. Feel free to celebrate your religion on your own time, but let the rest of us go to school.

That's exactly what they're doing, you just don't care to see it.

This isn’t true. There is no pedagogical backing for such a disruptive calendar and most early childhood education experts would agree.

Holding school on a day which will disadvantage students of particular faiths is not respecting academics (or at best, it is only respecting academics for students not of that faith) and is certainly not a sound operating procedure.

Then we certainly shouldn’t have any classes during the entire month of Ramadan. Or Good Friday. Because that absolutely disadvantages students who fast.

And yet we do, and we expect students to muddle through and find ways to practice their faith even if it is difficult— in fact when its supposed to be difficult. So fasting for Yom Kippur should be somehow different?

No religious holidays. Again, I don’t even care about Christmas. Kids deserve a stable schedule especially in the early years when repetition is so important.

Your firm belief that being in a public school classroom is better than being at home for a child makes me think you haven't been in a classroom. There is SO MUCH wasted time every day for every child, waiting for every other child's needs to be met. Learning at home, even informally, could be so much more meaningful. I say this as a parent of public school kids AND a MS teacher...the days kids spend out of school are every bit as important to their development as those in school, except for those kids (and I know there are many) whose families cannot provide safety or a developmentally appropriate environment. I just think other parents need to know that the calendar is not harming most kids, and in fact gives them time outside of schedules and "teaching" that doesn't meet their needs anyway. Again, I realize public school is needed - and participate in it as a parent and an employee - but it is not the best thing for kids.

That parent is just upset their childcare for the day is messed up. Ignore.

[Anonymous]

Wtf is this Nov school schedule more days off next week this is terrible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wtf is this Nov school schedule more days off next week this is terrible

Welcome to the thread and No School November, a Fairfax County tradition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t the calendar choices out there for us to vote on. And the calendar with the majority is the one they use. I mean you get the calendar three years in advance. How are you not planning ahead it’s not like you get the calendar month-to-month. If you don’t like it, then run for school board.

Did you actually do the calendar survey? There was no option to vote against the ton of extra days added that only a small minority of the system needs off on.

I for one am glad that our school system respects a good number of minority groups in similar measure to majority groups.

I'd rather the school system respect academics and sound operating principles. Feel free to celebrate your religion on your own time, but let the rest of us go to school.

That's exactly what they're doing, you just don't care to see it.

This isn’t true. There is no pedagogical backing for such a disruptive calendar and most early childhood education experts would agree.

Holding school on a day which will disadvantage students of particular faiths is not respecting academics (or at best, it is only respecting academics for students not of that faith) and is certainly not a sound operating procedure.

Then we certainly shouldn’t have any classes during the entire month of Ramadan. Or Good Friday. Because that absolutely disadvantages students who fast.

And yet we do, and we expect students to muddle through and find ways to practice their faith even if it is difficult— in fact when its supposed to be difficult. So fasting for Yom Kippur should be somehow different?

No religious holidays. Again, I don’t even care about Christmas. Kids deserve a stable schedule especially in the early years when repetition is so important.

Your firm belief that being in a public school classroom is better than being at home for a child makes me think you haven't been in a classroom. There is SO MUCH wasted time every day for every child, waiting for every other child's needs to be met. Learning at home, even informally, could be so much more meaningful. I say this as a parent of public school kids AND a MS teacher...the days kids spend out of school are every bit as important to their development as those in school, except for those kids (and I know there are many) whose families cannot provide safety or a developmentally appropriate environment. I just think other parents need to know that the calendar is not harming most kids, and in fact gives them time outside of schedules and "teaching" that doesn't meet their needs anyway. Again, I realize public school is needed - and participate in it as a parent and an employee - but it is not the best thing for kids.

But the calendar is harming some kids. And simply doing nothing for others. Keep your kids home for these developmentally important days you feel matter— there should be no penalty— but everyone else wants their kids in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's so insane about the school year calendar? I think it's great that we're observing religious holidays beyond the Christian ones.

The calendar isn't observing Christian ones.

[Anonymous]

Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a former teacher, kids need consistency and five day weeks. Period.

Sadly the calendar is not about what is best for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so insane about the school year calendar? I think it's great that we're observing religious holidays beyond the Christian ones.

Do you have a job? If I have to explain this to you, you clearly do not have younger children and work full time.

Your job is not the school’s problem. 🤷‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so insane about the school year calendar? I think it's great that we're observing religious holidays beyond the Christian ones.

Do you have a job? If I have to explain this to you, you clearly do not have younger children and work full time.

NP, but don't you have childcare if you have a job? We are a dual parents working outside the home family and used SACC and they were almost always open on the single days off. The local martial arts places do the same. What kind of childcare are you using that you don't have coverage for these days?

I will agree, though, that I don't like how short the summers have gotten. Makes it hard for high school kids to get jobs, attend camps, etc.

First, it's a pain to plan around these days. If you think it's not, you haven't experienced it. I gave up. I am exhausted from all the planning as I do enough of that for summer. Second, I want my child doing school work during the week, not playing Minecraft or watching shows or doing nothing productive/constructive. Third, the available camps are few and far between, and certainly there aren't any for the early releases.

Sounds like a lot of whining. Buck up and handle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please tell me how to vote to get any improvement to this horrific school calendar that is a complete atrocity to working families and disservice too kids trying to learn. I don’t care if I have to vote blue, red or purple - it just needs to change for next year.

It isn’t going to change for next year, so plan accordingly.