How to fit school days into Gov Larry Hogan's ridiculous policy on school start and stop dates

[Anonymous]

It is just as easy to see the Ocean City businesses as the entitled whiners. The entire point of capitalism is that businesses that can't compete GO OUT OF BUSINESS and the people who lose their jobs have to do something that is more useful to the rest of us. If Ocean City isn't large enough to hold enough people during the summer to support the businesses trying to operate there then the number of businesses in Ocean City should decrease. In the capitalist scheme of things, building up more businesses in Ocean City to support this artificially longer summer is a bad idea. It might work for a summer or two but all it can possibly do is convince Virginia or some other state to do the same thing to win the people back. It is not a long term plan. Improving or at least not making it harder for students to retain and bring what they learned the year before to class the next year is a long term plan that will slowly help everyone.

"Because you are not entitled whiners like MoCo parents. You had a kid, you figure out how to take care of that kid, right?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear BOE,

Just pick out a school calendar from Westchester County, NY, and cut out the week of February "mid-winter" vacation. That ought to fix your conundrum.

Many thanks,
Concerned Parent

They get out late June and for Jewish holidays.

Yup - they get out 1 week later, including Regents exams for the older kids. Thus, the comment to cut out the February, mid-winter/President's week break. See, for example, New Rochelle, NY: http://www.nred.org/calendar

It's actually almost two weeks later since our last day of school is June 12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the people who freak out about full days and half days off midweek. Most likely younger kids with parents who work full time go to some type of before and aftercare. There are such places are open on days off from school. Our before and aftercare is open for all of spring break except Good Friday. They are closed over winter break but we either use vacation and go away or we create a rotation with neighbors to stay home and watch the kids.

Today is a half day. The bus will take my kid to his aftercare for the rest of the afternoon. When I was looking for before and aftercares, I made sure to choose one that was open on professional days , holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and half days.

Do that many people really not pay for before and aftercare and that's why they're bent out of shape over a few midweek closings and half days per year? They are there to put their kids on the bus and then be able to be home by the time it returns every day? If there is that much flexibility in their schedules then a few closings for holidays or professional days shouldn't be an issue. Or did they not think ahead and they chose a before/aftercare that is closed when schools are closed?

As a parent it's my responsibility to find care for my kid. It costs me $600/month but that's life. I can't expect the schools to operate on a schedule that works best for me as a parent.

I agree 1000000%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear BOE,

Just pick out a school calendar from Westchester County, NY, and cut out the week of February "mid-winter" vacation. That ought to fix your conundrum.

Many thanks,
Concerned Parent

They get out late June and for Jewish holidays.

Yup - they get out 1 week later, including Regents exams for the older kids. Thus, the comment to cut out the February, mid-winter/President's week break. See, for example, New Rochelle, NY: http://www.nred.org/calendar

It's actually almost two weeks later since our last day of school is June 12.

Yeah, it's entirely unclear to me why they want to end on a Tuesday, and put snow make up days at the end of the week. Why do they not just go to the end of the week, and have more built in days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the people who freak out about full days and half days off midweek. Most likely younger kids with parents who work full time go to some type of before and aftercare. There are such places are open on days off from school. Our before and aftercare is open for all of spring break except Good Friday. They are closed over winter break but we either use vacation and go away or we create a rotation with neighbors to stay home and watch the kids.

Today is a half day. The bus will take my kid to his aftercare for the rest of the afternoon. When I was looking for before and aftercares, I made sure to choose one that was open on professional days , holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and half days.

Do that many people really not pay for before and aftercare and that's why they're bent out of shape over a few midweek closings and half days per year? They are there to put their kids on the bus and then be able to be home by the time it returns every day? If there is that much flexibility in their schedules then a few closings for holidays or professional days shouldn't be an issue. Or did they not think ahead and they chose a before/aftercare that is closed when schools are closed?

As a parent it's my responsibility to find care for my kid. It costs me $600/month but that's life. I can't expect the schools to operate on a schedule that works best for me as a parent.

I agree 1000000%

I don't pay other people to watch my kids unless I absolutely have to. My husband and I planned our current careers. I work 6-2pm. and he works 9-6pm. Why in the world would we pay for before or after care

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be really curious to see a poll (not one of just the UMC DCUM posters) of how many in MoCo actually go away for a whole week at spring break and want to keep it that way.

My kids do camp that week. We take a vacation in the summer but can't afford multiple week long vacations all year long. A long weekend around Easter would be perfect rather than paying for camp for the whole week. As for empty offices - some people may currently take the time off rather than paying for child care. That does not mean that they WANT to take all that time off at that time of school were to keep going.

The people who seem to hate this the most appear to be those with enough money to burn on long spring break vacations. That is not the entire county.

School is not your baby sitter. Stop being a user.

Of course school is my baby sitter. It's not the only function of school, it's not the primary function of school, but it is certainly a function of school. That's why I only had to worry about before care and after care, not during care.

And for the people who say that child care shouldn't be a consideration when it comes to setting the school calendar -- please explain why child care shouldn't be a consideration, but tourist revenues from Ocean City should.

Your whole point of view is messed up. In Germany school might end at 12 or 1:30pm. You think German parents are complaining to their government? They find a way, you had a kid, not MoCo public school system. Babysitting has never been a function of school, ever.

Yes, they are. See here, for example: http://www.spiegel.de/lebenundlernen/schule/grundschule-fuer-555-000-kinder-fehlt-die-nachmittags-betreuung-a-1160664.html

There is increasing demand for all-day schools and for school-based child care. What's more, "find a way" typically involves limiting the mother's participation in the paid labor force.

The German government not only pays for child care up to a certain age, it also gives €800 per month (~$1000) stipends to families (Kindergeld). So perhaps German parents complain less because the government is addressing the need a different way.

[Anonymous]

My relatives in Burlington, Vermont have a school calendar that starts around August 23 and ends around June 12. Vermont is more dependent on tourist dollars than Maryland. I grew up in Long Island, also a tourist destination, and schools there start after Labor Day but end later in June. Whatever configuration is ultimately chosen, the logic that school calendars should be created based on the needs of the tourism industry is bizarre to me and indicative of bad policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the people who freak out about full days and half days off midweek. Most likely younger kids with parents who work full time go to some type of before and aftercare. There are such places are open on days off from school. Our before and aftercare is open for all of spring break except Good Friday. They are closed over winter break but we either use vacation and go away or we create a rotation with neighbors to stay home and watch the kids.

Today is a half day. The bus will take my kid to his aftercare for the rest of the afternoon. When I was looking for before and aftercares, I made sure to choose one that was open on professional days , holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and half days.

Do that many people really not pay for before and aftercare and that's why they're bent out of shape over a few midweek closings and half days per year? They are there to put their kids on the bus and then be able to be home by the time it returns every day? If there is that much flexibility in their schedules then a few closings for holidays or professional days shouldn't be an issue. Or did they not think ahead and they chose a before/aftercare that is closed when schools are closed?

As a parent it's my responsibility to find care for my kid. It costs me $600/month but that's life. I can't expect the schools to operate on a schedule that works best for me as a parent.

I agree 1000000%

I don't pay other people to watch my kids unless I absolutely have to. My husband and I planned our current careers. I work 6-2pm. and he works 9-6pm. Why in the world would we pay for before or after care

That’s great. You barely get to see your husband

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My relatives in Burlington, Vermont have a school calendar that starts around August 23 and ends around June 12. Vermont is more dependent on tourist dollars than Maryland. I grew up in Long Island, also a tourist destination, and schools there start after Labor Day but end later in June. Whatever configuration is ultimately chosen, the logic that school calendars should be created based on the needs of the tourism industry is bizarre to me and indicative of bad policy.

+1. School calendars should be based around what best promotes learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the people who freak out about full days and half days off midweek. Most likely younger kids with parents who work full time go to some type of before and aftercare. There are such places are open on days off from school. Our before and aftercare is open for all of spring break except Good Friday. They are closed over winter break but we either use vacation and go away or we create a rotation with neighbors to stay home and watch the kids.

Today is a half day. The bus will take my kid to his aftercare for the rest of the afternoon. When I was looking for before and aftercares, I made sure to choose one that was open on professional days , holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and half days.

Do that many people really not pay for before and aftercare and that's why they're bent out of shape over a few midweek closings and half days per year? They are there to put their kids on the bus and then be able to be home by the time it returns every day? If there is that much flexibility in their schedules then a few closings for holidays or professional days shouldn't be an issue. Or did they not think ahead and they chose a before/aftercare that is closed when schools are closed?

As a parent it's my responsibility to find care for my kid. It costs me $600/month but that's life. I can't expect the schools to operate on a schedule that works best for me as a parent.

I agree 1000000%

I don't pay other people to watch my kids unless I absolutely have to. My husband and I planned our current careers. I work 6-2pm. and he works 9-6pm. Why in the world would we pay for before or after care

That’s great. You barely get to see your husband

DP. How do you figure? By my count, she sees him as much as others see their working spouses, plus she sees her kids more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the people who freak out about full days and half days off midweek. Most likely younger kids with parents who work full time go to some type of before and aftercare. There are such places are open on days off from school. Our before and aftercare is open for all of spring break except Good Friday. They are closed over winter break but we either use vacation and go away or we create a rotation with neighbors to stay home and watch the kids.

Today is a half day. The bus will take my kid to his aftercare for the rest of the afternoon. When I was looking for before and aftercares, I made sure to choose one that was open on professional days , holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and half days.

Do that many people really not pay for before and aftercare and that's why they're bent out of shape over a few midweek closings and half days per year? They are there to put their kids on the bus and then be able to be home by the time it returns every day? If there is that much flexibility in their schedules then a few closings for holidays or professional days shouldn't be an issue. Or did they not think ahead and they chose a before/aftercare that is closed when schools are closed?

As a parent it's my responsibility to find care for my kid. It costs me $600/month but that's life. I can't expect the schools to operate on a schedule that works best for me as a parent.

I agree 1000000%

I don't pay other people to watch my kids unless I absolutely have to. My husband and I planned our current careers. I work 6-2pm. and he works 9-6pm. Why in the world would we pay for before or after care

That’s great. You barely get to see your husband

DP. How do you figure? By my count, she sees him as much as others see their working spouses, plus she sees her kids more.

I made some assumptions, but they are reasonable--and some weren't needed in the logic...

Let P1 be parent 1
Let P2 be parent 2
Let C be the one child

A1: Commute time for each parent is 30 minutes. This is actually a pretty good commute for the DC area and far below what many have; however, somebody who is hacking schedules so tightly is likely to hack commute times as well.
A2: 8 hours of sleep is required each night per person.
A3: Each person falls asleep immediately upon laying down.
A4: It takes about 45 minutes for each person to wake up and get ready in the morning to be ready to leave.
A5: A child requires 30 minutes of dedicated time from a parent in the morning to get ready.
A6: There is only one child, and that child goes to an elementary school that begins at 9:00.
A7: The bus picks up the child at 8:30 am exactly.
A8: P1 works exactly 8 hours, including time for lunch and breaks.
A9: P2 works 9 hours, including lunch and breaks.


P1 starts work at 6:00 am (from the example given by PP)
By A1, we know that P1 leaves the home at 5:30 am
By A4, we know that P1 wakes up at 4:45 am.
By A2, we know that P1 goes to bed at 8:45 pm.
By A8, we know that P1 leaves work at 2:00 pm.
By A1, we know that P1 arrives home at 2:30 pm.

P2 leaves work at 6:00 pm (from the example given by PP)
By A1, we know that P2 arrives home at 6:30 pm.

P2 begins work at 9:00 am (from the example given by PP)
By A8, we know that P2 leaves work at 8:30 am.
By A7, we know that P2 leaves for work at 8:30 am.
By A5, we know that P2 tends to C form 8:00 am to 8:30 am.
By A4, we know that P2 wakes up at no later than 7:15 am.
By A2, we know that P2 goes to bed no later than 11:15 pm.

If P2 goes to bed at the same time as P1 (8:45 pm), then P2 wakes up at 4:45 am.

Thus, at most P1 and P2 are awake and at home together between the hours of 6:30 pm and 8:45 pm and 4:45 am and 5:30 am, for a total of 3 hours a day. Thus, P1 and P2 cannot be spending more than 3 hours a day together, and this time includes getting ready in the morning, showering, eating, etc.

3 hours is not a whole lot of time as a MAXIMUM for two parents to spend together a day, including time getting ready in the morning. Therefore, P1 and P2 do not spend much time for each other.

QUOD ERAT DEMONSTRANDUM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the people who freak out about full days and half days off midweek. Most likely younger kids with parents who work full time go to some type of before and aftercare. There are such places are open on days off from school. Our before and aftercare is open for all of spring break except Good Friday. They are closed over winter break but we either use vacation and go away or we create a rotation with neighbors to stay home and watch the kids.

Today is a half day. The bus will take my kid to his aftercare for the rest of the afternoon. When I was looking for before and aftercares, I made sure to choose one that was open on professional days , holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and half days.

Do that many people really not pay for before and aftercare and that's why they're bent out of shape over a few midweek closings and half days per year? They are there to put their kids on the bus and then be able to be home by the time it returns every day? If there is that much flexibility in their schedules then a few closings for holidays or professional days shouldn't be an issue. Or did they not think ahead and they chose a before/aftercare that is closed when schools are closed?

As a parent it's my responsibility to find care for my kid. It costs me $600/month but that's life. I can't expect the schools to operate on a schedule that works best for me as a parent.

I agree 1000000%

I don't pay other people to watch my kids unless I absolutely have to. My husband and I planned our current careers. I work 6-2pm. and he works 9-6pm. Why in the world would we pay for before or after care

That’s great. You barely get to see your husband

DP. How do you figure? By my count, she sees him as much as others see their working spouses, plus she sees her kids more.

I made some assumptions, but they are reasonable--and some weren't needed in the logic...

Let P1 be parent 1
Let P2 be parent 2
Let C be the one child

A1: Commute time for each parent is 30 minutes. This is actually a pretty good commute for the DC area and far below what many have; however, somebody who is hacking schedules so tightly is likely to hack commute times as well.
A2: 8 hours of sleep is required each night per person.
A3: Each person falls asleep immediately upon laying down.
A4: It takes about 45 minutes for each person to wake up and get ready in the morning to be ready to leave.
A5: A child requires 30 minutes of dedicated time from a parent in the morning to get ready.
A6: There is only one child, and that child goes to an elementary school that begins at 9:00.
A7: The bus picks up the child at 8:30 am exactly.
A8: P1 works exactly 8 hours, including time for lunch and breaks.
A9: P2 works 9 hours, including lunch and breaks.


P1 starts work at 6:00 am (from the example given by PP)
By A1, we know that P1 leaves the home at 5:30 am
By A4, we know that P1 wakes up at 4:45 am.
By A2, we know that P1 goes to bed at 8:45 pm.
By A8, we know that P1 leaves work at 2:00 pm.
By A1, we know that P1 arrives home at 2:30 pm.

P2 leaves work at 6:00 pm (from the example given by PP)
By A1, we know that P2 arrives home at 6:30 pm.

P2 begins work at 9:00 am (from the example given by PP)
By A8, we know that P2 leaves work at 8:30 am.
By A7, we know that P2 leaves for work at 8:30 am.
By A5, we know that P2 tends to C form 8:00 am to 8:30 am.
By A4, we know that P2 wakes up at no later than 7:15 am.
By A2, we know that P2 goes to bed no later than 11:15 pm.

If P2 goes to bed at the same time as P1 (8:45 pm), then P2 wakes up at 4:45 am.

Thus, at most P1 and P2 are awake and at home together between the hours of 6:30 pm and 8:45 pm and 4:45 am and 5:30 am, for a total of 3 hours a day. Thus, P1 and P2 cannot be spending more than 3 hours a day together, and this time includes getting ready in the morning, showering, eating, etc.

3 hours is not a whole lot of time as a MAXIMUM for two parents to spend together a day, including time getting ready in the morning. Therefore, P1 and P2 do not spend much time for each other.

QUOD ERAT DEMONSTRANDUM

A1 You have too much free time on your hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the people who freak out about full days and half days off midweek. Most likely younger kids with parents who work full time go to some type of before and aftercare. There are such places are open on days off from school. Our before and aftercare is open for all of spring break except Good Friday. They are closed over winter break but we either use vacation and go away or we create a rotation with neighbors to stay home and watch the kids.

Today is a half day. The bus will take my kid to his aftercare for the rest of the afternoon. When I was looking for before and aftercares, I made sure to choose one that was open on professional days , holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and half days.

Do that many people really not pay for before and aftercare and that's why they're bent out of shape over a few midweek closings and half days per year? They are there to put their kids on the bus and then be able to be home by the time it returns every day? If there is that much flexibility in their schedules then a few closings for holidays or professional days shouldn't be an issue. Or did they not think ahead and they chose a before/aftercare that is closed when schools are closed?

As a parent it's my responsibility to find care for my kid. It costs me $600/month but that's life. I can't expect the schools to operate on a schedule that works best for me as a parent.

I agree 1000000%

I don't pay other people to watch my kids unless I absolutely have to. My husband and I planned our current careers. I work 6-2pm. and he works 9-6pm. Why in the world would we pay for before or after care

That’s great. You barely get to see your husband

DP. How do you figure? By my count, she sees him as much as others see their working spouses, plus she sees her kids more.

I made some assumptions, but they are reasonable--and some weren't needed in the logic...

Let P1 be parent 1
Let P2 be parent 2
Let C be the one child

A1: Commute time for each parent is 30 minutes. This is actually a pretty good commute for the DC area and far below what many have; however, somebody who is hacking schedules so tightly is likely to hack commute times as well.
A2: 8 hours of sleep is required each night per person.
A3: Each person falls asleep immediately upon laying down.
A4: It takes about 45 minutes for each person to wake up and get ready in the morning to be ready to leave.
A5: A child requires 30 minutes of dedicated time from a parent in the morning to get ready.
A6: There is only one child, and that child goes to an elementary school that begins at 9:00.
A7: The bus picks up the child at 8:30 am exactly.
A8: P1 works exactly 8 hours, including time for lunch and breaks.
A9: P2 works 9 hours, including lunch and breaks.


P1 starts work at 6:00 am (from the example given by PP)
By A1, we know that P1 leaves the home at 5:30 am
By A4, we know that P1 wakes up at 4:45 am.
By A2, we know that P1 goes to bed at 8:45 pm.
By A8, we know that P1 leaves work at 2:00 pm.
By A1, we know that P1 arrives home at 2:30 pm.

P2 leaves work at 6:00 pm (from the example given by PP)
By A1, we know that P2 arrives home at 6:30 pm.

P2 begins work at 9:00 am (from the example given by PP)
By A8, we know that P2 leaves work at 8:30 am.
By A7, we know that P2 leaves for work at 8:30 am.
By A5, we know that P2 tends to C form 8:00 am to 8:30 am.
By A4, we know that P2 wakes up at no later than 7:15 am.
By A2, we know that P2 goes to bed no later than 11:15 pm.

If P2 goes to bed at the same time as P1 (8:45 pm), then P2 wakes up at 4:45 am.

Thus, at most P1 and P2 are awake and at home together between the hours of 6:30 pm and 8:45 pm and 4:45 am and 5:30 am, for a total of 3 hours a day. Thus, P1 and P2 cannot be spending more than 3 hours a day together, and this time includes getting ready in the morning, showering, eating, etc.

3 hours is not a whole lot of time as a MAXIMUM for two parents to spend together a day, including time getting ready in the morning. Therefore, P1 and P2 do not spend much time for each other.

QUOD ERAT DEMONSTRANDUM

A1 You have too much free time on your hands.

I did this much in my head in 5 minutes. The person who asked didn’t have simple logic skills to song t him- or herself.

[Anonymous]

The issue of Jewish religious holidays off is not so much about childcare but rather the abrupt interruption of the school week. The MoCo BOE has placed the highest priority on closing the achievement gap. Whole weeks of school would help, and I doubt there is a huge Jewish immigrant population in -

I recently heard one of my daughter's friends say her parents and their friends were upset about Eid. Their feel like the Indian population is larger than Muslim in their MoCo area and are upset Dawali is not a school holiday.

We can give every minority religion a holiday and get rid of winter break too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue of Jewish religious holidays off is not so much about childcare but rather the abrupt interruption of the school week. The MoCo BOE has placed the highest priority on closing the achievement gap. Whole weeks of school would help, and I doubt there is a huge Jewish immigrant population in -

I recently heard one of my daughter's friends say her parents and their friends were upset about Eid. Their feel like the Indian population is larger than Muslim in their MoCo area and are upset Dawali is not a school holiday.

We can give every minority religion a holiday and get rid of winter break too.

Next up is Chinese New Year