Once upon a time MCPS was one of the top school districts in the country. That’s what I want for my kids. All this bill does is give MCPS more incentive to close schools. That is absolutely not what I want. |
And once upon a time, you could buy a house for $20,000, survive on a single income, and didn't have to worry about your kids being groomed online. Times change, the county's demographics have massively shifted, and MCPS will never be the same as it was 30-40 years ago. Anyone thinking they can recreate the past is in for a big disappointment. |
I at least don’t want them to further deteriorate the education they offer. Allowing them to disregard minimum days is one step further to degrading the education our kids are offered |
| Posts like this anger me so much. If the bill passes, MCPS will still be required to have school for the required hours. There is no point in saying it has to happen in 180 days or more. We meet the hourly requirement at approximately day 163. VA and many other states have been doing hours only for years. Saying schools have to meet both hours and days is arbitrary and unnecessary. |
You didn’t blame anyone, and it’s offensive that a poster would accuse you. |
So you’re okay with 17 fewer days of school? Seems to me the hour requirement should be increased…. |
The hourly requirement in Maryland, 1170 hours for high school, is one of the highest in the nation. Yes, I'm absolutely ok with having a less than 180 days of school in the event of harsh winters like this one. I'm also ok with virtual learning for a few days in the event of an ice storm. And I'm absolutely ok with separating church and state by eliminating religious and cultural holidays unless they impact absenteeism (of teachers and students) at a level of at least 15%. And I'm absolutely ok with making teacher work days (for professional development or grading) into half days so that they count as school days. And I'm absolutely ok with starting school at the end of August and ending by the first week of June. The children will not wilt if they attend school for 1000+ hours per year and go at a steady pace, as opposed to being disrupted at every turn by a day off that doesn't impact many people at all. MCPS enthusiastically (and rightfully) allows excused absences for any religious or cultural holiday that impacts any staff member or student. |
| The hours vs days of instruction debate is interesting to me. I personally support it but it does potentially lead to the adoption of longer school days and 4 day school weeks like they do in a lot of Western districts. I personally love the 4 day school week model and there is a ton of concrete data that proves it not only increases productivity as both teachers and students don't feel the slog of 5 days, but also saves the district millions in building utilities. The downside is it places a burden on families to have to figure out childcare for 1 day a week. |
You're not very intelligent, are you? |
DP. Strange post given that's exactly what the other poster wants- fewer days. |
The calendar isn't being extended. This is using the make-up days already in the calendars. These are already covered by the compensation for salaried staff. |
You are being ridiculous. More days where students learn nothing is wasted time. If you like to pretend that kids are learning just because they are physically inside the school building, then have at it I guess but it’s pretty dumb |
So have teachers teach instead of playing movies. And add days to the calendar from the start everyone- teachers and families alike- know to plan for them. I don't know why you're defending MCPS's obvious lack-of-effort here. |
4 days per week is nice. More efficient and less wasted time. Ideally on day 5, kids could learn skills such as home repairs, cooking, finance, gardening etc. and have more sports time. Now that would be amazing |
Exactly this…. |