APS cutting instructional days from calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most egregious thing is that the new holidays seem to have been added without any surveys or discussion about how many kids in the community actually observe them. I am not saying we need to get rid of the religious holiday, but it is ridiculous that we added them w/o discussion of how we would make up for the lost instructional time. I am Jewish, btw. But I’m also a teacher and the disjointed schedule in the beginning of the school year is very difficult to hit a stride. This is also the time when kids are most attentive and eager to learn and we should make the most of the beginning of the year.

+1. There needs to be some threshold. We can't observe every single holiday. Why did we pick these to add? How many students and staff observe them? As a percentage?

They don’t necessarily need a formal survey. They can look at staff and student absence data for the holidays over a period of years. Parents also submit comments under engage, to school board members and principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not egregious and just because APS didn’t survey families doesn’t mean that they did it arbitrarily. Families have been asking for these religious holidays for years.

But which families? A lot of woke non-religious white people seem to be calling for all the religious holidays off out of "equity."

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of looking at historical absence data. I'm not against adding more days off if we need them, but we need to have a reasonable conversation about this. Really, what is the standard? 10%? 5%? 1%? What makes sense? All these extra days are disruptive for teachers and students. So let's add them carefully and thoughtfully.

I just can't back adding holidays that 1% of all people in a community celebrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the idea of looking at historical absence data. I'm not against adding more days off if we need them, but we need to have a reasonable conversation about this. Really, what is the standard? 10%? 5%? 1%? What makes sense? All these extra days are disruptive for teachers and students. So let's add them carefully and thoughtfully.

I just can't back adding holidays that 1% of all people in a community celebrate.

This is so logical, which is why APS won't disclose this. As weird as I feel saying this....is this FOIA-able?

[Anonymous]

The govt cannot establish one religion over others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The govt cannot establish one religion over others.

But they can schedule days off for when a high percentage of teachers and students will likely be absent for holiday observances, religious or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the idea of looking at historical absence data. I'm not against adding more days off if we need them, but we need to have a reasonable conversation about this. Really, what is the standard? 10%? 5%? 1%? What makes sense? All these extra days are disruptive for teachers and students. So let's add them carefully and thoughtfully.

I just can't back adding holidays that 1% of all people in a community celebrate.

I think it can be used as a data point but there will always be people unable/unwilling to take a day off who may celebrate and will now that the days are off. This year was particularly disruptive because of where the holidays fell, if will be a much better schedule next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most egregious thing is that the new holidays seem to have been added without any surveys or discussion about how many kids in the community actually observe them. I am not saying we need to get rid of the religious holiday, but it is ridiculous that we added them w/o discussion of how we would make up for the lost instructional time. I am Jewish, btw. But I’m also a teacher and the disjointed schedule in the beginning of the school year is very difficult to hit a stride. This is also the time when kids are most attentive and eager to learn and we should make the most of the beginning of the year.

+1. There needs to be some threshold. We can't observe every single holiday. Why did we pick these to add? How many students and staff observe them? As a percentage?

They don’t necessarily need a formal survey. They can look at staff and student absence data for the holidays over a period of years. Parents also submit comments under engage, to school board members and principals.

its the APS way - they do what they want without surveying the community. Its ridiculous and feels like every decision does not have the kids / instructional time in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The govt cannot establish one religion over others.

But they can schedule days off for when a high percentage of teachers and students will likely be absent for holiday observances, religious or not.

I say have all major holidays off. Let's be the lawn signs we stake in our front yards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most egregious thing is that the new holidays seem to have been added without any surveys or discussion about how many kids in the community actually observe them. I am not saying we need to get rid of the religious holiday, but it is ridiculous that we added them w/o discussion of how we would make up for the lost instructional time. I am Jewish, btw. But I’m also a teacher and the disjointed schedule in the beginning of the school year is very difficult to hit a stride. This is also the time when kids are most attentive and eager to learn and we should make the most of the beginning of the year.

+1. There needs to be some threshold. We can't observe every single holiday. Why did we pick these to add? How many students and staff observe them? As a percentage?

They don’t necessarily need a formal survey. They can look at staff and student absence data for the holidays over a period of years. Parents also submit comments under engage, to school board members and principals.

its the APS way - they do what they want without surveying the community. Its ridiculous and feels like every decision does not have the kids / instructional time in mind.

What are you talking about? They survey people all the time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS is a very small district and is really hurting it’s recruiting by now following FCPS calendar. Lots of teachers with kids in Fairfax looking to move because of calendar.

So I’ve seen about 20 posts here about how school isn’t childcare, and in the same breath tons of complaints from teachers that their kids school schedules don’t line up to their work school schedules.

Hey teachers - school isn’t childcare! Hire a babysitter like the rest of us do for the random Mondays and Thursdays you all have off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is a very small district and is really hurting it’s recruiting by now following FCPS calendar. Lots of teachers with kids in Fairfax looking to move because of calendar.

So I’ve seen about 20 posts here about how school isn’t childcare, and in the same breath tons of complaints from teachers that their kids school schedules don’t line up to their work school schedules.

Hey teachers - school isn’t childcare! Hire a babysitter like the rest of us do for the random Mondays and Thursdays you all have off.

I believe that is more annoyance that they would like to enjoy their kids spring break with them, but they aren’t able to take leave them because school is in session for their employer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is a very small district and is really hurting it’s recruiting by now following FCPS calendar. Lots of teachers with kids in Fairfax looking to move because of calendar.

So I’ve seen about 20 posts here about how school isn’t childcare, and in the same breath tons of complaints from teachers that their kids school schedules don’t line up to their work school schedules.

Hey teachers - school isn’t childcare! Hire a babysitter like the rest of us do for the random Mondays and Thursdays you all have off.

I believe that is more annoyance that they would like to enjoy their kids spring break with them, but they aren’t able to take leave them because school is in session for their employer.

Okay how imagine having an employer who doesn’t provide any spring break and you have to throw all of your leave at random midweek days off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is a very small district and is really hurting it’s recruiting by now following FCPS calendar. Lots of teachers with kids in Fairfax looking to move because of calendar.

So I’ve seen about 20 posts here about how school isn’t childcare, and in the same breath tons of complaints from teachers that their kids school schedules don’t line up to their work school schedules.

Hey teachers - school isn’t childcare! Hire a babysitter like the rest of us do for the random Mondays and Thursdays you all have off.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS is a very small district and is really hurting it’s recruiting by now following FCPS calendar. Lots of teachers with kids in Fairfax looking to move because of calendar.

So I’ve seen about 20 posts here about how school isn’t childcare, and in the same breath tons of complaints from teachers that their kids school schedules don’t line up to their work school schedules.

Hey teachers - school isn’t childcare! Hire a babysitter like the rest of us do for the random Mondays and Thursdays you all have off.

Thank you!

I truly think people who say “school isn’t childcare” are mostly just contrarians. I’ve only heard a couple (childless) teachers say this in real life. I’m a teacher and school is my childcare. I have to get camps 2 weeks during the summers and on workdays.