Last Day of School in Walton County...

[beachyteachy]

Well said...I totally agree!

No teacher that I know of (including me and all of my immediate family-all teachers) wants a year round school! Of course, we're not in any unions. For those who are really quality educators, I just see burnout becoming more of a possibility. Summer is a time to regroup, rest, and do our own enriching activities (whether it is travel, summer camp, art, spending time in nature, further reading and study) which only improves who we are and what we are able to contribute to others. Just my opinion....

 

[30ABandMan]

August 20, 2007 Classes begin for students​

August 31, 2007 No School Day (12 month personnel work)
September 3, 2007 Labor Day (all personnel out)
October 8, 2007 Columbus Day (all personnel out)
October 25-26, 2007 Teacher Planning, Professional Day (students out)
November 12, 2007 Veterans? Day (all personnel out)
November 21-23,2007 Thanksgiving Holidays (all personnel out)
December 20, 2007 ? Jan. 2, 2008 Christmas Holidays (all personnel out)
January 18, 2008 Teacher Planning (students out)
January 21, 2008 Martin Luther King Day (all personnel out)
February 18, 2008 Presidents? Day (all personnel out)
March 21, 2008 No school day (all personnel out)
March 27, 2008 Teacher Planning (students out)
March 28-31, 2008 ? April 4, 2008 Spring Break (all personnel out)
May 23-26, 2008 No School Day, Memorial Day (all personnel out)
June 10, 2008 Last Day for Students​

I believe we could take some serious study of the teacher planning days. Maybe if we just paid them to work a little longer each day without students present, we could do away with them.​

Teacher planning days aren't used to sit around and "plan", they are used for inservice classes and seminars where we gain vital training that helps us teach your students better.

 

[tistheseason]

No teacher that I know of (including me and all of my immediate family-all teachers) wants a year round school! Of course, we're not in any unions. For those who are really quality educators, I just see burnout becoming more of a possibility. Summer is a time to regroup, rest, and do our own enriching activities (whether it is travel, summer camp, art, spending time in nature, further reading and study) which only improves who we are and what we are able to contribute to others. Just my opinion....

The teachers that I know that have "close to year round school" (I don't know any that are totally year round) actually really like it. They may have fought it going in -- but once they get use to it, they really like it. They regroup, rest and do enriching activities throughout the year -- during the breaks. It's still the same number of school days. And the same number of days off.

But there is a big grass roots effort in Georgia -- and probably Florida too -- to "bring back summers". Here is the link to their site http://www.georgiansneedsummers.com

 

[Jdarg]

Teacher planning days aren't used to sit around and "plan", they are used for inservice classes and seminars where we gain vital training that helps us teach your students better.

Hey Bandman- I know y'all do use the true in service days as enrichment/learning days for teachers. It did seem that this school year was full of random days off for everyone- days tacked on spring break, Good Friday, memorial Day, etc. that were not in service related.

I wonder if it will be too late to discuss the calendar at the SWHS parent meeting next Tuesday (April 29), and do any of the teachers have input, or just the teachers on the calendar committee?

 

[Goddessgal]

Thanks for the different point of view, tistheseason. I will check out that link, as well. I was talking about this with my husband, and he pointed out that Dutch schools (he's Dutch) are close to being year round as well. Of course they have many holidays and vacation days there. The kids all go home for a long lunch and they also go home early on Wednesdays. The teachers and students I met there seemed well-adjusted, not stressed out or stretched thin. I would like to find out how many days a year they attend. I guess we all resist change, but I still like knowing I will have a block of time off - for now...

 

[Teresa]

No teacher that I know of (including me and all of my immediate family-all teachers) wants a year round school! Of course, we're not in any unions. For those who are really quality educators, I just see burnout becoming more of a possibility. Summer is a time to regroup, rest, and do our own enriching activities (whether it is travel, summer camp, art, spending time in nature, further reading and study) which only improves who we are and what we are able to contribute to others. Just my opinion....

totally agree with this gg. also, children need a break from school. they need time to rest, enjoy summer, have leisure, etc. I realize its a hardship for working parents to have to find other activities for children to keep them busy and then pay for them as well. I am looking for activities for my kid for the summer but not many. he can just enjoy being a kid without a scheduled life for a while.

 

[wrobert]

Teacher planning days aren't used to sit around and "plan", they are used for inservice classes and seminars where we gain vital training that helps us teach your students better.

I know some teachers use it for this when these things are scheduled. But a significant number also use the days to burn up comp time they have earned since they can only take it during non-student contact hours. And many also take personal days.

 

[30ABandMan]

Hey Bandman- I know y'all do use the true in service days as enrichment/learning days for teachers. It did seem that this school year was full of random days off for everyone- days tacked on spring break, Good Friday, memorial Day, etc. that were not in service related.

I wonder if it will be too late to discuss the calendar at the SWHS parent meeting next Tuesday (April 29), and do any of the teachers have input, or just the teachers on the calendar committee?

I have never personally been asked for any input on the calendar. I'm like the rest of you and wait for the e-mail to come from the county office. My wife and I have looked at moving to other states simply because we would have the same number of student contact days but on average 16 less "professional" days a year.

 

[30ABandMan]

I know some teachers use it for this when these things are scheduled. But a significant number also use the days to burn up comp time they have earned since they can only take it during non-student contact hours. And many also take personal days.

That may be true to a point but no of us really get much comp time during the year. I've been here for 4 years and only have 10 hrs.

When we stay after or come in early, it is not compensated. Just like the band program. I get no extra compensation or stipend for all of the after school practices, performances, parades or contest the band attends. My stipend is tied directly to the band performing at 10 football games. If I wanted to do the bare minimum I could choose to rehearse the band only during school hours and save all of my weekends for my family but that doesn't make a strong band program IMO.