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Saving Our Summer

Linda Bachmann, The Jewish Times

August 17, 2003

I've been shopping -- and not for fabulous sale swimsuits, suntan lotion or strappy summer sandals.

Despite the hot summer sunshine and still-long summer days, since mid-July I've been out with my daughter, stocking up on dress code-appropriate collared shirts, not-too-short skirts and sensible shoes. Add to that list a graphing calculator, binders, folders and a mountain of college-ruled notebook paper.

In my neighborhood, "Fall Madness," Pope High School's student registration day, was held July 29. Yes, although it's still very much summer, the yellow buses are rolling and our kids are back in school.

Perhaps my disconnect stems from my Northern roots. My start-of-school memories are accompanied by fall's cooler colors, cooler weather and a mindset that said it's time to get serious.

But it's 90-plus degrees outside. The pool is glistening &emdash; and finally warm enough to jump right in. I know summer vacation's sleeping-late, lazy routine can't go on forever. But when the calendar reads early August, I'm just not ready to live on a back-to-school schedule.

I'm not the only one who feels that way; in fact, the school calendar debate is apparently as heated as the Georgia weather forecast.

Georgians Need Summers (www.georgiansneedsummers.com) is a grassroots organization that, for the past year, has been working to stop a proposed "balanced calendar" approach to year-round school under consideration by the Cobb County School Board. The group is also working to get legislation passed in Georgia that would return the school year to a more traditional timeframe &emdash; from late August to early June.

At issue, argue proponents, is not just whether our summer vacations are cut short, but also how children of all abilities learn and retain information.

"I understand the value of education," says Scotti Madison, organizer of Georgians Need Summers, "but when I started to do the research I came to the conclusion that there is no advancement of academic performance in year-round schooling &emdash; 180 days is 180 days.

"For our remedial kids," adds Madison, "research shows their greatest improvement came if they had daily and weekly tutoring" rather than the more intensive intersession remediation that is recommended as part of a year-round school calendar.

Madison points out that the early school start date was designed in part so that final exams are completed before the two-week winter holiday break &emdash; avoiding any loss of information retention.

But Tina Bruno, executive director of Time to Learn, a San Antonio, Texas-based group that will soon be renamed the Coalition for a Traditional School Calendar, questions that rationale.

"If kids know the material, they know the material," Bruno says. If students' grades suffer after a break for few weeks, she says, "Is it regurgitation or retention?"

Meanwhile, Madison was anticipating a large turnout at a community meeting on the school calendar scheduled for Aug. 12. He says real estate agents, high school coaches and even parents of children who play on traveling sports teams &emdash; some of whom, for example, were unable to play in a girls softball World Series event that started the same day as Cobb County schools &emdash; have expressed their concerns over the school schedule.

Beyond whether your children feel like hitting the books in early August, the school start dates have far reaching economic impact &emdash; from lost tourism dollars, to summer employment issues and the exorbitant air conditioning costs it takes to keep school buildings cool during what is often the hottest month of the year.

Citing those issues, North Carolina legislators recently passed a bill requiring a uniform start date for schools throughout the state: Schools can begin no earlier than Aug. 25 and end no later than June 10.

And what about summer camp &emdash; which is a big part of Jewish education and the Jewish community?

Jim Mittenthal, director of Camp Barney Medintz, says that his first step in determining his summer camp schedule is to make phone calls to glean information on school system schedules around the country. It's an issue not only for campers and their families, he says, but camp professionals also need enough time to train and prepare their staffs before their charges arrive.

"My colleagues directing camps in the Northeast are barely into the second session when we're done," Mittenthal said. "For decades we started camp on Father's Day &emdash; now it's two weeks earlier."

Phyllis Bryer has taught school for 21 years &emdash; the last 14 years at Tritt Elementary in East Cobb County. She says many parents have expressed their disbelief that school starts so early. Yet, she points out that the hot weather continues here well into September.

"I've taught in five different states and on five different calendars," said Bryer. "No matter when it begins and when it ends, there's always the challenge for teachers to get [their students] into the groove of school."

So, forget what the calendar says. In my house, summer is officially over.

Linda Bachmann covers education issues for the Jewish Times.

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	c	Saving Our Summer Linda Bachmann, The Jewish Times August 17, 2003 I've been shopping -- and not for fabulous sale swimsuits, suntan lotion or strappy summer sandals. Despite the hot summer sunshine and still-long summer days, since mid-July I've been out with my daughter, stocking up on dress code-appropriate collared shirts, not-too-short skirts and sensible shoes. Add to that list a graphing calculator, binders, folders and a mountain of college-ruled notebook paper. In my neighborhood, "Fall Madness," Pope High School's student registration day, was held July 29. Yes, although it's still very much summer, the yellow buses are rolling and our kids are back in school. Perhaps my disconnect stems from my Northern roots. My start-of-school memories are accompanied by fall's cooler colors, cooler weather and a mindset that said it's time to get serious. But it's 90-plus degrees outside. The pool is glistening &emdash; and finally warm enough to jump right in. I know summer vacation's sleeping-late, lazy routine can't go on forever. But when the calendar reads early August, I'm just not ready to live on a back-to-school schedule. I'm not the only one who feels that way; in fact, the school calendar debate is apparently as heated as the Georgia weather forecast. Georgians Need Summers (www.georgiansneedsummers.com) is a grassroots organization that, for the past year, has been working to stop a proposed "balanced calendar" approach to year-round school under consideration by the Cobb County School Board. The group is also working to get legislation passed in Georgia that would return the school year to a more traditional timeframe &emdash; from late August to early June. At issue, argue proponents, is not just whether our summer vacations are cut short, but also how children of all abilities learn and retain information. "I understand the value of education," says Scotti Madison, organizer of Georgians Need Summers, "but when I started to do the research I came to the conclusion that there is no advancement of academic performance in year-round schooling &emdash; 180 days is 180 days. "For our remedial kids," adds Madison, "research shows their greatest improvement came if they had daily and weekly tutoring" rather than the more intensive intersession remediation that is recommended as part of a year-round school calendar. Madison points out that the early school start date was designed in part so that final exams are completed before the two-week winter holiday break &emdash; avoiding any loss of information retention. But Tina Bruno, executive director of Time to Learn, a San Antonio, Texas-based group that will soon be renamed the Coalition for a Traditional School Calendar, questions that rationale. "If kids know the material, they know the material," Bruno says. If students' grades suffer after a break for few weeks, she says, "Is it regurgitation or retention?" Meanwhile, Madison was anticipating a large turnout at a community meeting on the school calendar scheduled for Aug. 12. He says real estate agents, high school coaches and even parents of children who play on traveling sports teams &emdash; some of whom, for example, were unable to play in a girls softball World Series event that started the same day as Cobb County schools &emdash; have expressed their concerns over the school schedule. Beyond whether your children feel like hitting the books in early August, the school start dates have far reaching economic impact &emdash; from lost tourism dollars, to summer employment issues and the exorbitant air conditioning costs it takes to keep school buildings cool during what is often the hottest month of the year. Citing those issues, North Carolina legislators recently passed a bill requiring a uniform start date for schools throughout the state: Schools can begin no earlier than Aug. 25 and end no later than June 10. And what about summer camp &emdash; which is a big part of Jewish education and the Jewish community? Jim Mittenthal, director of Camp Barney Medintz, says that his first step in determining his summer camp schedule is to make phone calls to glean information on school system schedules around the country. It's an issue not only for campers and their families, he says, but camp professionals also need enough time to train and prepare their staffs before their charges arrive. "My colleagues directing camps in the Northeast are barely into the second session when we're done," Mittenthal said. "For decades we started camp on Father's Day &emdash; now it's two weeks earlier." Phyllis Bryer has taught school for 21 years &emdash; the last 14 years at Tritt Elementary in East Cobb County. She says many parents have expressed their disbelief that school starts so early. Yet, she points out that the hot weather continues here well into September. "I've taught in five different states and on five different calendars," said Bryer. "No matter when it begins and when it ends, there's always the challenge for teachers to get [their students] into the groove of school." So, forget what the calendar says. In my house, summer is officially over. Linda Bachmann covers education issues for the Jewish Times. BACK