What Happened to summer? (Murfreesboro, Franklin: spring break, home, school district)

[septimus]

I can't believe that there are counties in this area starting school today according to the news this morning. That seems very early and silly to send kids to school during the hottest time of the year. I must say that since we've moved down here I miss our last 2 week of August/labor day vacation get away since school is in full swing.

[alleycat]

When I was a young kid (long, long ago) school didn't start until the latter part of August. Then it got earlier and earlier until school started about the second week in August.

Metro Nashville schools start on August 11th this year, I believe.

[scarletneon]

You have to keep in mind that some of the schools do "year round" schooling. That's the case in Maury County at least.

[bnewman]

It's also the case with Poplar Grove in the Franklin Special School District.

Also keep in mind that, although school starts earlier, even for the traditional calendar schools, summer begins before Memorial Day weekend before the really hot months begin.

[Tunky]

That was a shock to me when I moved down here too...

However, I "heard" that it is a move in the direction to structure the school year more like Europe does. When I lived there I really appreciated the school calendar. They had a good sized break in the summer and another in the winter...rather than one huge break in the summer.

1. Kids retained more over the breaks..
2. Time for winter vacations, such as skiing or cruises etc. and time for a summer vacation.
3. Breaks up the year.

The thing I liked too is that they divided the country (this was Germany) into zones and took their breaks at alternating times. This ensured that the tourist industry places were never swamped and then dead all at one time.

Our school calendars were created like they are because of farming and needing kids to work on the farms. Not many people do that anymore.


Ok...off the soap box.

[ExIslander]

Wilson County roughly follows the 9-and-2 calendar. School starts August 11 this year, there are two-week breaks in October, around Christmas/New Year's, and in March. Summer break is about two months long. I can't speak for anyone else but I love it. Florida, where we go to visit family, is a lot more pleasant in October and March than in the summer. And two months is plenty for a summer vacation; we have time for a trip or two and some summer camps. Anyway, I have a job; it's not like I'm having to cut short my stay at the summer house.

I know what you mean about going to school when it's so hot, but when it's really hot all they're going to do at home is sit inside in the A/C. They can do that just as well at school, I guess.

[Mike in TN]

I'd prefer to start after Labor Day and get out mid June. I think I heard the entire state of Texas has adopted that schedule.

[Teacher2Be]

Originally Posted by Mike in TN

I'd prefer to start after Labor Day and get out mid June. I think I heard the entire state of Texas has adopted that schedule.

My kids in NY start school either the Tues or Wed after Labor Day and get out towards the end of June. They still get in their 180 days of required school and all sorts of breaks. For their district, they have a high Jewish population, so they get breaks for the major Jewish holidays as well as the Christian holidays.

[pucabear]

Sumner County is very seriously considering moving all schools to the "modified calendar" for next year. It is the same amount of days, just the larger breaks in the fall and spring, as previously discussed by ExIslander.

[Mike in TN]

Originally Posted by pucabear

Sumner County is very seriously considering moving all schools to the "modified calendar" for next year. It is the same amount of days, just the larger breaks in the fall and spring, as previously discussed by ExIslander.

That's how some of the schools in the Murfreesboro City Schools system are. I think they go back around July 20th after six week break. IIRC, they get an extra week during Christmas and spring break, a fall break, and probably some others I'm forgetting. Maybe a full week at Thanksgiving?