Do you miss the good old days when most all schools started after Labor Day? (San Diego: credit, school districts)

[citizensadvocate]

I bet you all remember back in the days when nearly all the "traditional" schools throughout the state and much of the country always started school for the fall term in September and almost always the Tuesday or Wednesday after Labor Day.

This was the case throughout the 1990s in much of California. Though ever since 1998 school district after school district started to move their start dates earlier. They first start by moving their start dates to last week of August. Though as the years pass by they embraced even earlier start dates now some are in session as early as beginning of August. Also nowadays school start dates and schedules are now all over the map varying greatly from district to district therefore it's harder for organizations and families to plan summer activities in August or throughout the year for that matter. Though number of total school days in a school year remained the same just the way the school calendar laid out is different.

I noticed though for some reason that I don't have an answer to is that much of SoCal (Los angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties) are much slower to catch the early start fever compared to other parts of the state and most districts there continued to start the school year after Labor Day throughout most of the 2000s until about 2010 when districts there started to creep their start date earlier as well. Though the trend was not widespread until in 2012 when LAUSD moved its start date from after Labor Day to August 14 that's when many other surrounding SoCal school districts also followed suit and adopted much earlier school calendars.

Though I would ask you guys do you miss the good old days when schools started in September or do you like the early start district calendar because it may allow the first semester to end before Christmas break, provide more middle of school year breaks, and end the school year earlier than the original schedule?
Just remember the number of school days are still the same regardless of when they start or end the year.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by citizensadvocate

I bet you all remember back in the days when nearly all the "traditional" schools throughout the state and much of the country always started school for the fall term in September and almost always the Tuesday or Wednesday after Labor Day.

This was the case throughout the 1990s in much of California. Though ever since 1998 school district after school district started to move their start dates earlier. They first start by moving their start dates to last week of August. Though as the years pass by they embraced even earlier start dates now some are in session as early as beginning of August. Also nowadays school start dates and schedules are now all over the map varying greatly from district to district therefore it's harder for organizations and families to plan summer activities in August or throughout the year for that matter. Though number of total school days in a school year remained the same just the way the school calendar laid out is different.

I noticed though for some reason that I don't have an answer to is that much of SoCal (Los angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties) are much slower to catch the early start fever compared to other parts of the state and most districts there continued to start the school year after Labor Day throughout most of the 2000s until about 2010 when districts there started to creep their start date earlier as well. Though the trend was not widespread until in 2012 when LAUSD moved its start date from after Labor Day to August 14 that's when many other surrounding SoCal school districts also followed suit and adopted much earlier school calendars.

Though I would ask you guys do you miss the good old days when schools started in September or do you like the early start district calendar because it may allow the first semester to end before Christmas break, provide more middle of school year breaks, and end the school year earlier than the original schedule?
Just remember the number of school days are still the same regardless of when they start or end the year.

Not only that. School days used to be longer (which is probably why the school year used to be shorter). Most schools used to start 8AM or a few minutes past (8:15 at the latest) and end at least 3PM. Nowadays I see mostly 8:30AM start and 2:30PM (or earlier!) finish.

[volosong]

My best friend started teaching her class in middle-school this past Monday. The only advantage I see is that it gives teachers more time off during the "school year". Since I started teaching at the community college, I've learned just how hard teachers work. What sux is that the college schedule and her schedule are different and we can never go on a vacation together. I've been wanting to take her for the Easter Vacation break to Italy, but her week off is always different than mine, (It's not called "Easter Vacation" anymore and is not connected in any way to Easter Sunday. But I refuse to be "politically correct", and will never be.). Maybe this spring we can go since I'll be retired, or the year after when she will probably be retired too.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Not only that. School days used to be longer (which is probably why the school year used to be shorter). Most schools used to start 8AM or a few minutes past (8:15 at the latest) and end at least 3PM. Nowadays I see mostly 8:30AM start and 2:30PM (or earlier!) finish.

When I was in elementary school the school day was 8:10 AM - 3:15PM.

Jr. High was not much different.

Nor HS, until Sr. Year, where I had enough credits that I only had to go 6 periods, ending my day at 2PM.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by citizensadvocate

I would ask you guys do you miss the good old days when schools started in September

Yes! Watching kids lug their backpacks in the heat of early August just seems wrong. August should be for celebrating the last few days of summer...

[BeauCharles]

Almost every parent I've ever spoke with that grew up in the traditional nine month calendar era hates the year-round one.

[West of Encino]

It was always that way with Long Beach Unified.

[Crazy4Chickens]

I remember starting the day after Labor day and that always seemed right. We had a good, long summer a nd you start back with a four day week. I do not like the current earlier end to summer break. My nine year old starts next Thursday, August 18th. It is way, way too hot to be back at school. It's supposed to get up to 107 a few days next week, we should be at the pool, not sweltering at school.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

Yes! Watching kids lug their backpacks in the heat of early August just seems wrong. August should be for celebrating the last few days of summer...

This


It is just stupid to start school in August.

Year round sounds good on paper but is also not a good idea either.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

Yes! Watching kids lug their backpacks in the heat of early August just seems wrong. August should be for celebrating the last few days of summer...

Almost no SD schools have AC that are anywhere near the beach.