Today is the 3rd to last day of school in Howard County, MD. I guess it's a good thing that there is only a half day of school today. It's going to be a scorcher. Yes, there are still two days left of school here. You are very astute to notice that. Most other school districts in the area are done, but not us. Our poor kids have to suffer through 3 half days of school with antsy classmates and teachers who cannot be blamed for being more than ready for school to be over.
I have to wonder the logic of finishing the year with 3 half days. They count as full days because lunch is served, but virtually nothing academic is done (my son's 4th grade teacher did assign homework.) These extra days were necessary because of snow days taken in February. If you live in Maryland or have ever been here in the winter you know we can get substantial amounts of snow, but it never lasts long. There are nights it can snow 6 inches and everything will be gone by 3:00 the following afternoon. Our schools tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to cancelling school. There have been days when school was cancelled yet all the snow had melted by 10:00 am.
Days could have been made up earlier in the school year by eliminating teacher work days and shortening Spring break from 6 school days to 5 or even 4. Kids in Howard County currently start school in the last week of August and finish in the middle of June. I recall being finished with school in the first week of June and starting again after Labor Day. And we had a two week Winter Break.
I know there are many objectives to be taught, but our children still need to be kids and have fun with their families. I'd be happy with a slightly longer school day if that would mean a slightly shorter school year.
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