Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
School’s Out for (Shortchanged) Summer
This past Friday marked the last day of school for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, more than a full week after many other public-school systems have completed their calendar year.
All but two Maryland counties have completed their school calendar year, with some having finished up to three weeks ago. Counties that finished ahead of Anne Arundel include: Allegheny, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.
Yep, I researched every county in the state.
The only other Maryland county to continue school through this fourth week—yes, fourth week!—of June is Prince George’s, which ended 6/23. (And both counties observed the Juneteenth federal holiday this week by closing schools on Monday.)
Many of Maryland’s county public school systems, like Anne Arundel, do not return to school until just before or after Labor Day weekend.
All of this begs the question, why are Anne Arundel County’s students and their families being short-changed on their summer vacations?
If you’re thinking the answer may be make-up days due to weather closings earlier in the year, you may be half-right. But was Anne Arundel’s weather worse that 21 other counties? (There were several closings due to snow forecasts that ended up being rain!) And with all due respect to our teachers, we still must ask, were there too many “professional development” and “teacher work” days put into the schedule? Too many observed holidays?
Or is everything fine in your book. Let us know.
What do you think?
Here’s what you said:
There are too many 'no school' days in AA County. Maybe teacher professional days or work day should be half days instead of full days off.
Susan Lilly, Pasadena
In Anne Arundel county, I feel that there are too many development days and too may observed holidays. We need to get it under control. During my school days we started after Labor Day and finished before Memorial Day. Somehow, we managed to get all our time in. I know other school districts in other states that start in mid August and finish in mid May. They also get a fall and spring break. We have got to find a happy medium somewhere.
Christi Harris, Edgewater
It is not about the education. I learned a big lesson when my child was in school. After coming back after a few days off for snow, they never completed the unit; just moved on to something new. Didn't matter that they didn't finish learning the material. So it isn't about the academics, it's about the number of days. Someone made up the current number so someone can make up a new number. Kids should have off June/July/August and have a summer, have less days off during the school year, and be held accountable to learn the academics as that is what school is for.
M W, Glen Burnie
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