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"Kings Dominion Law"

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by Brassy, Aug 31, 2009.

  1. Brassy

    Brassy Hiyah

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    Ok, how to we get this law off the books?! Myself, my Daughter and the school board wish school would begin the week befor labor day.

    With it being so late this year, it is ridiculous. Kids already have sports pracites, Marching band, etc. And not just at the HS level. SO what kids are mobbing the theme parks? They don't wan tot go when it is a very hot day either.

    This law sucks and keeps are kids in school well into June. Let's get something going to get this law changed.

    Loudoun had an agricultural "Bye" for 11 years to begin before labor day. My kids beniftted from this. Then they lost it. Sucks when you see DC and Maryland students already in school, the Sunday comcis had lots of references as today being the first day of school. School in Illinois and other states started 2 weeks ago.

    And once again, our students last day of schook is June 18th.Rather than say, June 11th. This can also get in the way of camp dates, depending on where/what state you send your kid to camp.

    I wonder if VA would ever go to year round school...Three weeks off every few months would really not be fun for KD!
     
  2. T8ergirl

    T8ergirl New Member

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    I'd support year round school, but as long as they are out for the summer, I like waiting until after Labor Day. In NJ this year they are doing three half days this week and then start full time next week. That's a joke. They get credit for the days but what learning really goes on in 3 half days? All it does is serve to screw up the last week of summer.
     
  3. Pats_fan

    Pats_fan Former Resident

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    Most Atlanta area public schools (and my kids) have been back to school for 3 weeks (since August 11). It seems pretty early, but it sure is nice when they're done by mid-May.

    A big plus is that we can schedule vacations at the end of May, which most resorts/etc. consider to be "off peak," so they are less crowded and the prices are a whole lot better.
     
  4. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Don't want to go on a hot day? So we should just assume Summer as a whole is out of the question too?

    Yes this year is the extreme due to the calendar, but does the extreme dictate everything?

    What sucks about it? Not having a comic strip align with you?

    Given it's a widespread thing here... people accommodate around it. You won't find a very successful summer camp in VA on the last week of May.
     
  5. cindyb

    cindyb New Member

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    And keep in mind that the school board cut a few teacher workdays out of the schedule, otherwise kids would be going to school even later in June.
     
  6. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    +1. I like starting after Labor day. and I love the idea of year round school. vacas that don't fall with every other school mean off peak vaca times that aren't mobbed. my kid is in middle school and i have no issue with the way it is now.
     
  7. Thunderchild

    Thunderchild New Member

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    The last week in August is also considered "off peak".

    Also, it is not the Kings Dominion Law. The County does not have enough "snow days" in the last 10( I think) years to ask the State for a waiver to begin before Labor Day. Rappahannock county began school on the 24th.

    Enjoy the rest of the vacation!
     
  8. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: "King's Dominion Law"

    Brassy--

    Yes, in Gwinnett County, GA (where we are originally from) school has always started in mid-August and ended by Memorial Day weekend (usually the Friday before Memorial Day Monday). My nieces and nephews have already started school (they attend private schools--but follow the local public school calendar).

    My hubby and I grew up in GA and went on the same school schedule as public schools. We went to private school and they followed the public school calendars.

    I wish school started earlier here for public schools. Friends of ours hate that VA schools are later in the school start times and end times. Our kids are in private school so they attend earlier. Our kids' school calendar is from mid-August until Memorial Day weekend which is similar to GA's school calendar. We like it alot better for managing home and farm life.

    Have a great Fall--

    Foodie:happygrin:
     
  9. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    Brassy,
    I am afraid I am not appreciating the concern about the “King’s Dominion” law that you have.
    I don’t know if I agree with the motivation of setting the school year based on what is good for industry, but if that is the law, so be it. If I remember my history, this is not unusual as the original purpose of the “summer vacation” was to enable kids to work the fields, not give the kids a break. All this law seems to do is enable the same thing but instead of the farm it is linked to industry. Child labour for the win!
    I don’t really see the problem with school starting after Labor Day. Starting it the week before Labor Day gives the kids one week followed immediately by a three day weekend. I am not sure what gets accomplished in that first week that would negatively affect the students.
    I remember when I was a kid, school always started after Labor Day. Of course that was back in the day when we had to walk to school, in the snow, in the middle of summer, up-hill, both ways, against the wind. (But we were thankful) :happygrin:
    Perhaps the concern should not be that the school is starting too late, but that the extra-curricular activities you mentioned are starting too early?
     
  10. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    agreed there- the first few days of school is really just getting fmailiar with the kids, recapping and defining what they know, don't know, forgot or never learned. it's a "gettin to know ya" period for teachers and students. I love that it's a short week to break them into the school year.
     
  11. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    I like starting the day after Labor Day. I guess it's nostalgic for me. If we got out earlier in the summer then beaches and whatnot would still be packed. At least if we went somewhere this week, it would be less packed because everyone else is already in school!
     
  12. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    maybe we can cut down on the # of school holidays during the year.

    The kids get every holiday.. Columbus Day, MLK, and Presidents day. Plus 3 'conference days'.
     
  13. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    ding ding ding
     
  14. bird

    bird New Member

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    I personally prefer school starting before Labor Day, as it did in some years past here in Loudoun.
    Let's consider the actual school experience for teachers and students:
    SOL tests are done by the end of May, same with AP tests - so much of the required teaching/learning done in our SOL-dominated schools is done before June. June is spent very unproductively at school. The kids and teachers have had it, which shows in the poor behavior of kids and the exasperated attitudes of teachers. My HS-aged son said that for 2-3 weeks after the SOLs were done and before final exams his classes did nothing.
    So why drag out the school year into the end of June? If school is going to end so late, the testing schedules and teaching curriculum need to be revised.
    Also, by the end of August there are no camps or activities to keep kids busy; they are bored and ready to go back. Why delay it so that the tourism industry can profit?
     
  15. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    If you moved the start of school... you'd just move when the tests were done too. So I don't understand the relevance of that.

    If testing can be done 2-3 weeks before and nothing is left... the arguement should be over a) amount of material or b) the length of the school year.

    Simply shifting the calendar forward or back doesn't really change anything except when you are there.
     
  16. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    I don't understand why people say there are no camps to keep kids busy. My kids are in camps for the entire summer just like they were last year and the year before. Camps keep to the school calendar. Why would they waste a perfectly good revenue generating last week of summer by not offering camp? Maybe I'm misunderstanding everyone?
     
  17. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    dunno- camp keeps my kid busy too- it's hard to pick which one! he went to 4 different camps, made a TON of new friends and really expanded his universe... lol

    we are engorged with activities around here- lucky LoCo!!!
     
  18. bird

    bird New Member

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    The SOL tests are given the last 2 weeks of May every year, regardless of when school starts/ends. They are statewide tests so individual school systems can't change the testing dates.

    The reality is that teachers rush to get the required SOL material covered before the tests in May and then have nothing left to teach. If the curriculum was changed to include more material this would still be the case. Unfortunately, few teachers use the days in June for teaching additional material/ enrichment.

    Ask your kids what they do in school come June, especially when they are in the upper grades. It's very wasteful. And at the high school it's ridiculous - a free for all. But hey - as long as they are at school the kids are off the streets right?!
     
  19. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    ...and the law we are talking about here is a state law. So you have a STATE schedule setup around a STATE law.

    Basically.. if the SOL test is setup around the known scheduling.. changing the school schedule would just lead them to change when the testing is done.
     
  20. bird

    bird New Member

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    I see what you're saying. But if this is by design - they know and want! 3 weeks of school after SOL's are done - I just don't get it. What is the purpose of this? I don't believe that this is all thought out and in the best interest of education. If school ends mid June or later, the SOLs need to be in June too. There is no incentive for productivity otherwise.
     

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