McDonnell’s wrong on school starting in Summer
By Brian Kirwin | Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 | PolicyIsn’t “Bob for Jobs” anymore?
I watched the Governor’s press conference as he rolled out his education agenda, and his flip-flop about letting the school year start in August didn’t seem to fit.
Why was he kowtowing to the teacher’s unions and changing a position he’s held for 20 years, even as recently as last session?
His excuse yesterday that he’s not just representing Virginia Beach may have answered the question about which campaign 4×8 sign was more accurate, but didn’t quite cut it as a policy explanation.
So, let’s make a few things clear.
Starting school years early doesn’t mean ending school years early. Cities are just as likely to add days to the Break Formerly Known as Christmas or create buffers for bad weather days. That means you’ve just extended the school year, not moved it forward.
Of course, that’s what proponents will say the benefit is, but no one will mandate that. Believe me, local school boards will give themselves more breathing room throughout the year over ending earlier in June 100 chances out of 100.
So, what are we getting? A longer school year.
Besides, the response to “Kids don’t do anything in school in June” is “Fire the teachers let that happen.”
If we oppose school mandates, then let’s oppose school mandates. The Governor said that local folks know best. Really? If that’s the basis for education decision making, why do we have the SOLs in the first place?
The SOLs are the Mother of all mandates. Republicans seemed to be pretty keen on those mandates, but I guess some mandates are better than others.
The 180-day minimum school day is a mandate, too. Is any flexibility on that mandate coming forward any time soon? That could solve any “schedule flexibility” that the Governor says he wants to give localities without impinging on summers and hurting tourism job creation.
No one’s test scores are improving because of this. No test scores in May are going to improve because we added class days in August. The notion is absolutely silly, and it’s buffoonish to make the case. To the Governor’s credit, he didn’t try.
No one can make an academic case for this. This is not more time in the classroom. It’s not even more time in the classroom before the SOL tests, since swapping days in August for extra Christmas Days actually HURTS testing efforts. You’re moving teaching days further back from the testing dates this way.
The only way someone can make the case that this gets more class days prior to SOLs is if that is mandated in the bill, but it won’t be. The whole purpose of this was to end a mandate, not add one.
So, we’ll have a longer school year, and guess what the teachers’ unions are going to use that for?
Bob was better when he was for jobs.
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About the author
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
Comments
11 Responses to "McDonnell’s wrong on school starting in Summer"
school control should be a local decision. there are some mandates that we have that are not going to change for some time (SOL). the ridiculous kings dominion law that perpetuates the environment of quid pro quo in richmond (did you know that kings dominion gives away thousands in free tickets to legislators every year??) is a gross over step into the autonomy of the local school system.
every school system is different and each ahs their own unique needs. maybe starting in august isnt the best decision for VA beach, but it could be for, say, Fairfax. But for some reason richmond has taken it upon itself to make that decision for every local government in the state. don’t they have enough to do already??
I guess your school system didn’t cover spelling or commas.
You might want to do some research BEFORE your make such sweeping comments…possibly check the start finish dates of divisions that already start before Labor Day and you will see that most finish much earlier. Also ending the first semester before Christmas break allows exams, etc . to be completed before the break while the information is still fresh. Local decisions, by local boards, elected by local people !
Wow…We’re doing this so we can have exams before Christmas, so the kids won’t forget the information over a two week period.
But we’ll have classes in August, so the same kids who forget everything over Christmas will suddenly be able to remember what they learn in August during the SOLs in May?
Thanks for playing, but you lose.
Next!
BK-Not playing because I hate it when we end up on the same side.
Steve, you get more brilliant each day
Since our family income was very limited, I needed the money I earned working summers when I was in high school. My earnings were the greatest in August as other students left for college or drifted off to football practice. I see nothing wrong, and a lot awfully good, about setting school schedules with economic considerations in mind.
Free: And in fact, that’s how they were originally set that way. It was done initially for agriculture. Folks needed their kids in the summer to work the fields. I don’t see any reason not to make the same accomodation for tourism…another important Virginia industry.
There are counties in the western part of the state that have legitimate concerns about how much time they miss for snow, I’ve lived in that part of the state. But under the current law, they can already get a waiver.
Hate to agree with Brian, but this time I do. I would add another, more important comment. We don’t want to start school earlier and want to end earlier as well. The point is we don’t want our kids spending more hours in the government indoctrination gulag. They can teach the important subjects more rapidly than they do if they cut out the Marxism et al. School should go from Sept-May.
Steve, There is no reason for a state edict when the local Boards of Supervisors and School Boards in the affected communities (maybe 30) would not hinder the operations for the other 90 + jurisdictions in Virginia.
this is a blog….my top priority isn’t grammar….please accept my apologies.
i agree with tucker watkins. this is an isolated issue in only a few jurisdictions and the state is making all the others suffer. besides, if its such a great idea in those local systems, as you claim it is, then the local school boards will make that decision.
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