#15: Drop the issue - Look at Tax Revenue in Sept and Feb

First and foremost, the majority of Cobb students are not Boy Scouts, or baseball players or Six Flags attendees.   The calendar needs to address what is academically best for ALL of its students, not just the ones who need time off in August to participate in a Boy Scout Jamboree, baseball tourney or hit a struggling theme park.   If that is a priority for you, then by all means, take your kids out of school the time they need.   Additionally, not every resident of Cobb County went to FL or skiing during the breaks.   Where is your actual data to prove that those 2 weeks of break during this economy were the cause of a loss of tax revenue?   We support the balanced calendar for more than the timing of vacations.  The more frequent breaks allows students and teachers to rest and regroup during the year.  School is considerably more stressful and rigorous than back in the days when most of us went to school.  Students are stressed out.  Teachers, who are in the classrooms EVERYDAY with our kids tell us that students performed better during the year of the balanced calendar.  Why is this being ignored?  Shouldn't we be trying to provide the best possible environment for them to learn and excel?  Bring back the balanced calendar.

#40: MT - Re: Look at Tax Revenue in Sept and Feb

We need an unbiased look at the benefits and downfalls for kids regarding both choices, then compare and contrast according to what is felt to best for the kids - not the teachers, not the parents, and not the businesses. However, with that being said, we also need to see what parents have available for their kids during multiple breaks vs a longer summer break - this is still looking at what is best for the kids, given family resources.

When I see my kids attending the public schools, they all but shut off any new learning days before the break and then spend time ramping back up after each break. That, to me, is counter productive.  It seems to have happened with my two kids during the year we had the balanced calendar - and, I feel less was taught.

#40: MT - Re: Look at Tax Revenue in Sept and Feb

The problem is that the teachers give work that needs to be completed over these breaks.  It's only a break if the kids don't have projects, upcoming tests, etc. due when they get back!