I was pleasantly surprised to read that the Fayette schools are considering a return to the traditional Labor Day to Memorial Day calendar (Fayette schools facing big changes, big choices, 8/24/11).
Though advocates for year-round schooling claim to have the academic welfare of children in mind, the expansion of the school year into the summer months has actually been driven by the interests of teachers and working parents mainly single parents who see the child-care afforded by public schools as yet another government entitlement.
Children are far more likely to excel academically when they come from nurturing households in which the whole family has time to enjoy enriching vacation experiences and leisure activities together.
At one time, this is how typical suburban families spent the summer months, and most families in Fayette County could still do it today.
Its a shame it had to take a financial crisis to make it a possibility again.
Ron Chandonia
Peachtree City, Ga.
