The difference between a 10-week

(calendar 1) and an 11-week (calendar 2) summer break is minimal. Although

one week less summer vacation may save a little relearning time in the

new academic year, the real bonus Calendar 1 offers is the additional

number of breaks spaced throughout the year, especially the fall break.

These additional breaks will

provide timely remedial opportunities for those who need it, and a mind-refreshing

burn-out-respite for everyone. Aside from the fall break, the breaks in

both calendars fall every five to seven weeks. Without the fall break,

students and teachers will be in the classroom a mind numbing 15 weeks

without a break. Ouch!

The board has expressed a concern

that the September break will be problematic for the 20 percent of students

who participate in extracurricular activities. Contrarily, winter and

spring breaks don't seem to pose a problem even though the same percentage

of students would be participating in these activities. Also, there is

no reason that extracurricular activities could not continue during the

fall break.

For the aforementioned academic

reasons, a September break after seven or eight weeks of class would be

ideal. That leaves another seven or eight weeks until the Thanksgiving

break. This would give an opportunity early in the year to address remedial

concerns, and provide a beneficial break for 100 percent of the student

population.

Additionally, the fall break

would provide an opportunity for quality family time. Imagine a family

vacation at a time of year when you would not be competing with the rest

of the world.

Let's do something right for

our kids. Ten weeks vs. eleven weeks in the summer is not the issue. Extracurricular

activities are not the issue. Learning is the issue.

Let's adopt Calendar 1 and

provide an early opportunity to address remedial concerns, give everyone

a refreshing break, provide for some quality family time, and avoid that

mind-numbing 15-week stretch at the start of the year. Let's start making

academic sense.

John Riley

Fayetteville