Bill Sizemore
The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
A compromise plan to allow Virginia school divisions to start classes before Labor Day, but only in certain years, appears to have been halted - by the delegate who proposed it.
Del. Bob Tata, R-Virginia Beach, moved Thursday to send his bill back to the Appropriations Committee, where, he said, it would "die a quiet death." The reason for his change of heart: He found out, in what he called a "big disappointment," that Gov. Bob McDonnell opposed the compromise plan. Tata said he did not want to force a potentially embarrassing vote on the floor, where members might have had to vote against the governor.
Virginia requires localities to start school after Labor Day, unless they receive a special waiver. Those who want the date moved up say students are at a competitive disadvantage on standardized test preparation compared with students from states that are allowed to start before Labor Day. Tourism industry officials say opening schools before Labor Day would hurt tourism revenues.
Tata's bill would have allowed divisions to start before Labor Day when the holiday fell on or after Sept. 5. It passed the House Education Committee, which Tata chairs, but he said he soon learned from a tourism official that McDonnell opposed it.
An identical bill in the Senate, sponsored by Sen. Harry Blevins, R-Chesapeake, passed the Education and Health Committee but was sent to Commerce and Labor, which Tata called its "death knell."
Pilot writer Bill Sizemore contributed to this report.
Alicia Wittmeyer, (804) 697-1561, alicia.wittmeyer@pilotonline.com
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A poor reason...
...to withdraw the proposal. I am disappointed in his weak back bone and not want to "embarass" the govenor.
A poor reason...
...to withdraw the proposal. I am disappointed in his weak back bone and not want to "embarass" the govenor.
School Calendar
If all the schools would use the track system it would be better for students, parents and teachers. Students wouldn't burn out either.
A better bill would be.
To allow teens (15+) to be hired in construction, landscaping and other jobs that the "child protection" laws have prevented them from doing in the past thirty-five years. High school students in my generation learned work ethics, money management, skills and responsibility by working in these jobs as helpers. Many of us learned the value of an education and learned that we didn't want labor intensive jobs. Others actually went on to own their own businesses in the trade they learned. There's more to an education than just the classroom. Schools should start the day after Labor Day and end the day before Memorial Day. Recent studies show that no gains are made by the massive amount of homework the students are assigned today either. If we were to add an hour and a half to the school day, we could cut back to a four day school week and save huge tax dollars on bus operations and energy cost for schools. For those that continually want to compare US schools to other countries, I ask this; Which countries quality of life would you rather have? I've lived in and visited many countries, we have the best life on earth and I make no apologies for it.
The majority
of kids today aren't raised by their parents, their raised by daycare, teachers, and the streets. So, the idea that their going to have all this free time for work and become functioning members of society is nice, it isn't a reality.
A more practical solution is for them to go to school year around, graduate sooner, and be on their way to college, the military or to the work force at an earlier age.
Give them less free time to get into trouble with.
Eliminate teacher work days?
Eliminate teacher work days? And when are teachers suppose to plan, prepare report cards, meet with parents, and participate in in-services? State code requires 10 teacher work days each year....just like it requires 180 student days. VB requires 13 (and 183 student days)...and teachers have been trying to get rid of those since they were instituted....but the administration and SB won't listen. So, I suggest you call your local SB member.
Do you have the state code on that?
I have been searching, and I find the 180 day requirement for students, and I also found the 30 minute per day planning time for elementary teachers, but not the 10 days for 'teacher work days." I was aware of the 'contract status' having the extra 10 work days, not aware it was state code. However, for students to be given that much time off (half day for taking 2 exams, and a week at 'spring break') for me cancels the argument of 'not having enough time to prepare for standardized testings.' How did teachers do it years ago without even the benefit of computers? I never saw any of them spending the night at the school.....maybe organization and prioritization is something to look at.
Isn't this funny
Isn't is funny how Republicans do not wish to go up against one of their own... Just like a Republican, when you see the walls are stacked against you, you cut your losses and run. I don't see what the big deal is with starting before Labor Day. I have a vague reason why I think Bobby doesn't want to start before Labor Day. He's afraid giving students the same opportunity millions in other states might mean smarter people would finally catch on to the Republican indoctrination.
Conert
You apparently are a kool aid drinking DUMBOCRAT.
What we should expect
So we should expect only bills to be presented that the new Governor will vote for and not cause his fellow lawmakers to vote Against the Governor? Huh.....sounds iffy to me....I guess this will be par for the course over the next 4 years!