Let’s do this again and again and again. Why won’t certain people in the operating cabal of the Sioux Falls School system understand the people don’t like being pushed around? Our town had a vote in 2015 to put sanity in the school calendar but certain people in control keep telling us to go away and leave them alone.
On January 31, 2017 Superintendent Dr. Brian Maher got an earful and then some. Observers in the Lincoln High meeting saw him shake his head a few times as he saw what a mess he has been left with. It appears he has not seen how upset this process has made the citizens of our little town.
As usual the Homan leftovers are trying to pull fast ones on him and the public. Maher’s closing statements are worth a listen. He may have seen how upset the SOS members and the public are.
We struggle to pay our teachers a respectable pay. We have truancy issues within our school system and we constantly work to keep our kids safe at school.
But what are our civic leaders and concerned citizens debating? Well, they are debating the school calendar and a wish to “Save Our Summer.”
Are you kidding me? The only thing missing from this debate is Aunt Bee’s self-righteous friend Clara standing out in front of the Instructional Planning Center picketing with a sign that reads “Save Our Summer Now!”…..Wake me up please, when this episode of “Mayberry” is over with…..
It is time for a 12 month school calendar! People in Sioux Falls no longer need to help Pa Ingalls on the farm in the summer any more, in case you did not notice….
It’s a bad idea to bring this up again. It’s a worse idea to have another election with the same vote. If a few want to show up early, unlock the doors but most of us will show up days later.
WHAT?… School all year is funny Clause. You say teachers are paid too little with a 9 month work year and now you want to make them work 12.
the pools open in may, and close in mid-august. not sure what summer is being saved for.
Is it possible to identify what is best for most students? Education is compulsory. Golf and AP classes are not.
For many years, I lived in a community (Colorado Springs, CO) where in the 1980’s we tried a 12 month calendar for our public school system.
Guess what…..only lasted a couple of years and we then returned to the traditional 9 month calendar.
I think Rick Knobe thinks that if he continues to air his views on this subject, it will gain some traction. I doubt it.
LJ,
Your criticism is well received, actually. If we spent more time on issues like teacher pay instead of nonsense like SOS, then your concern or point could be dealt with….
The SOS movement speaks to an anti-intellectual attitude in our society. Where for some, education is merely a bother or a nuisance and at odds with their misappropriated priorities…
From the fall of ones kindergarten year until the spring of ones senior year, students have over 3+ years of vacation time. Why?
The idea of having summers off for students is not only a remnant of a 19th century agrarian concept, but also an remnant from a time when many did not go beyond the 8th grade, and if they did, then few of them went on to college… It is time we got with it and quiet frankly the whole country needs to get with it on this issue….
If the issue is what is in the best interests of the students, then the start date is August.
If the issue is what the special interests want, to hell with the kids, what is best for the special interests is all that matters and the start date in September after Labor Day.
I believe that if there is another vote, the special interests will lose. My opinion.
Titleist, what makes you think starting in August is in the best interest of students? I have my kids’ best interest in mind and think starting after Labor Day is best. Do you not think the state of MN has their students’ best interest in mind? MN state law requires a post-Labor Day start. And by the way, MN students perform better on high-stakes tests than SD students.
Parent,
Mn also does a better job of paying their teachers, too…. I wonder if there is any link? 😉
What does it matter. School is nothing but propaganda anyway’s. It’s just part of the system to get you distracted from what’s really important. THE TRUTH!