"Kings Dominion Law" keeps Virginia kids out of school until after Labor Day

If the kids forget what they learned after two weeks off, did they really learn it?

Exactly. The school isn't worried about long-term retention (or "learning", as it's called). They're just worried about keeping their test scores high.

Yes, exactly.

And there's this... B is the new C. Tests are dumbed down, extra-credit is widely given, etc. that most student are getting B's. And parents have learned to expect it. In the 1960's C was average.

Do we want to take the thread down this road? Discuss.

July 31st was the 1st day her in Sou. Ind., right across from Louisville. Already halfway through first semester. Last day was May 30th. Next year it's full year-round, June/July included in our plus one other district. 'Brain Drain' is very real and the missus and I endorse year-round, too much is at stake. Still get two weeks each spring and fall breaks, plus Christmas currently, next year will extend semester length and factor a two week summer break. 94% is an A.

Maybe we were ahead of the curve, but we always started circa August 23.

This is one of those issues that seems to bother everyone but me. Kids are going to be in school x number of days. When they start and when they end essentially comes down to how many holidays, breaks, and staff professional days are in between.

Brian Whitworth said:

'Brain Drain' is very real and the missus and I endorse year-round, too much is at stake.

I tend to be of the belief that formal education is just one element in the creation of a well-rounded, useful, decent, productive human being.

Interestingly, I'd use the 'too much is at stake' line as an argument against year-round schooling.

If we teach too many "test elements," and not enough creative problem-solving, what do we gain? If kids are chock full o' facts, but can't work with others, can they really be useful as employees? Where will the next Elon Musk come from?

We really need to start thinking in terms of the problems facing today's youth, and worry more about making sure they have the tools to address the issues that we will leave behind when we're gone...

rollergator said:

Where will the next Elon Musk come from?

South Africa, obviously, by way of Canada.

Before I would support extending the school year I would want to see more priority/focus given to the time already spent in school. Without more priority/focus, a longer school year won't really improve education. Similarly "increase spending" isn't the answer either.

180 days is usually cited for kids being in school here in IN, although technically its an accumulation # of hours in the classroom. With year-round the number of days increases, but the school days length does not (so we're told), the 'extra' time allowing supposedly for more time spent on core subjects, and the retention/inclusion of 'peripheries' such as Art, Music, PE, Computers (keyboarding actually), Civics and Nature courses through the week. 'Authoring' is a new one in the middle grades... how to write convincingly (and in cursive).

I guess I should go back and read the whole article but when did the VA kids get out last year? Cheers

I just got back from KD the crowds were light

Authoring?

When I was in college, "authoring" was the term for creating interactive media...basically combining media and some form of scripting that wasn't really programming to build the finished product. Later the term was applied to the mastering process for DVDs.

Are interactive media still "authored"? Or have other terms replaced that one? And will I ever need to use my HyperCard and SuperPILOT skills again?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.