Wednesday: The Teaching Life

A businessman was having a conversation with a teacher while they waited on their flight.  During the wait, the businessman told the teacher that he did not know how the teacher was able to do what he did everyday: bring home papers to grade, buy supplies out of pocket, put up with disruptive kids.  Eventually, the businessman had to ask the teacher, "Why do you teach."  Those of use who have read or heard this before know that the teacher responds with, "June, July, and August."

While the answer might be outdated (especially since summer break is now only two months), the concept behind the school calendar is quite interesting.  In most areas, the school calendar was based on farming needs, so it made since to have the students miss a chunk of time where they could help with sewing and harvesting of crops.  However, in most areas, farming is not as important to workers in the local community as it one was.

Many schools have started the idea of having a more balanced schedule which destroys the "mega-summer."  Instead of having a chunk of time off in the summer, students and teachers have their breaks spread out during the year.  Many of these schools see large breaks for the month of April, July and mid-December through mid-January.  Students and teachers work as much in this system as they do on the traditional calendar, but the break is spread out.

I want to know which calendar you would choose.  This issue not only impacts teachers, but is also impacts students and parents as well.  I look forward to hearing from you.