Kids should not be in school in August. We tell kids to go out and exercise, then put them in a freezing cold building in the middle of one of the best months to get outside!!
Why is this important?
Every year our kids DREAD going back to school in mid August! It is not because they don't want to go back. It is because it's too soon. This year it rained and was cold almost the whole month of June. We got out at the 3rd week of May so over a month that they couldn't get out, or swim or just be outside . So by mid August. They aren't ready. Neither are parents or teachers. May/June weather is iffy and inconsistent, but August is HOT. When school starts that early, sports start earlier. July and August are very hot months for soccer, cross country, field hockey, football and other athletes to be playing/practicing so long in that heat. Sometimes DANGEROUSLY hot. Parks, splash pads, pools. Are good. 2 1/2-3 weeks in August will NOT help kids who have fallen behind over the summer pass "The Test"!! Schools could have daycares, in which high school and college kids to work and do enrichment/review work with kids. This way those kids don't have summer retention issues. They will be ready to go when school starts IN EARLY SEPTEMBER!! Even very late in August, but not August 13th, 14th!! I understand some schools in the South go earlier, but they have many more warm months, in which kids can still get outside. Ohio has about 4! Please stop taking half of one away!!
