Column 51 for August 20, 2000

Where has the summer gone? It’s hard to believe that school has started already!

I regularly use a now humorous coffee mug that says "Three reasons to be a teacher: June, July, and August." Humorous because it’s become more like 3 weeks in June, July, and one week in August. Often school systems demand from their teachers and staff even more additional, non-contract time, at little or no pay during the summer months.

There have been good reasons in the past for this traditional three-month "summer recess." Years ago, a much higher percentage of our population was directly involved in agriculture. Students needed this time to help on the family farms. No only that, but teachers needed three months to continue their education, or to supplement their income.

Many teachers needed (and still need) this time to recover from the finished school year. A certain amount of "renewal" is needed to face the coming session with the vigor and enthusiasm needed to deal with the intensity of classrooms filled with energetic and always challenging young people.

Many school systems, and even states, have "stretched" the school year out, seemingly to appease a perceived public demand that "quantity" means "quality." I disagree. I’m quite proud of the public education I received, attending from Labor Day until Memorial Day. Other states have bucked this trend. While I was living in Tennessee, the state legislature, with pressure from the tourism industry, passed a law forbidding school systems to require student attendance prior to Labor Day. The early start of school was having a significant negative impact on the states economy!

Many parents here in Georgia must feel the same way about early starts to the school year. Jennifer Brett, of the Journal-Constitution, reported that over 1000 students missed the first day of class this year in Douglas County. In Marietta, attendance was 1500 below expectations. Last year, in Cobb County, attendance increased by almost 4500 students between the official start of school and Labor Day. Instead of realizing the root of the problem, and adjusting the school schedule, officials seem hell-bent on enforcing the compulsory attendance laws and criminalizing the parents. Fulton County is teaming up with the Juvenile Court System and truancy officers. Please. We, in public education, especially those cast in the "Little Lord Fauntleroy" mode, should never forget who our real boss is. It’s not the governor, not the elected and appointed school officials, but the taxpayers and parents.

Regardless, school has started. Let’s get on with it, deal with the load of bricks the governor has tossed us (I almost said something else), and remember that we’re there for the children. Peace. tomiswho@mindspring.com