What's Up, Doc? Hitting the Books Early Again

By Randall Freeman, PhD

Ah, it is the time for back to school. The crops are sown, the summer is winding down. We are enjoying the final weekend of summer, that wonderful Labor Day BBQ ...

Huh? What do you mean, it’s the middle of August? The school district robo-called us to remind us that school begins this week? What do you mean, Labor Day isn’t for two more weeks? What are you talking about?

Yes, folks, for several years now, school has begun in early to mid-August. Those wonderful fun-filled days of 100+ degree temperatures, the breaking down of air conditioners. We have established a new tradition with which everybody is ecstatic. Teachers are eager to resume teaching two dozen or more youthful minds and students are anxious to resume learning. No more beaches or Disneyland. No, that foolishness is behind us for another year.

In an alternate universe, the population is ready for school; here on Earth Prime, not so much. So why did we make the change?

Long story. Most of it won’t convince you that trading two weeks in August for longer breaks during the year is a good thing, but...

You may notice that you receive an entire week off for Thanksgiving ... er, I mean, Harvest Celebration Week. Those three days of school were instructionally wasted, only providing teachers and students to learn first-hand about the American tradition of celebrating the first Thanks ... er, the first Harvest. No test prep here!

Christmas, er, Winter Break has also been extended to as many as three weeks in many districts. For my family, it allows my wife and daughters to sleep in an extra 3-4 days while I head off to school. I get them back when I sleep in during the first weeks of June, having completed my school year by the end of May.

Testing (ugh, I hate that word!) benefits as well. Not certain how, but I have been assured that it does. No more extending grading periods into February, causing learning loss by the break in December. Smoother transitioning for finals and whatnot, so I’m told. Being a kindergarten teacher, I cannot attest to this directly. (There’s that word again. Test, or any form of the word, should be declared profanity and placed with those other four-letter words. You know which ones I’m referring to. This is a family column, after all.)

Yes, folks, our educational schedule has changed. We do not anticipate returning to beginning the school year Cafter Labor Day. We have created a new tradition for the 21st Century. Oh, maybe someday, we'll get around to realizing that our children don't help much with the crops anymore, either.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, 18, and 14-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy, Mikko, & Max, 17-year-old cat Hunter, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. Randy has wisely decided to delete the bit about being Karen's boss in order to continue living in his happy home.