Been saying this for years but again legislators won't listen because they're more interested in businesses who say they need the high schoolers for help. This is absolutely not true. The truth is that high school students take exams before the winter break because they need to not only start the new semester in January but those taking college courses would find that they're much more lined. It's ridiculous that legislators won't listen to the people
A
Amy Cain
8 years ago
I've always thought the law putting tourism more important than student and teacher performance was a shame and embarrassing, however now that my freshman has been greatly affected with this week's snow, this law is rediculous. By the time he takes an exam Monday morning, it will have been 12 days since he had a full class period for this subject. How is that fair? If the state wants better test scores and better students and teachers, listen to this petition!!! Don't let the next dollar dictate laws!!!
R
Robin
8 years ago
This is working wonders in Virginia where my niece goes to school!
M
Matt Allman
8 years ago
OMG hey!
R
Rebecca Smith
8 years ago
A long time teacher in NC ( and a consistent voter) I agree with this. Local control of the calendar is important . Why does the entire state need to do what helps the beaches?
T
Tobbie Lanning
8 years ago
Makes the most perfect sense for everyone!
J
Julie Hollis
8 years ago
Student achievement and success should trump tourism.
K
Kathy Reynolds
8 years ago
It seems this weather happens every year during the testing week. It would make extremely good sense to begin school earlier in August to prevent this. NC seems to get their snow in the months of January, February and sometimes March. I recall a high school student a few years ago, on her way to testing, was killed in a crash on icy roads. The school had not been called off for the snow. It would greatly help the teachers if testing were done BEFORE Christmas break.
H
Hannah Moffitt
8 years ago
Local school systems should absolutely have more flexibility in their calendars. Testing after a break allows students to forget all they have learned. Mountain counties should be able to start their 2nd semester later so they don't have to deal with inclement weather as much.
L
Laura McCreary
8 years ago
From a school counselor in Asheville, NC.
J
Julie Lueck
8 years ago
This absolutely needs to happen!!!!
B
Bonnie Cornatzer
8 years ago
Makes sense to do it that way. Especially if they are doing block classes. Come back after break and begin new classes.
J
Jennifer Harris
8 years ago
I cannot express how much I agree with this. As a parent of two children, I see how much this would benefit our children.
J
Jamie Deutsch
8 years ago
would work much better for students and staff
J
Julie Berry
8 years ago
This is an essential change that this state needs to make. Giving students a long break before exams does nothing but hurt them.
J
Julie Daniel Chamblee
8 years ago
Each school district should have the flexibility to set their own schedule to meet the needs of its students, and therefore have the option to start school early enough to complete the 18 week semester and complete exams before the winter break if they decide to go that route.
K
Karen Statler
8 years ago
I am in total support of moving to a semester based calendar.
L
Linda Kiger
8 years ago
This needs to be done for the 2018-2019school year.
S
Shawn Josey
8 years ago
High school students should take their exams before the holiday break. This used to be the case. There are to many unknowns that occur once students return from the holiday break. Snow, ice, & 2 and 3 hour delays to name a few. It is really not fair to the students or the teachers. It is way passed time to allow counties on the Western side of the state to start school earlier so that the first semester ends (and exams) before the winter break. I guarantee students scores will improve.
S
Sarah Bell
8 years ago
Testing after winter break has greatly hindered my own child and after teaching high school myself, I've witnessed the increased apathy of students when they come back. It takes a few weeks before they are back into routine and motivated. It makes more sense to start new material after the break rather than reteach everything from the entire semester in a week.
Been saying this for years but again legislators won't listen because they're more interested in businesses who say they need the high schoolers for help. This is absolutely not true. The truth is that high school students take exams before the winter break because they need to not only start the new semester in January but those taking college courses would find that they're much more lined. It's ridiculous that legislators won't listen to the people
I've always thought the law putting tourism more important than student and teacher performance was a shame and embarrassing, however now that my freshman has been greatly affected with this week's snow, this law is rediculous. By the time he takes an exam Monday morning, it will have been 12 days since he had a full class period for this subject. How is that fair? If the state wants better test scores and better students and teachers, listen to this petition!!! Don't let the next dollar dictate laws!!!
This is working wonders in Virginia where my niece goes to school!
OMG hey!
A long time teacher in NC ( and a consistent voter) I agree with this. Local control of the calendar is important . Why does the entire state need to do what helps the beaches?
Makes the most perfect sense for everyone!
Student achievement and success should trump tourism.
It seems this weather happens every year during the testing week. It would make extremely good sense to begin school earlier in August to prevent this. NC seems to get their snow in the months of January, February and sometimes March. I recall a high school student a few years ago, on her way to testing, was killed in a crash on icy roads. The school had not been called off for the snow. It would greatly help the teachers if testing were done BEFORE Christmas break.
Local school systems should absolutely have more flexibility in their calendars. Testing after a break allows students to forget all they have learned. Mountain counties should be able to start their 2nd semester later so they don't have to deal with inclement weather as much.
From a school counselor in Asheville, NC.
This absolutely needs to happen!!!!
Makes sense to do it that way. Especially if they are doing block classes. Come back after break and begin new classes.
I cannot express how much I agree with this. As a parent of two children, I see how much this would benefit our children.
would work much better for students and staff
This is an essential change that this state needs to make. Giving students a long break before exams does nothing but hurt them.
Each school district should have the flexibility to set their own schedule to meet the needs of its students, and therefore have the option to start school early enough to complete the 18 week semester and complete exams before the winter break if they decide to go that route.
I am in total support of moving to a semester based calendar.
This needs to be done for the 2018-2019school year.
High school students should take their exams before the holiday break. This used to be the case. There are to many unknowns that occur once students return from the holiday break. Snow, ice, & 2 and 3 hour delays to name a few. It is really not fair to the students or the teachers. It is way passed time to allow counties on the Western side of the state to start school earlier so that the first semester ends (and exams) before the winter break. I guarantee students scores will improve.
Testing after winter break has greatly hindered my own child and after teaching high school myself, I've witnessed the increased apathy of students when they come back. It takes a few weeks before they are back into routine and motivated. It makes more sense to start new material after the break rather than reteach everything from the entire semester in a week.