As I ponder topics to address in my monthly ramblings to The West Shore News, the important thing is to try and appeal to a wide audience and not just to parents with children in our schools. A couple of things that keeps jumping out at me is what schools are expected and required to address in a day and a school year that hasn’t changed significantly in decades.

I’ve also wondered why schools go on vacation for close to three months in this day and age. I understand the logic from the past, but it no longer makes sense to me to continue with this calendar. With so much more expected from schools, maybe year-round schools are a viable option.

Have you ever thought about the regression factor in our students having so much time off?

I contend that to some it’s very significant.

Before I expound on this subject, I need to put in a disclaimer. Nothing I’m saying has been discussed at a school board meeting nor is it a position of anyone on the board that I am aware. For me, and me only, it’s my wish that it gives others something to chew on and discuss at the coffee shop, over dinner, or while enjoying an adult beverage. At this time in the election cycle, anything is better than discussing, or should I say arguing, politics.

Other than the 3Rs, have you ever given thought to how much has been added that schools are required to address and provide?

To name a few, schools provide breakfast and lunch programs, anti-bullying education, tolerance education, vocational education, career education, drug education, driver’s education, sex education, special education, health education, gifted and talented programs, conflict resolution, computer and technology education. Let me also add the requirement of more testing, the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and now Race to the Top.

This is only a partial list and would take another half page or more to fully outline. Is there any wonder why we may need more time in our school day and school year? Maybe all the added requirements are impacting some of the core academic areas. Maybe this is something to ask our elected state and federal leaders.

During election years, politicians take liberties in saying schools aren’t doing their job educating students. Maybe they should take a look at the bigger picture and examine requirements they have required that have hamstrung these efforts. Maybe a change in the school calendar would serve all programs more effectively. Without reservation, I can easily state that teachers are dedicated, work extremely hard, and do everything in their power to address all the mandated requirements.

My point of emphasis is that schools have been incredibly slow to change, and while everything else has changed exponentially, the school day and school year remains in a time warp.

As always, thanks for allowing me this venue to address matters that impact all of us and our communities. Happy Halloween.

Paul Jenkins,

Superintendent of Lakeside-Somers School District