The Jackson County School System will use two planned student holidays as make-up days for the recent snow days.
The district will use a teacher planning day — Friday, March 13 — and the first day of Spring Break — Monday, April 6 — as the snow make-up days.
The school system canceled classes on March 2-3, following a winter storm that dumped at least five inches of snow in parts of Jackson County.
I don't know about this Mike Buffington, but I know he has never stepped foot into my classroom or school to see what a day in my shoes are like, much less a week or two dealing with the issues that educators have to deal with. In saying this, one must realize that EVERY job has it's pros and cons - its issues of what makes it our choice of where we choose to work, but to determine that educators "want to put themselves first" is not something that I see happening at my school!
There is not a week that goes by that I, and others on my grade-level team and in my building, aren't at school after the requisite 3:30, working on lesson plans, making photocopies, searching for an online video to support a lesson, or even tutoring students because their "taxpaying parents" don't have time to work with their children at home to ensure they are making adequate gains, and CERTAINLY don't have time to volunteer within that school they are so proud to say they pay taxes on! Then of course, there are the nights that we take a bag full of materials home so we can plan for upcoming activities, contact parents, update web sites, BUILD webquests, create worksheets or review materials, compile data for administrators, and so on and so on.
While no one has held a gun to my head REQUIRING all of these things of me, I as the "spoiled educator," do this because I KNOW that the students in my classroom will be better off by having these things, these activities, these resources, that are not always available with the textbooks that are available to any school district. I do these things because I want the students that leave my classroom to be better informed and prepared to face what lies ahead of them in this life. I do these things because unlike you and Mike Buffington, I NEVER put myself before my students.
In regards to the make up snow day, regardless of what our school board choose to do, there would be complaints. At this stage in the school year, there is no answer that will appease everyone as well as the GA Department of Education. I'm sure those that are complaining about April 6, would also complain about May 26. After all, that's two days after the school year should have ended! There will be the same issues with attendance then as well.
By the way, teachers aren't complaining because "they have to work" we are complaining because like so many families in Jackson County, we use Spring Break as a vacation. And unlike many of you out there, don't necessarily have the option of just keeping our kids out of school and going anyway, without the possibility of having our pay docked, or possibly worse.
Don't you folks get it?
lives and education/future. People don't really
realize that that teachers' don't really get a day off.They take their work home with them as you said.If a teacher can reach every student he or she teaches and make a difference in their future then that teacher has achieved his or her goal.Children are our future and Teachers' are the building blocks for these students and future students. They make an impact on your child that your child will never forget.
What about me - a parent who has to change her work plans when your school takes two "snow days" so I can care for my children who would normally be in school. Plus, I dont' have money for a "Spring Break" vacation for me, my husband, and children because my money is spent paying your salaries, as well as the rising cost to simply make a living. No pity from me. Next time you feel sorry for yourselves, just look at your pay stubs - that ought to make you happy!
I am sure native Georgians remember the Blizzard of March 1993. I can recall a ice storm in March, I believe, 3 years ago. (maybe 4) Anyone who has lived in Northeast Georgia for any real length of time KNOWS we get snow and/or ice in March OFTEN. Choosing to give back snow days in February is stupid and irresponsible. Teachers have absolutely NOTHING to do with that. That responsibility lies solely with the School Board.
Picking on teachers because of our country's current educational crisis is like slapping the bank teller because the banks are failing.
Jackson County School Board caused this anger. We have a large county and they apparently had no system in place for dealing with natural disasters that effect one part of the county and not the other. They apparently had no fall back plan if we had more than 2 snow days that were planned for. There should have been notes in the calendar stating, if more than 2 days are required *these days will also be used. Then anyone who would be affected by the school calendar would have had fair warning that those days were subject to use. These are the types of situations a committee is put in place to foresee. An effective committee or board looks for ways to be proactive, not just sit in judgment of the issues brought before them. I am sure defenders of the board will be jumping to tout all the positives of the current board of education. It will interesting to see if the Board changes the current 2009/2010 school calendar, which shows snow days on February 18&19.