The BOE may incorporate an extension of the Hawaii DOE summer vacation. Currently classes begin the first week in August. Ever since adopting the all year round schedule, summer sports aficionados have suffered.
Summer of old used to be 3 months. Three long months. Too long to make curriculum stick for next year, according to educators.
In sports, athletic trainers and coaches talk about periodization. The time when an athlete takes time off from their sport or training schedules to rest certain parts of their body.
The two weeks of extra summer vacation would do youth summer sports participants wonders. Summer school students that could not get enough classes or time to complete their requirements pushed the decision. Many summer class offerings were eliminated which put too much stress on the fall schedule. Baseball, Volleyball, Softball, and basketball players find it difficult to squeeze summer training and tournament play into the schools starting dates. Most of the Hilo Little League Senior team missed almost a month of classes due to the goal of achieving a World Title.
One private school was even mentioning that they would not condone any missed classes due to a sports extracurricular activity. Most educators and faculty have been real great in accommodating these athletes in chasing their dreams as well as Hawaii's dreams. If you win you get treated a little bit better. However, lose and you may find some incomplete scores or less forgiveness. Some youth baseball and basketball players have been traveling for several years to the mainland. Many of these athletes have missed up to one month of class if they were successful advancing past states to regionals and world tournaments.
Give the BOE and DOE credit for giving these players, parents and educators a little more breathing space---- Next year at least!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
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2 comments:
I agree, where is the data that shows year round improves student performance?? I see scores going down. Go back to all year round. Students can improve by going to camps and academies like the good old days. Since this shortened summer, students don't improve themselves in athletics and academics. Too short to go to most mainland academic camps and summer school....
Should be three months of summer. Let the kids grow. Kids plateau with the all year round schedule. Too many breaks too often. Not enough time to sustain any momentum....Waiakea is going down hill, scores: down, down down,
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