Have A Longer Fall Break Instead Of Thanksgiving For Schools - And Response

  • Tuesday, November 19, 2019

I have four children. I home school one, two are in public school and one is in private school. I believe I have a firm grasp of the fall break versus week long Thanksgiving break argument. 

My family and I love fall break. We do not want a week off at Thanksgiving. The thought of going from August until Thanksgiving without a real break from the grind is awful. Thanksgiving is so close to the big Christmas break, for us two breaks back to back are not necessary. We find fall break to be rejuvenating. 

My close friends whose children attend all private schools are always jealous of our fall break and talk about how they don’t need a week off at Thanksgiving (and the week off forces them to spend more time with family instead of resting or vacationing-lol)/

My friends who are public school teachers always feel that fall break comes right when they need it- for them and their students. 

I have filled out several questionnaires regarding this for HCDE in the past. My understanding is the teachers voice their opinions in this survey regarding the break options as well. And the results have always been majority in favor of week long fall break. 

Let’s have another survey for the teachers- they are the doing the hard, day to day grunt work. If the majority wants week long fall break then “who cares what the private schools are doing!” Let’s honor our teachers and respect what they want. This would be an easy, no money/taxes way to show teachers we care. 

Stephanie Hoewischer 

* * * 

Some have mentioned that there isn't a need to change the way things are however, there are several schools in the area that are taking a shorter fall breaks and the full week off for Thanksgiving which is great. Why? Since there are many parents who work two jobs taking a week off for fall break just isn't feasible.

I remember when I was in school we didn't have a fall break. School started towards the end of August, we had Labor Day off and then we would get half a day before Thanksgiving and be off till that next Monday. Then we went back and then Christmas.

I have never understood the need for fall break. Is it because school starts around the first of August then make that the change to start school towards the end of August, cut fall break to a Thursday, Friday, and Monday then back to school. Then have the week off at Thanksgiving for those families that travel.

One article stated that having the week off forces the family time, no it doesn't if you don't want to, you don't have too. 

I realize teachers need time to prep but giving half days for that in the middle of the week is not wise. It throws the kids off from learning. 

What is the need to start school at the beginning of August? Cut some of the half days, and days off here and there and start school towards the end of August. It just amazes me that when I was in school we started towards the end of August, we had our normal holiday breaks, and we still managed to get out for summer right before Memorial Day and we even had days built in for snow days. 

So take a longer Thanksgiving break and a shorter fall break and if teachers want to come in those two days during Thanksgiving to do planning then they have that option. 

Amy Smith

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