Should Anne Arundel Schools Begin Classes After Labor Day?

ANNAPOLIS, MD- Anne Arundel County students grades 1 through 12 took to the books and headed back to school on Tuesday, August 23- a full two weeks before Labor Day.

Thus the yearly debate began amongst parents and students alike- should kids go back to school after Labor Day? Longer schedules for schools have slowly become the standard over the past few decades to accommodate snow make-up days and standardized testing. School years beginning after Labor Day and and finishing before Memorial Day have become a thing of the past. (For the record, the last day of school for AACPS students is Wednesday, June 14.)

We asked Annapolis Patch readers on Facebookif they thought students should pack up the book bags and head back to school before or after September 5, 2016. Here's what your neighbors said:

• "I'm not sure what they 'should' do, but I know I was surprised to see how early schools are starting in AA county this year. Keep in mind that I graduated high school in 1970, but I don't think schools began before Labor Day more than once or twice in my school days, and that only when Labor Day that year was the 7th or 8th of the month. If the purpose of the early start is to budget more snow days, then it seems sensible. I cannot help but have noticed that if the snow day budget is more than used up, parents routinely expect a waiver on the rule requiring schools to be open 180 days (or whatever it is). Vacation wins out over education on a regular basis. If opening early helps eliminate that issue, I'm all for it. My apologies to the kids going back to school so soon."
• "After Labor Day."
• "After!!"
• "If we go back after then we go to school longer in June....every up has its down!"

Have an opinion on the Anne Arundel County Public School start date? Let us know on Facebook.

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