Logos Stick said:

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Deerdude said:

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Because taking family to the beach in December would suck

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There's always skiing.

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Seen the snow report this year?

McNasty said:

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ItsA&InotA&M said:

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Let's don't forget youth sports and the outdoor entertainment industry (Six Flags, water parks etc).
I believe the State controls minimum school days for max $$, but the days provided are controlled by the local ISDs. So during the fall, one district might have the month of October as a vacation period making scheduling, practices etc difficult to coordinate with other district schedules.

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They're smart. I'm sure parents who care enough about sports will work it out. Also, six flags is dying a slow death anyways.

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I can't believe there haven't been a lot of deaths with the low brain activity of the employees they hire.

Logos Stick said:

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Deerdude said:

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Because taking family to the beach in December would suck

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There's always skiing.

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Have you priced lift tickets lately? Good lord it's expensive now….

Logos Stick said:

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So that teachers can have a 3 month vacay!

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Much closer to two months these days.

Moving the break is a bad idea if you care about HS sports. You don't want football/volleyball season while school isn't in session and no one is playing football in June and July.

I know some of y'all won't care about that, but this matters to a lot of people.

OP: What idea can I come up with that'll serve as a justification for tax increases?

I KNOW! LET'S SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL IN THE SUMMER, WHERE RUNNING THE AC DURING JULY & AUGUST WILL DRIVE UP EVERY SCHOOLS' OPERATING COSTS!!!

Just kidding OP! How about we don't start school until Sept 1st; plus, they still get out in May for their "Summer Break" because it's dumb (& dangerous for athletes) to begin school in mid August in Texas!!! I don't even understand why we do so &/or how is 2 weeks in August so damned important now since decades ago, school started Sept. 1st!!

My kids are on modified year round. 2 week Fall break in Sept/Oct, 3 week Christmas, 2 week Spring Break, 6 week summer. We love it

PhatMack19 said:

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Logos Stick said:

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Deerdude said:

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Because taking family to the beach in December would suck

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There's always skiing.

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Have you priced lift tickets lately? Good lord it's expensive now….

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Interesting.

Last time I went skiing was with my jr high aged kids to Steamboat Springs back around 2005. Long trip by car. Had a blow out in a heavy snowstorm at the peak of Rabbit Ears Pass. Fun! I don't recall how expensive it was back then.

Too hot to go outside? That's news to my kids. Now too hot for me, yes.

McNasty said:

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91AggieLawyer said:

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I don't think the schools will ever go to a summer plan until energy costs drop substantially or they build a small nuke power plant behind the school. Regardless of what kids do or don't do during the summer, the energy costs to keep those huge buildings open, not to mention gyms, etc., would absolutely bust their dwindling budgets. School districts, even the ones considered "rich," are closing schools left and right. So unless someone has a great idea of how to pay for the increased costs, the whole summer jobs/vacation/etc. arguments are really a waste of time.

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So instead, we all run AC at each house to keep kids cool while they game or doom scroll.

I am a fan of more time off when the weather is nice. It would help poor kids even more - families who can't afford to travel.

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Why don't you parent your kid and get their ass outside or doing stuff then.

Because it is cold in the winter.

Martin Q. Blank said:

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[Please read past the question in the OP. The proposal is to move the extended school break from summer to fall & winter, not eliminate it altogether.]

Half the summer is too hot to go outside. Kids are inside anyway so they might as well be in school.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have an extended fall/winter break? Especially with the holidays and traveling.

Current summer break is 10-12 weeks. Move it to the week of Halloween and return early-mid January.

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That's a terrible idea. The pansies need to toughen up and take the outdoorss.

The summer is when many farmers need the kids home to work in the fields. I grew up working in the fields six or seven days a week, 12 or more hours a day, all summer long.

Fdsa said:

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I would support this…original reason I believe was because school houses didn't have AC and it was too hot to have kids inside.

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The families needed their kids home to help work the farms.

AgGrad99 said:

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Too hot to go outside?

Did we all not run around in shorts and a tank top...getting in creeks and making bike ramps to jump? Running around to each other's houses...making forts, playing tag, setting up some street hockey or getting a pickup game of football/soccer/baseball/basketball started?

Never did I think it was too hot to go outside, and if it was...we'd go swimming.

Summers as a kid, were the absolute freaking best.

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I always looked forward to school starting again so I could get by without working my ass off all day.

Also, in the summer, pretty much the only time I would see anyone outside my own family was on Sunday mornings for Sunday School and for Church.

Logos Stick said:

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Martin Q. Blank said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Too hot to go outside?

Did we all not run around in shorts and a tank top...getting in creeks and making bike ramps to jump? Running around to each other's houses...making forts, playing tag, setting up some street hockey or getting a pickup game of football/soccer/baseball/basketball started?

Never did I think it was too hot to go outside, and if it was...we'd go swimming.

Summers as a kid, were the absolute freaking best.

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I look at my neighborhood and barely see any kids outside in July and August. But in October, November, and December, they're all outside playing and riding their bikes after school and on the weekends.

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Nobody goes outside in Texas in July and August anymore unless forced to.

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I used to spend all day on a tractor except for a short break for lunch. I usually had a water jug with me, but as long as I had a water jug, I rarely actually needed to drink any water. But if I forgot the water jug, it leaked, or it broke open, I was in agony until I could get more water. Somehow, having the water meant that I didn't have to drink it.

91AggieLawyer said:

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AC efficiency has changed EVERYTHING. When I was a kid, my parents would SET the AC around 78. On really hot days (above 95), it would only cool to around 80, anyway. Ceiling fans helped, but while inside was most definitely cooler, the marginal difference on normal "hot" days wasn't that great. Especially if you had fairly easy access to a pool like most of us did. We had a community pool, but the city pool was just as close.

Now, I can set my AC at 69 and unless the temp is well over 100, it will get down to ... 69. Plus, while my energy bills are obviously higher during the hotter months, it isn't totally unaffordable for most people. So the desire to stay inside is far greater today than it was 20-40 years ago.

I don't think the schools will ever go to a summer plan until energy costs drop substantially or they build a small nuke power plant behind the school. Regardless of what kids do or don't do during the summer, the energy costs to keep those huge buildings open, not to mention gyms, etc., would absolutely bust their dwindling budgets. School districts, even the ones considered "rich," are closing schools left and right. So unless someone has a great idea of how to pay for the increased costs, the whole summer jobs/vacation/etc. arguments are really a waste of time.

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When I was a kid, we would open the windows.

eric76 said:

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Logos Stick said:

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Martin Q. Blank said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Too hot to go outside?

Did we all not run around in shorts and a tank top...getting in creeks and making bike ramps to jump? Running around to each other's houses...making forts, playing tag, setting up some street hockey or getting a pickup game of football/soccer/baseball/basketball started?

Never did I think it was too hot to go outside, and if it was...we'd go swimming.

Summers as a kid, were the absolute freaking best.

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I look at my neighborhood and barely see any kids outside in July and August. But in October, November, and December, they're all outside playing and riding their bikes after school and on the weekends.

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Nobody goes outside in Texas in July and August anymore unless forced to.

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I used to spend all day on a tractor except for a short break for lunch. I usually had a water jug with me, but as long as I had a water jug, I rarely actually needed to drink any water. But if I forgot the water jug, it leaked, or it broke open, I was in agony until I could get more water. Somehow, having the water meant that I didn't have to drink it.

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To be honest, that sounds like an amazing childhood. Hot as hell, but very rewarding. I spent a ton of time in rural settings hunting, fishing, and exploring, but not like that.

However, wasn't life expectancy for people that lived that scene like 60? Fast forward to 2025 and people don't ride tractors anymore and are living until 80 by not putting their body through what you described. Right or wrong.

South Platte said:

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eric76 said:

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Logos Stick said:

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Martin Q. Blank said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Too hot to go outside?

Did we all not run around in shorts and a tank top...getting in creeks and making bike ramps to jump? Running around to each other's houses...making forts, playing tag, setting up some street hockey or getting a pickup game of football/soccer/baseball/basketball started?

Never did I think it was too hot to go outside, and if it was...we'd go swimming.

Summers as a kid, were the absolute freaking best.

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I look at my neighborhood and barely see any kids outside in July and August. But in October, November, and December, they're all outside playing and riding their bikes after school and on the weekends.

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Nobody goes outside in Texas in July and August anymore unless forced to.

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I used to spend all day on a tractor except for a short break for lunch. I usually had a water jug with me, but as long as I had a water jug, I rarely actually needed to drink any water. But if I forgot the water jug, it leaked, or it broke open, I was in agony until I could get more water. Somehow, having the water meant that I didn't have to drink it.

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To be honest, that sounds like an amazing childhood. Hot as hell, but very rewarding. I spent a ton of time in rural settings hunting, fishing, and exploring, but not like that.

However, wasn't life expectancy for people that lived that scene like 60? Fast forward to 2025 and people don't ride tractors anymore and are living until 80 by not putting their body through what you described. Right or wrong.

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Hey Canyon, you want to chime in here?

Quote:

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I always looked forward to school starting again so I could get by without working my ass off all day.

Also, in the summer, pretty much the only time I would see anyone outside my own family was on Sunday mornings for Sunday School and for Church.

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Rough summers for a 9 year old...

But I guess whether its a Summer or Fall break wouldn't have affected you either way.

Logos Stick said:

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So that teachers can have a 3 month vacay!

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My sister is a teacher. It's "only" 2 months, really. June and July. She's back at work first week of August.

Deerdude said:

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Because taking family to the beach in December would suck

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Yeah, try tubing down the Frio or the Comal in December or January. Loads of fun that would be.

South Platte said:

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Preach OP.

I've mentioned this in my social circles and people look at me like I'm an idiot. Which I sort of am.

But I'd love for the school year to end at Thanksgiving and pick back up in February. Spending a month skiing in Colorado with the kids sounds like a ton of fun. Telling the kids to go outside and play in July when it's 97 outside doesn't work.

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How on earth did the human race ever make it up through about the year 2000?

Growing up we basically were kicked out of the house around 9am during summer break and weren't allowed back in until the street lights came on. Guess what? It was hot then too, and we thrived. And I guarantee you it made us better kids and better adults as a result.

Summer break was a function of needing help on the farms for planting and as somebody else pointed out - not having kids sit in hot buildings during the summer months.

I would be open to the idea of a longer Christmas break and a slightly shorter summer break to even it out, but the idea that we should eliminate summer break all together is dumb.

For all those talking about spending your summer outside and how beneficial it was, I am right there with you. Moving break to winter decreases daylight and therefore the amount of time kids would spend outside.

eric76 said:

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91AggieLawyer said:

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AC efficiency has changed EVERYTHING. When I was a kid, my parents would SET the AC around 78. On really hot days (above 95), it would only cool to around 80, anyway. Ceiling fans helped, but while inside was most definitely cooler, the marginal difference on normal "hot" days wasn't that great. Especially if you had fairly easy access to a pool like most of us did. We had a community pool, but the city pool was just as close.

Now, I can set my AC at 69 and unless the temp is well over 100, it will get down to ... 69. Plus, while my energy bills are obviously higher during the hotter months, it isn't totally unaffordable for most people. So the desire to stay inside is far greater today than it was 20-40 years ago.

I don't think the schools will ever go to a summer plan until energy costs drop substantially or they build a small nuke power plant behind the school. Regardless of what kids do or don't do during the summer, the energy costs to keep those huge buildings open, not to mention gyms, etc., would absolutely bust their dwindling budgets. School districts, even the ones considered "rich," are closing schools left and right. So unless someone has a great idea of how to pay for the increased costs, the whole summer jobs/vacation/etc. arguments are really a waste of time.

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When I was a kid, we would open the windows.

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You had windows?!

one safe place said:

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Because it is cold in the winter.

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The colder it gets, you can always add a layer.

In the summer ....

BigRobSA said:

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zooguy96 said:

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If you didn't have summer break, most teachers would quit.

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Go on........

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Then everyone would be homeschooling.

Logos Stick said:

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So that teachers can have a 3 month vacay!

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Teachers are paid on a per diem contract. most are 187 days. Their pay is spread out over 12 months.
If you go to around the year school year, not only salaries will rise but cost of running operations of the buildings will rise too.

mustang1234 said:

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Logos Stick said:

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So that teachers can have a 3 month vacay!

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Teachers are paid on a per diem contract. most are 187 days. Their pay is spread out over 12 months.
If you go to around the year school year, not only salaries will rise but cost of running operations of the buildings will rise too.

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In TN when I was a teacher, we had 200 day contracts and got paid way less than Texas teachers. Our minimum was $30,000/year.

Still was spread over 12 months.

AgGrad99 said:

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Quote:

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I always looked forward to school starting again so I could get by without working my ass off all day.

Also, in the summer, pretty much the only time I would see anyone outside my own family was on Sunday mornings for Sunday School and for Church.

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Rough summers for a 9 year old...

But I guess whether its a Summer or Fall break wouldn't have affected you either way.

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There is generally a lot more work in the summer. Other than planting wheat and cutting maize and checking on the cattle and feeding the hogs, the fall was pretty easy.

And winter was pretty much breaking ice for the cattle, feeding the hogs, and welding in the shop.

IIIHorn said:

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eric76 said:

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91AggieLawyer said:

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AC efficiency has changed EVERYTHING. When I was a kid, my parents would SET the AC around 78. On really hot days (above 95), it would only cool to around 80, anyway. Ceiling fans helped, but while inside was most definitely cooler, the marginal difference on normal "hot" days wasn't that great. Especially if you had fairly easy access to a pool like most of us did. We had a community pool, but the city pool was just as close.

Now, I can set my AC at 69 and unless the temp is well over 100, it will get down to ... 69. Plus, while my energy bills are obviously higher during the hotter months, it isn't totally unaffordable for most people. So the desire to stay inside is far greater today than it was 20-40 years ago.

I don't think the schools will ever go to a summer plan until energy costs drop substantially or they build a small nuke power plant behind the school. Regardless of what kids do or don't do during the summer, the energy costs to keep those huge buildings open, not to mention gyms, etc., would absolutely bust their dwindling budgets. School districts, even the ones considered "rich," are closing schools left and right. So unless someone has a great idea of how to pay for the increased costs, the whole summer jobs/vacation/etc. arguments are really a waste of time.

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When I was a kid, we would open the windows.

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You had windows?!

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Yeah.

My grandmother had an air conditioner. The finest evaporative cooler that she could find.

School calendars are always changing. Our local district instituted a fall break a couple of years ago -- a full week off in October. That was unheard of back in the day.

As a result of that change and additional days off here and there, the summer break has shrunk considerably.

We go to New England from June 1 to August 1 every year and I love it. But if we had to stay in TX all summer, I'd 100% switching the break to winter.

eric76 said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Quote:

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I always looked forward to school starting again so I could get by without working my ass off all day.

Also, in the summer, pretty much the only time I would see anyone outside my own family was on Sunday mornings for Sunday School and for Church.

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Rough summers for a 9 year old...

But I guess whether its a Summer or Fall break wouldn't have affected you either way.

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There is generally a lot more work in the summer. Other than planting wheat and cutting maize and checking on the cattle and feeding the hogs, the fall was pretty easy.

And winter was pretty much breaking ice for the cattle, feeding the hogs, and welding in the shop.

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I wish I knew how to weld better.....but those bike ramps I made sure were pretty sweet!

I would love for students to go year round. The summer slide is a real thing and the first six weeks is mostly a review from the previous year.

I had a friend whose kids school had a model like this. Kids would go to school for 6 weeks. Then they would be off for 2 weeks. So in total it mimic the summer of having 12 weeks spread out over the course of a year.

AgGrad99 said:

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eric76 said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Quote:

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I always looked forward to school starting again so I could get by without working my ass off all day.

Also, in the summer, pretty much the only time I would see anyone outside my own family was on Sunday mornings for Sunday School and for Church.

---

Rough summers for a 9 year old...

But I guess whether its a Summer or Fall break wouldn't have affected you either way.

---

There is generally a lot more work in the summer. Other than planting wheat and cutting maize and checking on the cattle and feeding the hogs, the fall was pretty easy.

And winter was pretty much breaking ice for the cattle, feeding the hogs, and welding in the shop.

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I wish I knew how to weld better.....but those bike ramps I made sure were pretty sweet!

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We built a lot of things on the farm. My oldest brother was a very skilled welder.

We even built a gooseneck cattle trailer with three axles that was pretty large. One year, we hauled more than 70 hogs home from the county stock show in it.

It took us two winters to build it. My oldest brother did the most critical welds and I did the rest. Every day after school until about 9 pm and all day on Saturdays until about 9 pm. I really hated standing in snow melt water and welding.

My oldest brother was 13 years older than me. One Sunday evening, the day before school started in the second or third grade, he had just finished cutting some angle iron when I stepped on a pipe that rolled and I fell right on top of the red hot edge of the angle iron, leaving a burn from just above the wrist to my elbow.