How much time is wasted at the end of the school year?

Question

My kids finish school on June 21. They go to a public school (which is good aside from the rant you are about to read)

For the last 3 weeks, they have done practically nothing educational. They have taken field trips to water parks, watched movies in class, played games, had a picnic....etc. There has been no projects, homework........nothing.

There were 3 final exams (2 hours) in this 3 week period that would qualify as education.

What has happened is that the teachers have completed the state mandaded educational requirements, and then stop. The kids have to go to school to meet the 180 day requirement even though nothing is being taught.

One of two things should happen.

1) Continue to teach until school lets out

or

2) Let the kids go on vacation

Lets stop this farce at the end of the year just to meet the 180 day requirement.

For the record I live in NJ. We supposedly have one of the best educational systems.

So, How much time is wasted in your system?

Answer 1

Well your situation seems a bit extreme. I think this typically happens the last week or school, maybe the last two weeks.

At that point the kids are done, making fun, easy, review assignments is actually more educational than trying to continue to teach new material. This is because you cant teach someone who doesn't want to learn. If their eyes glaze over then they aren't going to learn a thing. Students as well as teachers get "Summer Fever" a couple weeks before school is out.


Most schools do have field trips, field days, etc. toward this time of year, but a month and a half before school gets out?
This does happen nearly every where, but I think what is going on here is a bit much. They are losing over 10% of their year.

Answer 2

I home school my son and work as classified employee at public school. Our public school is what I consider a good school system.
The last 2 weeks of elementary and middle school are play days. High school works up to last few days, because they have end of course exams. If they are exempt from exams for good grades, they have excused absences.

One thing that bothered me when my son was in public school, was what the students did when teachers were absent and they had substitute teachers. The students were given 'busy' work or watched videos.

How much time wasted? I would think with class changes in middle and high school, time to settle to get class started, plus the other issues, they waste 1/4 of the year.

Answer 3

In my school, I also go to school in NJ and we didn't waste any time, we spent a ton of time studying for finals and we still had quizzes and tests even two days before finals. So I don't agree that time is wasted in school. I guess it does depend on what grade your children are in, I am a junior in high school which is why I guess it is different. I am still in school until next Thursday, June 21

Answer 4

when i was in high school (about 4 years ago) all the final tests were taken about 2 or 3 weeks before school ended. after that most kids just didn't show up anymore.

the kids that did show up were there for extra credit assignments to bring up their grades or to get their year books signed.

i never went to school after the final tests

Answer 5

I live in Austin Tx. My six year old went throught the same thing. I think it also give teachers time to organize alot of grades.

i don't mind. the social interaction with other kids is educational too.

Answer 6

Whaaaaaa??? My school has hardly any trips and Watching tv has been banned in most lessons...I Just had tests and because they changed the way GCSE's are I have evn more tests NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! lol ^o*