COLLINS – Is a two-week spring break in our schools really necessary?

Posted on January 23, 2017 in Columns // 4 Comments

Kamloops-Thompson schools will be closed Wednesday.

(ArmchairMayor file photo)

AND IN MY humble opinion, the answer is unequivocally “no”.

As much as I support teachers, and have agreed with their fight to regain the ability to negotiate class size and composition, and respect all they do, I cannot buy into their arguments regarding a two-week spring break.

Trustees of School District 73 voted last Monday to go back to a one-week break. They cited concerns from parents as part of the reason for the change. It was a narrow vote, suggesting trustees themselves weren’t sure if the two-week break were good or bad.

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Kamloops-Thompson School Board

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4 Comments on COLLINS – Is a two-week spring break in our schools really necessary?

K Purvis // January 23, 2017 at 8:26 PM // Reply

Many teachers spend 300-500 hours over and above their work day hours. Athletic Coaches, Music and Drama Coaches, leadership coordinators, club sponsors and field trip organizers! That works out to be 40 -60 days over and above their days of instruction.
A two week spring is an essential and very much needed rest and reset time of the school calendar.

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Grouchy 1 // January 23, 2017 at 11:04 AM // Reply

Teachers only work on average about 180 days a year, and they are very well paid for that. How many people out there have those kind of hours on their job ? Teachers always whine about the extra hours they have to put in , so what does that take them to ? maybe 200 days a year ? It is far past time to make school full time, year round, and drop all of these so called ” pro d ” days. At least that way, kids would be ready for when they have to take on a job, and not feel that they are entitled to come, and go at that job as they please.

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Pierre // January 23, 2017 at 7:14 AM // Reply

70% of parents are in favor of the two weeks spring break…did you know that Mr. Collins?

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Louise McCarron // January 23, 2017 at 6:33 AM // Reply

Yes I think 2 weeks is a must how are we to have a vacation with our children with a 1 week we get to our destination and have to turn around and come home the next day not .

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