Economic woes abound all around us and fiscal preservation has come to the forefront. However, the month of November underscores the enormous waste programmed into the NJ public education's school year.
The month of November is a dud as far as NJ public education is concerned. School is held on only 2/3 of the possible days!
First, we have Election Day on November 2. Many public schools are voting locations, so the school Districts are closed that day.
That same week is the NJEA Teacher Convention in Atlantic City. Even though a small percentage of teachers actually attend the Convention, NJ public school districts close down for three days! Those teachers who go, typically only go for one day.
This situation needs to be repaired. If teachers want to go to the Convention for professional development, then teachers should request time off from their Districts. This is the procedure followed during any other month of the year. Closing entire school Districts for three days for the few teachers who actually attend the Convention is absurd.
A lot of education is lost during those three days. A lot of money is wasted paying teachers for a five day weekend because of those three days. The NJEA is the cause.
Next, there's November 11--Veterans Day--another day off.
Finally, there's November 25--Thanksgiving. Typically, schools have a half day the day before. That half day is a dud because nobody is in the mood to work on the cusp of a four day holiday weekend.
So, count it up, at least EIGHT school days are lost during the month of November. That's almost two weeks of school! At least four or five of those days can, and should, be recovered.
