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I think local control is best. High school students are often taking courses at local community colleges and universities and counties need the flexibility to match those schedules. As far as the tourism industry is concerned, I have 2 comments. Number 1 - We also have a ski industry in North Carolina. Shorter winter holidays adversely affect families abilities to travel to the mountains for ski holidays. Number 2 - Shouldn't we put the educational needs of our state's children before the economic demands of the tourism industry?

Michele,

Skiing is typically a sport of the more elitist. Jobob won't dare been seen with a pair of toothpicks strapped to his boots.

The biggest tourist industry in this state is at the beaches. That's where the tourism dollars are and which caters to the vast majority of North Carolinians, and not just the NHP elitist bunch.

The kids need a good break from school and a longer Summer vacation is just the fix they need.

Lord Hear Our Prayers.

I have never fully understood the rush to have examx before xmas. Xmas vacation is a time to catch up and prepare for exams. The idea of that children must have weekends and holiday vacations completely free of any school responsibilities denies the children the time to catch up. Also it parents time to really work with their child before exams. What am I missing?

Joe,
I think that many people travel throughout the holidays. We live in a transite society and people use the holidays to catch up with family. I too think that some of the time can be used for studies, but family time is equally important.

Students deserve a mental break and time with their family and friends free of studying for exams. Reading books is a great past-time. But most students would agree they would love to have exmas over with before Christmas break, just like Spring break

I just dropped my daughter off at the Chess Championship at Friendly.

There's a bumper sticker on a car there that says,

"NO CHOICE = NO BONDS"

That didn't take long.

NO CHOICE = NO BONDS

YOU GOT IT BABY! AND WE MEAN IT!

I saw one of the bumper stickers today too.

That's how my Sunset Hills neighbors feel as well.

GIVE YOUR MONEY TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS. JUST SAY "NO" TO SCHOOL BOND(AGE)!

where can my neighborhood get some of the no choice = no bonds magnets? we will pay for them. we need about 150. thanks.

I have seen them but don't know where to get them. Just print your phone number and someone on the CB could call you.

There are so many facets to the school calendar law that it's hard to know where to begin. I want that time to enjoy my children, and for them to have the opportunity to play and enjoy life. Heaven knows that the GCS isn't very conducive for fun. But even if you take the narrow view that this is to benefit the tourist industry, remember that we were once willing to accommodate the important agriculture industry by shaping the school calendar around it. Since tourism is one thing that we have that can't be outsourced and, I believe, it's now the state's largest industry, why wouldn't we consider a school calendar that is beneficial to it? I own no beach/mountain property or restaurants...and don't ever plan to! But if we can't keep what few industries we have left in good health, education will only decline more.

Try this one on for the "block scheduling" argument. A few years back, my son took an AP class on the block schedule that had him complete that course in its entirety during the first semester. This was at a Guilford County high school. He had to wait over 4 months to take the AP exam (because the AP exams are only given at the end of the year). That didn't seem to bother the administrative gurus who set it up. But now they're citing utter devastation that students have to have exams after the winter break. How stupid do these people take us to be. Just call it what it is. Administrators want the calendar law changed because it will give them more power and add to their convenience.