Subby, in a state as notoriously well-educated as Georgia, children do not need to be "in school" to "learn." Children in Georgia learn from the mere act of walking down a country byway, or feeling the soft tickle of the grass on their bare feet. They learn from the splash of a speckled trout in a glittering pond nestled high in a mountain hollow, or in the soft crackle of a possum nosing its way over fall leaves. From the rustling whisper of God's breath over the treetops in the earliest moments of an approaching storm.They learn from life, subby. They learn from living. Learning sticks to them like Georgia clay. It oozes from their pores like moonshine from a drunk. Truly, it's one of the great tragedies in our "modern existence" that "learning" has in some people's minds become no more than some perfect storm of "facts" and "science" and "textbooks." These things are merely tools, subby. They are merely tools, and ironically it takes someone with true learning, Georgia learning, to understand that.

Pocket Ninja: Subby, in a state as notoriously well-educated as Georgia, children do not need to be "in school" to "learn." Children in Georgia learn from the mere act of walking down a country byway, or feeling the soft tickle of the grass on their bare feet. They learn from the splash of a speckled trout in a glittering pond nestled high in a mountain hollow, or in the soft crackle of a possum nosing its way over fall leaves. From the rustling whisper of God's breath over the treetops in the earliest moments of an approaching storm.They learn from life, subby. They learn from living. Learning sticks to them like Georgia clay. It oozes from their pores like moonshine from a drunk. Truly, it's one of the great tragedies in our "modern existence" that "learning" has in some people's minds become no more than some perfect storm of "facts" and "science" and "textbooks." These things are merely tools, subby. They are merely tools, and ironically it takes someone with true learning, Georgia learning, to understand that.

Uhm, I'm from Georgia and I never got none of that kind of learnin' yer talkin' about. I wish I had, seeing as how a possum making a soft cackle as it noses it's way over fall leaves would be an easy target and would make a nice stew to go with my pappy's moonshine.

Pocket Ninja: Subby, in a state as notoriously well-educated as Georgia, children do not need to be "in school" to "learn." Children in Georgia learn from the mere act of walking down a country byway, or feeling the soft tickle of the grass on their bare feet. They learn from the splash of a speckled trout in a glittering pond nestled high in a mountain hollow, or in the soft crackle of a possum nosing its way over fall leaves. From the rustling whisper of God's breath over the treetops in the earliest moments of an approaching storm.They learn from life, subby. They learn from living. Learning sticks to them like Georgia clay. It oozes from their pores like moonshine from a drunk. Truly, it's one of the great tragedies in our "modern existence" that "learning" has in some people's minds become no more than some perfect storm of "facts" and "science" and "textbooks." These things are merely tools, subby. They are merely tools, and ironically it takes someone with true learning, Georgia learning, to understand that.

You are my favorite poster.

Thinking back, I don't remember ever getting past the Vietnam War in American History by the end of the school year. Now, they may not even make it to The Cold War.

Also, I failed history.

Hey, they are saving enough to have their debt under control sometime in the 2030s. What more can you ask for?

If you consider school a holding cell for criminals until they reach adulthood and can be shuffled off to prisons, then something as forward thinking as shortening the school year is anathema.

But school is about learning. It's about interacting with others and expanding horizons. Time spent in school where this isn't happening is time wasted. Kids shouldn't be kept in school because it's convenient for their parents. They should be allowed to explore the world on their own once the limits of school learning has been reached.

Well sure, they probably have tons of extra time now that there's no more algebra

Is our children learning?

It's like, I feel for you lady, but you want the entire municipality to prioritize around your individual lifestyle? School hours, bussing, sidewalk construction, etc... for your two kids? Are you insane?

Pocket Ninja: Subby, in a state as notoriously well-educated as Georgia, children do not need to be "in school" to "learn." Children in Georgia learn from the mere act of walking down a country byway, or feeling the soft tickle of the grass on their bare feet. They learn from the splash of a speckled trout in a glittering pond nestled high in a mountain hollow, or in the soft crackle of a possum nosing its way over fall leaves. From the rustling whisper of God's breath over the treetops in the earliest moments of an approaching storm.They learn from life, subby. They learn from living. Learning sticks to them like Georgia clay. It oozes from their pores like moonshine from a drunk. Truly, it's one of the great tragedies in our "modern existence" that "learning" has in some people's minds become no more than some perfect storm of "facts" and "science" and "textbooks." These things are merely tools, subby. They are merely tools, and ironically it takes someone with true learning, Georgia learning, to understand that.

That....that was beautiful.

I feel ashamed at my biatchy little comment now:

Nothing says "21st century global hyperpower" like shortening school years to save money. Not more money for the schools, but rather less schools for the money.

Pocket Ninja: Subby, in a state as notoriously well-educated as Georgia, children do not need to be "in school" to "learn." Children in Georgia learn from the mere act of walking down a country byway, or feeling the soft tickle of the grass on their bare feet. They learn from the splash of a speckled trout in a glittering pond nestled high in a mountain hollow, or in the soft crackle of a possum nosing its way over fall leaves. From the rustling whisper of God's breath over the treetops in the earliest moments of an approaching storm.They learn from life, subby. They learn from living. Learning sticks to them like Georgia clay. It oozes from their pores like moonshine from a drunk. Truly, it's one of the great tragedies in our "modern existence" that "learning" has in some people's minds become no more than some perfect storm of "facts" and "science" and "textbooks." These things are merely tools, subby. They are merely tools, and ironically it takes someone with true learning, Georgia learning, to understand that.



In other words, they weren't that smart to begin with, so who cares if they cut their education?

FTA: "I can do nothing, again about this decision. I am a working parent, with a full time job. I have no family in this state to help. I have had to employ some assistance with my neighbor to help with the new school hours that have also been put into effect. Now my elementary school child will not get out of school until 3:30 p.m., which means she starts later as well. I have to be at work in Athens at 8 a.m., a full 30 minutes before school even starts. So in order to get her to school, I can no longer take her, as I have in the past, but leave her with my neighbor to ride the bus."


These are what scools are reely abaut. Babby sitting cervises.

We reely nead 365 day scools open 24hrs so that moms who work wierd hours can take advantege of this valuble cervice too.

Its not fare.

I wonder how often her husband decided to vote against tax increases. 'Cause gubmint never does anything worth while. It's all theft.

Am i the only one who misread "britches" ?

Pocket Ninja: Subby, in a state as notoriously well-educated as Georgia, children do not need to be "in school" to "learn." Children in Georgia learn from the mere act of walking down a country byway, or feeling the soft tickle of the grass on their bare feet. They learn from the splash of a speckled trout in a glittering pond nestled high in a mountain hollow, or in the soft crackle of a possum nosing its way over fall leaves. From the rustling whisper of God's breath over the treetops in the earliest moments of an approaching storm.They learn from life, subby. They learn from living. Learning sticks to them like Georgia clay. It oozes from their pores like moonshine from a drunk. Truly, it's one of the great tragedies in our "modern existence" that "learning" has in some people's minds become no more than some perfect storm of "facts" and "science" and "textbooks." These things are merely tools, subby. They are merely tools, and ironically it takes someone with true learning, Georgia learning, to understand that.

Pure awesome

I read that as "too smart for their biatches"... which isn't any dumber than the actual story here.

Amos Quito: FTA: "I can do nothing, again about this decision. I am a working parent, with a full time job. I have no family in this state to help. I have had to employ some assistance with my neighbor to help with the new school hours that have also been put into effect. Now my elementary school child will not get out of school until 3:30 p.m., which means she starts later as well. I have to be at work in Athens at 8 a.m., a full 30 minutes before school even starts. So in order to get her to school, I can no longer take her, as I have in the past, but leave her with my neighbor to ride the bus."


These are what scools are reely abaut. Babby sitting cervises.

We reely nead 365 day scools open 24hrs so that moms who work wierd hours can take advantege of this valuble cervice too.

Its not fare.



I loved it, you're through to the next round!

uneducated and unemployed goes hand-in-hand with Depression-era America once again.

Dear Nicole,MadHatter500: I wonder how often her husband decided to vote against tax increases. 'Cause gubmint never does anything worth while. It's all theft.

Judging from the letter, no Dad in the picture...probably divorced.

You know...typical Family Values voter.

Jesus is most pleased that she's not gay married, so it's all good.

Depends, are they going to do away with all the half days and teacher "work days"?

Well, really, all kids need to learn is how to speak Chinese. Our new Chinese overlords will tell them what they need to know.

The actual solution to this problem would be to raise taxes a tiny bit on those who can afford it.

Of course, that would be SOSHALISM which makes baby Jesus cry, so we can't have that.

To be fair, I'm much more productive on a shorter schedule myself

Cool tag wasn't available? Kids everywhere would go bananas for 20 fewer days of school!

Of all the comments on that page only one was about the quality of education. All of the others were just complaining about kids walking.

This one is priceless;

christy hewatt
4 hours ago
i personally like the schedule change we always has middle and high schoolers went to school first. im lucky my kids can ride the bus but i have many friends whose kids have to walk. i also agree howis this right when there r no sidewalks on top of how awful this world is as someone could take ur child as a school decision i would hold the county accountable for anything that happened to my child do they really want that liability over some bus driver hrs and gas money really?????

Man, I thought Louisiana schools were farked. That takes the cake. And yeah, I'm sure the griping parents were the same ones who voted down tax increases for schools.

Because that's how it works, Jesus wants it that way.

God Almighty, parents can be such whiny biatches sometimes.

Hallelujah Goat: Also, I failed history.

Then, you sir, were doomed to repeat it.

Hallelujah Goat: Thinking back, I don't remember ever getting past the Vietnam War in American History by the end of the school year. Now, they may not even make it to The Cold War.

Also, I failed history.

Hell, in PA we just got past WW2 and that was forty years ago.

Huh, what a difference a generation makes. My parents' work schedules overlapped with the end of the school day and we lived close enough to the middle school that I couldn't ride the bus. We lived along a busy highway with no sidewalks. You know what they did? Told me to not be a dumb ass while I was walking home ... in the grass next to the highway.

/Does this mean I'm old enough to wear an onion on my belt?

Dear Newspaper,

I'd like to formally request individualized school hours for my children, as well as bus service to our house, sidewalks in our neighborhood, and street lighting. I deserve this because I have a mortgage (WTF) and I pay taxes. Also, please lower taxes.

Sincerely,
A God Damned Moron

PS Please do all the things I'm asking, and don't just publish my letter like last time. You're a newspaper, so I know you control the school board, the local public works department, and the electric company. Thanks.

Meh, so what. It's not like public education is good for anything anyway (definitely not learning).

Rahm elongated the school year here in Chi. The window-rattlers he installed at the elementary down the street kinda make him seem like a paper-hanger, though.

WTH is patch.com? I've seen a ton of fark links to various stories on their site lately. Are they a new fark partner or do they just report on an unusual density of stupidity?

Most of the comments on that article seemed more concerned that kids might have to walk to school rather than take a bus 1 mile. The horror.

AverageAmericanGuy: If you consider school a holding cell for criminals until they reach adulthood and can be shuffled off to prisons, then something as forward thinking as shortening the school year is anathema.

But school is about learning. It's about interacting with others and expanding horizons. Time spent in school where this isn't happening is time wasted. Kids shouldn't be kept in school because it's convenient for their parents. They should be allowed to explore the world on their own once the limits of school learning has been reached.

I think that school should be year-round. 230 days a year approximately, two weeks off between semesters in winter and summer, and one week off between the quarters in the spring and fall. Minimal time to forget their studies, especially for those households that don't reinforce studies for the two and a half months they're off for in the summer. We don't make kids help with the harvest, why do we have a school system based on an agrarian timetable?

I also think that uniforms should be ubiquitous since parents don't seem to know how to dress their children anymore. Skip kindergarten, but have them first through 12th.

The Georgia school system has a new mascot to promote the move:

Chokey the Literacy Bear.

Remember, only YOU can prevent LITRACY!?

We don't need no edumakation. Teechers leaf those kids a loan!

20 less days of being taught creationism?

Pocket Ninja: Subby, in a state as notoriously well-educated as Georgia, children do not need to be "in school" to "learn." Children in Georgia learn from the mere act of walking down a country byway, or feeling the soft tickle of the grass on their bare feet. They learn from the splash of a speckled trout in a glittering pond nestled high in a mountain hollow, or in the soft crackle of a possum nosing its way over fall leaves. From the rustling whisper of God's breath over the treetops in the earliest moments of an approaching storm.They learn from life, subby. They learn from living. Learning sticks to them like Georgia clay. It oozes from their pores like moonshine from a drunk. Truly, it's one of the great tragedies in our "modern existence" that "learning" has in some people's minds become no more than some perfect storm of "facts" and "science" and "textbooks." These things are merely tools, subby. They are merely tools, and ironically it takes someone with true learning, Georgia learning, to understand that.

I favorited you as "Sublime Troll" in Yellow #5. You are a poet.

yeegrek:

Nothing says "21st century global hyperpower" like shortening school years to save money. Not more money for the schools, but rather less schools for the money.

It's "Candy Bar Economics", AKA sizing to price.

Twenty more days for them to work in the fields! USA! USA! USA!

Seems like those of you taking her to task for requesting personalized service fail to understand that her situation is not uncommon - 2 working parents, 8-4(?) workdays, "humble folks trying to make ends meet" (though I'm absolutely certain there is more to the story than that), three children (including a 6 y.o. who really shouldn't walk home alone) in two different schools.

She's asking on behalf of the likely many others who find themselves in similar situations. Jesus, Fark, I thought we were into nuance and imagery and metaphors and shiat.

// or is this a stupid thread?
// it's after 5pm in the EDT, and damn close in the PDT - maybe that's it?

There's no state mandate on the minimum number of days in Georgia?

That's way different than up here in the Midwest where it was around 170. It's easy to remember that because all the snow days we got in the winter just dragged the school year into the summer to fulfil this requirement.

Mrtraveler01: There's no state mandate on the minimum number of days in Georgia?

That's way different than up here in the Midwest where it was around 170. It's easy to remember that because all the snow days we got in the winter just dragged the school year into the summer to fulfil this requirement.

I take it back...I think it was 180

/hazy memory

Leave it to southern christian conservatives. Keep them kids dumb, easier to indoctrinate that way.

FTA: I am very disappointed in the way the system is trying to manage the budget because I also read some where else that Wanda Creel got a raise! At the end of the school year we had to see teachers names drawn from a hat to see who was going to lose their jobs then all the janitors lost their jobs to a contract company.

LOL. Teachers got fired (stick it to the unions! yeah!) and all the janitors got replaced by minimum-wage contract labor. Some people are out of work (probably deserved that, they were probably ungrateful for the wages they already had) and a good capitalist firm (job creators) can make money out of wage slaves that are (pretty likely) undocumented laborers. Can't you see how this must have saddened Ms. Creel? How she needed that extra pay to soothe the sting of her difficult job? Plus, she can now send her children to that lovely private school where they have enough teachers and the BEST multimedia lab. SO wonderful.

Living in the New Gilded Age is SUCH a hoot.

Georgia on his mind?

actionsaurus: Leave it to southern christian conservatives. Keep them kids dumb, easier to indoctrinate that way.

I'm reading "Albion's Seed" right now, recommended to me on these very pages, which explains that the cultural attitudes of the Royalist gentry who settled the south had this exact strategy in mind from the very beginning.

Keep them dumb. Easier to make them into good little GOPers that way.

Are we just going to eventually shorten the school to zero days?