Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Alternative Calendar

Should our school go on an alternative calendar? I don't think so. It would be devestating to the economy, specifically the tourism industry. Hence, it would kill the economies of many third-world countries whose economies are chiefly dependent on tourism, such as the Bahamas. Even if we were not in this recession, we could not allow such an industry to collapse. How can we kill the economy of an entire region of the world? If we have an alternative calendar, it would be impossible for people to take an extended vacation.
The student performance would be severely affected. Several lawsuits have been filed by disgruntled parents because their kids' schools have switched to an alternative calendar. Also, 85% of students say that they do not want an alternative calendar. If students have an alternative calendar, there could be riots throughout America. An alternative calendar is a very bad idea for the well being of students.
Summer camps everywhere would be shut down. That would not only kill jobs, but then kids everywhere could only listen to their parents' distant tales of summer romances, being able to meet new friends, and spending an extended time away from your family. Also, kids could not get summer jobs and internships, which would not only kill the fast food (and other industries related to it) industry, but cut off teenagers' source of income. If teens cannot spend money, which would hurt the entire economy, particularly malls and the like. It would also limit teens' ability to volunteer at places, which would hurt their work ethic throughout their lives. Everyone would get hurt by an alternative calendar.
That includes teachers too. My mom, who is a teacher at the Delaware College of Art and Design, and has taught at many high schools throughout her life, says that an alternative calendar would "make [her] life miserable". My father, who used to be a college professor at Rutgers University, also opposes an alternative calendar. He says that if he were still teaching, it would make it impossible to spend time with me during the summer, and at other times of the year, when I would be in school. Nobody wins and everybody loses with an alternative calendar.