Dear Dr. Berry,
Did you know that we have not have had more than four snow days in a school in over fifty years? Most people in the Olathe District know that there are only built in snow days to school calendar. However, this year we have had six snow days and making us having to make up two extra days of school. There have been many rumors that you might decide to add on two days to the end of the school year. Many people however, are opposed to this idea. We should not have two extra days of school because teachers have already canceled some lesson plans, most students would not attend the last two days, and having the school opened two more days would be expensive to the school district.
There are a few teachers who do think that we should have two extra days. One of the reasons being that the students would get the amount of school that is required. However, how much more is a student going to obtain in two extra days? Furthermore, some say that teaches would have more time for lesson plans but most teachers have already cut their lesson plans to accommodate for the snow days. Even though these might be valuable points there are better reasons not to have extra school days.
One of the reasons we should not have extra days of school is because the teachers have already canceled some of their lesson plans to accommodate for the snow days. Mr. Court Allam said, “My lesson plans are driven by indicators and by the curriculum set by the state. Adding on two days to the end of the year would not affect my curriculum.” This come to shows that adding two days wouild not affect what teachers decide to teach and how they teach it. Teachers are prepared for snow days and do not need extra days for lesson plans. Furthermore, the last two days of school at most schools are spent by playing games, watching movies, and enjoying the day by welcoming the end of the school year and welcoming summer. This would not benefit anybody. We as the students are not going to obtain anything in the last two days of school. How is this any use to anybody? For this reason I strongly believe we should not have extra school days.
Second, why should we have our schools opened when most students aren’t going to be attending the last two days of school. In a study six percent of students do attend the last day of school. Imagine how much higher that percent will go up with having two extra days of school. I know that peers have vacation plans set for after the last day of school. So do some of the teachers. However, this is not one of the only significant points I have. Most students miss at least five to ten days of school during the school year. They either miss because they are sick, have appointments, they take a vacation with their family or simply miss just to take a break from school. The school board however, does not me the students make up days for that. So why should we make up for two extra snow days?
Thirdly, it is going to expensive to keep the school open for those extra days. You are going to have to pay for the water bill, the electric bill, and food expenses. You would have to do this for all the Olathe District buildings. Imagine what you could do with all that money. You could spend it on more education for us students, or start paying off for the addition reconstruction to the Olathe high schools, or refurnishing the classrooms that got burned in the fire at Green Springs Elementary. There is much you can do with this money instead of keeping the school open longer.
With all of this information, I urge you Dr. Berry to not keep the school open for two extra days. With teacher already having canceled lesson plans, and students not attending the last day of school, and the expenses I find it unreasonable to keep the school opened longer.
Sincerly,
Andrea
