Fall Break
The semester is half over and children have been hard at work. They’ve earned more than a weekend’s respite. At least, that’s the feeling of the nine Alabama school districts, including Jefferson and Shelby County, that have included a fall break in their school calendar for this year.
It’s the third year for fall breaks in Jefferson County. School Superintendent Dr. Phil Hammonds sees it as a valuable part of the school calendar.
‘I think our view of the fall break is that it really is a chance to refresh yourself, recharge your batteries,’ said Hammonds.
Shelby County School Board Member Peg Hill agrees.
Said Hill, ‘When I was principal, I saw teachers becoming very stressed and tired during October, first of November, like they were trying to survive until Thanksgiving holidays. And I saw discipline problems in children increase like in September, October they began to increase a little bit’They just needed a break. They needed to get away from school and run, romp, have fun and I think that would definitely help lower discipline problems and help attendance.’
This is Shelby County’s first experience with a fall break and while it may be a time of rest and relaxation for some parents, other parents may not be able to take a vacation from work. Mary Parsons, Manager of Parent and Family Services at Childcare Resources in Birmingham, notes the particular challenge fall break may be to working parents.
Parsons observed, ‘We always know spring break is going to come and we make plans for it a lot of times to take a vacation or holiday. The fall break is a time that many parents just cannot be away from the office. So they have some very difficult decisions to make’especially if they’re in the position where they have to work and cannot take the time off to be with their children.’
Some working parents may find a local childcare facility or leave children with a friend or a relative. But some may choose to leave the children at home alone. There are no specific numbers for Alabama but it is estimated that nationwide nearly 14.3 million children are left at home alone after school. These same children may be left home alone for the break week. This worries Parsons.
She noted, ‘One of the things we have found from research over the years is that children under the age of nine are really not mature nor responsible enough to be left alone.’
Jefferson County Superintendent Hammonds is sensitive to working parents concerns. Both Jefferson and Shelby County are extending their after-school care programs to include the week of their fall break.
Hammonds explained, ‘The intent of this is certainly not to penalize any family of to make a situation unbearable for them. We’re here to serve our parents and their children’Overall, having a fall break has been well-received.’
Hammonds adds that Jefferson County Schools will soon be making their calendar for next year and parental input is welcomed and encouraged.
Shelby County’s fall break is this week and Jefferson County students are off next week. For WBHM, I’m Francesca Rosko.
The week of devastating floods that Spaniards will never forget
After a storm devastated parts of eastern Spain last week, survivors are becoming impatient at the steady government rescue efforts. On Sunday, it all went down in the town of Paiporta.
Stressed at work over the election? 3 ways to minimize political tension on the job
Political disagreements have sent workplace incivility to an all-time high this year, costing employers some $2 billion per day in lost productivity. Here’s how to cut down on watercooler fights over today’s election – and its aftermath.
Vice presidents often run for president. Making it there has been a leap
While the office of vice president is the second-highest position in the government, making it to the Oval Office has historically been a leap.
Figures and Dobson are in a heated battle for a redrawn Alabama House district
Democrat Shomari Figures, a former top aide to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, faces Republican Caroleene Dobson, an attorney and political newcomer, in the race for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District.
A wild election is coming to a close — and no one is sure how it will end
From candidate swaps to assassination attempts, the final months of the campaign has been a whirlwind. Here's why the outcome is so consequential.
Trump and allies have primed supporters to falsely believe he has no chance of losing
Many of former President Donald Trump’s supporters don’t believe he lost in 2020. Despite a close race again in 2024, Trump and allies still falsely claim the only way he loses is because of cheating.
