9 vs 12 month school year--feedback PLEASE!

Ok Dear Void,

Here is the question at hand: 9 month school or 12 month school?

The areas we are looking to buy a house are ALL year-round school zones and I have mixed feelings. I myself (and Scott) always attended the traditional 9 month system--there was no other option where we grew up and I find myself preferring that for my kids too. I'm not sure I like the idea of "no summer break" and have heard stories about kids being placed on differing "tracks" making family vacations difficult. I also think about things like Scout camps, sports camps, sports in general and wonder how a 12 month zone will effect all that. I'm concerned about the quality of education and wonder if there are downsides to either system (9 vs 12 month)? I'm wondering if my desire for a 9 month zone is valid enough to let it determine the area in which we buy a house or if I am letting it carry "too much weight" in our living decisions? I never thought I'd have to deal with this decision but winding up in Vegas has left hardly any other option open--btw--I am not cut out for homeschooling and want my kids in a public/charter system so that isn't an option.

I don't care who you are or what your background is; educator, parent, child, grandparent etc but I want your "educated" opinion on the question at hand, "How concerned should I be about living in a year round school zone?" I want to know the positives, negatives and everything in between. I have several friends, family members etc that are teachers, have kids in year round, were in year round themselves etc and I want you ALL to weigh in--send me an email if you don't feel like there is enough room to write everything in the comments section: sntidwell@yahoo.com

Thanks!

Playing Catch Up

 

We've had a busy couple weeks--between all our trips to Vegas doing much needed house hunting, trying not to get run off the road by people who have never seen snow before, or having a family "Mary Poppins" day at the park, life has been fun! We move in three weeks--new address...not sure yet! But I'm packing a little each day, stocking up on paper plates and pizza coupons for that final week when you have to pack EVERYTHING, and the boys--well let's say they watch a lot of pbs--word world, curious george etc (I try kidding myself that it's not so bad as long as they are "learning" shows). All in all, we are alive and I am getting FATTER--gotta love life!

Kingman "CALL GIRL" career day? say that 5 times fast!

So for the last year I've taught the 8-12 year olds in Primary and have loved it. I always let them go around the circle and tell me one cool thing they got to do the previous week--gets the chatter out so hopefully they listen better (sometimes it works)! So today a little girl in class (I'll call her "sugar" to protect the innocent) said "last week I got to dress up like a call girl for school". No joke--I was stunned--especially when another girl in her same grade but different class whispers "she was a prostitute for career day?" So wanting to figure out whose idea this was (her parents, crazy teacher, her, some unknown role model etc) I ask, "Really? What did you wear?". She responds, "a cowboy hat, boots and vest." I'm thinking, oh I hope there was more to it than that, this kid is only 8! And yet, as dumbfounded as I was, I wasn't as surprised as I should have been, I mean this is Kingman. Land of the Sunday "great deal" yard sale advertised in Relief Society, the 80 year old granny I saw in a motorized shopping cart with a pistol on her belt--what other surprises could there be? As I ask more questions it becomes clear--she dressed up like a COWGIRL not CALL GIRL--she just got her W and LL's mixed up. Gideyup! Another adventurous day at church in good 'ole Kingman, AZ! I think I might miss this place--or at least my blog will!

Ode to Kingman...(hum my country tis of thee while reading)

My Kingman 'tis of thee
all of this dirt I see,
to thee we sing!
Land of Walmart's shopping pride
with all your auto rides (senior citizen shopping carts:)
home to your double wides, to thee we sing!

Oh sage brush covered hills,
and trucks with gun racks filled
my heart cries out...
No more desert landscaping
or stoplight nosepicking
or bluehaired gun-slinging--please SET ME FREE!

Oh friends we'll miss you most,
our sanity to thee we owe.
Don't ever change!

The late night games we played,
culture--we never strayed!
great food we always ate,
come and visit soon!

(stop humming or the rest won't make sense:-)

So we are off to Vegas in a few short weeks--Scott's project is wrapping up here and we are headed back to start another. Although my "ode" doesn't state it (I couldn't come up with the right rhymes) we really will miss this place and the people here. It will be nice to get back to civilization but this was a great adventure while it lasted (Sunday "testimony" auctions, yard sale underoos and all!)