School should start day after Labor Day

Why are our children spending the hot and humid dog days of summer in sweltering classrooms with no air conditioning?

We have slowly moved the start of school far away from the traditional start on the day after Labor Day and there is no good reason to continue this practice.

State Sen. Gayle Manning has introduced legislation to change the start date statewide to the Tuesday after Labor Day. The later start can be accomplished without shortening instruction time. School boards can add 15 minutes or more to the school day or end the school year a few days later, leaving the actual instruction time the same.

Our children are missing other important activities while they sit in these hot sticky classrooms. The Lorain County Fair, where 4-H and other groups help children learn about nature and life activities, are cut short or missed entirely.

Late summer vacation activities with families are also important to their growth but made impossible by the early school start.

I doubt there is much actual learning going on in these sweltering conditions. Let’s stop this now. Your help is needed. Contact your state representative, your senator and those from around the state. Discuss this with your friends and neighbors.

Let’s give Sen. Manning the support she needs to get this issue moving through the process. Roseanne Johnson North Ridgeville