Each year, the wane of lazy summer days and the sight of parents dragging their uncooperative children through supermarket aisleways in search of school supplies signals the imminent return of school, much to the chagrin of students.
Families and teachers currently have one last summer escape, as school districts are forbidden from starting before Labor Day weekend under Michigan law.
However, lawmakers are taking a look at allowing school districts, not state law, to decide when to move students back into the classroom.
State Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing, proposed House Bill 4844 before the Michigan House of Representatives, which would put school districts back in the driver’s seat.
“The current law restricts schools’ ability to start educating students,” he said.
Schor said many school administrators and board members are behind his plan, saying they would prefer to decide when school starts, rather than having to wait until after the holiday weekend.
The current law came into existence several years ago at the insistence of the tourism industry, according to Schor.
David Lorenz, an industry relations and international marketing manager with Pure Michigan, emphasized tourism opportunities throughout the state.
“Because Michigan is such a festival-friendly state, those holiday weekends allow families to travel, either during the start or wrapup of the summer,” he said.
However, Lorenz was quick to clarify the importance of tourism for funding numerous state programs including road repairs and schools.
“Anything we do to discourage people from traveling that last weekend of the summer is bad for the state,” he said.
Although Schor’s bill allows districts to start their school years before Labor Day, the new law would mandate districts to take Labor Day as well as the proceeding Friday off. Despite the bill being referred to the committee on tourism, which Schor said was discouraging, his ultimate goal is to have year-round schooling, although he added current financial woes limit this possibility.
Dan Eschtruth, a 1999 MSU graduate, thinks Michigan legislators should worry more about educating children than banking tourism bucks.
When he was in school, Eschtruth remembered always returning to school before Labor Day, adding that while Michigan’s current bill helps raise money, it might not be the best policy.
“The only thing that really bothers me is it’s more about tourism dollars than providing education,” he concluded.
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