March 30, 2007 – 5:30PM if ( (” != ”) || (” != ”) || (” != ”) ) { document.writeln(‘
More to this Story
‘); document.writeln(‘
Watch related video‘); } else { document.writeln (‘
‘); } if ( (” != ”) || (” != ”) || (” != ”) ) { document.writeln(‘
‘); document.writeln(‘
‘); } Once again, the interests of the education community are being pitted against the interests of the business community in Raleigh.
School administrators and representatives from school boards across the state are telling lawmakers that a three-year-old law that prohibits most schools from starting a new school year earlier than Aug. 25 is too rigid and is not in the best interests of education.
The state’s tourism advocates say that the later start date helps families spend more time together and is good for the industry. They also argue that the later start date isn’t hurting education and that the industry helps pay the taxes that fund education.
The quagmire facing lawmakers is one that need not exist. If the public schools in North Carolina did not have a virtual monopoly over elementary and secondary education in the state, then public and private schools alike would be more likely to accommodate the needs and desires of parents while providing children with a quality education. (more….)
