Survey on a new fall break draws record response
By Kjell Wickstrom
EDMONTON — A survey released by Edmonton Public Schools gauging reaction to a proposed fall break has drawn more responses than ever before.
More than 10,000 people have responded to the survey, which closes Nov. 4. The most who had ever responded to such an online questionnaire before was 500, said Cory Sinclair, spokesperson for Edmonton Public Schools.
Calling the survey popular “would be an understatement,” said Sinclair. “This has far exceeded any past survey.”
Some hope that the break, if it is approved, will help teachers and students deal with stress from a long period without any holidays.
“It will give a break to the kids, just to refresh,” said Ken Lam, principal of Meadowlark School. “Then maybe they can perform better. Three months without a break is a long time for young kids.”
Other school districts and even some universities, including the University of Alberta, have toyed with the idea of a week-long fall break. It is meant to help students and educators deal with stress.
“I think the November (break) idea is a really good idea,” said Michael Walters, an elementary school parent. “They get a little burnt out. There’s so much extracurricular going on in their lives these days.”
Some parents are concerned about the availability of child care. With the students out of school for one more week, parents would have to find a babysitter for young children or take that week off of work to be at home.
“If all of the schools did this, it wouldn’t work for us,” said Deb Peterson, a teacher and parent of an elementary-aged student. “Who would then take care of my son? It wouldn’t work with our schedule.”
Walters, who is running for the Alberta Party in Edmonton-Rutherford, said he can appreciate such concerns. He sees child care as part of a larger issue that needs to be addressed.
“Education and child care are about one thing. It’s about children,” said Walters. “So they work together. We can’t make this decision (about the fall break) without answering the other question.”
After the Edmonton public school board analyzes the results of the survey, it will discuss the proposed break, and either gather more information or move ahead in changing the 2012-13 calendar.
If the break is approved, students would start school the week before Labour Day and the break would take place after Remembrance Day.
The results are expected to be presented at a board meeting this month.
