Flex learning year: Can't have it both ways

I was irritated when I read this story from the Marshall Independent about public attendance at a district presentation on its proposal to introduce a flexible learning year.

The proposal represents a coalition of about 30 south central and south western Minnesota districts who have collaborated on a proposal to begin school about two weeks earlier in August (with the intent of having more learning days before the high-stakes tests in April).

Such proposals have traditionally been rejected by the state - as Minnesota lawmakers have been very protective of State Fair and resort lobbyists who claim a post-Labor Day school start is essential for revenue. But this proposal represents an unmatched level of collaboration. Participating districts have agreed to implement the flex learning year for at least three years as well as share time and resources for staff development.

The proposal is nothing if not a genuine attempt by school leaders to reform an education system that, if the prevailing opinion can be trusted, is not producing students that are globally competitive.

Strange thing is, opponents attack the flex learning year because it puts kids in school during prime family vacation time.

To me, such have-cake-and-eat-it-too attitudes stand in the way of the one thing we all want: a better, more efficient education for our children.