Stupid Is As Stupid Does

Not only do I live in one of the most corrupt counties in the country, I now am faced with the fact that my state legislature is full of morons. I recently read this in a school newsletter:

'Traditionally, schools in (my state) have been given five calamity days for severe weather, power outages, etc. before they must make up lost instructional days. However, the state legislature recently enacted legislation that will reduce the number of calamity days from five to three days beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. This will certainly factor in when making a decision to close school. To provide some flexibility, the district is reviewing the possible use of "delayed starts" (typically two hours) to conserve calamity days......'

Never mind that a quarter of our state sits in a snow belt. Or that another quarter is rural. Or that there always seems to be a salt shortage. Because two extra days of school is really going to help improve those state standardized tests, right?

'Delayed starts' is a joke around here. We got a new superintendent 10 years ago who kept using those. It was a disaster, so he quit and we haven't had one since. Most families here are two income. They can't just leave their elementary aged children home alone until 11 a.m. We still have half day kindergarten. Delayed starts kept screwing the morning kindergarten kids (and parents) out of their days. And the middle school and high school students? Well, every time my kids have 'shortened schedule days' they claim to never do anything in any of their classes because the teachers don't feel that 20 minutes is enough time to do anything worthwhile. It becomes a study hall day. So much for improving instructional time!

Sheesh!