A possible solution to the spring break conundrum

KAMLOOPS — The spring break debate in the Kamloops-Thompson school district is one of pure self-interest on the part of everyone involved.

The district has vacillated between a two-week break, as is the case in most of the province, or a one-week break, as was the case in Kamloops from time immemorial.

Teachers are looking for two weeks, because who wouldn’t want an extra week off?

Unfortunately, as much as teachers do wonderful, valuable work, it’s hard to see why they might need another week on top of the time outside of the classroom already afforded.

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Parents in a certain tax bracket also tend to like the two week idea.

For them, extra time off work is a possibility, and that leads to another possibility: a spring holiday.

But for lower income parents, school is child care, and when class is not in session, they need to find child care elsewhere.

It’s expensive, it’s inconvenient, and it’s often difficult to secure.

There is no prospect of taking extra time off work without losing significant income, and a holiday is completely out of the question.

So it’s self-interest for everyone on either side of the one week/two week debate.

We hope that trustees on the Board of Education weigh that balance and make the best decision.

But here’s a solution that maybe everyone can get on board with.

Keep spring break at one week.

For those who want to take a holiday or have your kids at home, simply pull them out of class during the week prior to or following the break.

Missing a week of class isn’t going to make or break any student’s academic success.

As for teachers, you’ve won some great victories over the past few years, for yourselves and for students.

I think you can let this one go.