DEAR EDITOR:

As a product of the Cobb County school system (Sprayberry High, class of 1978), I fondly recall some of the innovative ideas the Cobb school board has embraced in the past. Anyone remember team teaching and open classrooms? It seems the current board is attempting to follow another novel approach by trying a balanced calendar based on the dubious claim of better test scores. Let's bury these early start dates with those other ill-fated relics.

I have two children enrolled in Cobb schools. Almost every parent I know thinks that an Aug. 2 start date is asinine. The reasoning from parents varies from cost savings from utilities, protecting student athletes, providing older students more time for summer jobs, even more family time. I have heard that White Water and Six Flags provide more tax money to schools when they are open longer, allowing for broader academics as well as more money for arts and music.

All of those claims may be debated, but what cannot be debated is the fact that our school board refuses to listen to its constituents on this issue. If one group of elected officials will not listen to the wishes of parents maybe another group will.

Finally, to all of you adults - do you remember being 12 years old? Honestly, do you think our future leaders are going to eke out an extra percentage point on some standardized test by being back at school on Aug. 2 instead of the 23rd? Please, make the smart choice and return summers to families.

Greg Milford
Marietta