Yes, but you fAILED to say that both of the following two weeks are also full weeks for students (Oct. 26-29 and Nov.1-6) and that before winter break begins on Monday December 21,there will be three additional full weeks for students.

Teachers are not babysitters. Veterans Day is both a Federal and State Holiday. Palm Beach County Adminstrative offices are also closed on that day. Yes teachers do work on workdays as well as before your child gets to school, after your child is dimissed as well as on weekends preparing lessons for your child.

I hate to get "snippy" about things, but really how insulting. Think about all teachers do for your children, now try to think of what that time would be like if they didn't get the time needed to plan. Yes, I could come to school ever day not having planned anything and just cruise through the day but is that the kind of education you want for your child?

I respect what you're saying about it being hard to balance being a parent with work. However, I think you can make that point without being offensive to teachers.

Oh, and I know you said it was Palm Beach County, but at least in Broward we haven't had any planning days yet. Yes, we have had days off (one for labor day and one for a Jewish holiday) but I don't think it's fair to group all days off as planning days. We have four planning days during the year that students need to stay home for. Each at the end of the semester to finalize cards and prepare report cards.

Really? As an elementary teacher in Palm Beach-I would like to make it clear to you that we have not had a teacher work day yet. They have all been PDD's aka MEETINGS. We have had no extra time to work in our classrooms or plan lessons for your kids. Get your facts right.

As a high school teacher, I agree with the writer. I would be more effective in the classroom with less disruptions. It is hard to establish momentum the way things are now. However, parents, you can help. Please, don't keep your kids home because it's "just a half day." Absenteeism on half-days skyrocket. They are still school days. Send your kids!

I'm a former teacher. I left teaching primarily because there's no real job security. Palm Beach is a really big county, and I can't afford to be transferred far from home because I have a family too and I am a single mom. There is simply not enough time in a teacher's day to do all that needs to be done. Teachers work before work, after work, and on weekends, not only preparing lessons that will be taught but also holding parent conferences, doing administrative work, and keeping up on Continuing Education. Teachers do have summers off and are paid accordingly, and they often use the summertime to take the courses they need to stay current, prepare to teach a new grade level or a new subject area, and prepare their unit plans for the year. Teachers worry about their jobs every summer too, because low enrollments can mean displacement from their school or a last minute grade level switch. Teachers return to the classroom and donate time to prepare their classrooms and meet with colleagues. Many teachers must also make the time to teach their fellow teachers, because teaching is a craft, you never stop learning, and you learn much of it on the job. The shame of it is that I was an excellent teacher and I loved my work and my students, but I had to leave teaching because I can't afford to give that much of myself to my job without job security in exchange. Many teachers would love to have the kids for an extra hour, just to have more teaching time and less rushing around getting the kids from here to there. The PDD days generally consist of half a day of meetings, i.e., "Professional Development" and half a day to do paperwork that may include report cards, IEPs, 504 plans, and so many other things. It seems every year there's a new way to do things and teachers just have to adapt. Teachers work very hard, and having tried it I'm especially grateful for those who continue to do it. Thanks, teachers! Keep up the good work.