For many years it's been a given at the Jersey Shore that public schools open the Tuesday or Wednesday after Labor Day. This year it's a little different. Labor Day, which is celebrated on the first Monday of September, fell on the latest possible date (September 7th). As a result, several school districts across Ocean County have opted to open their doors for students before the Labor Day holiday.

The school start dates vary by district. School districts like Toms River and Jackson opened on Wednesday (9/2). The Brick Township School District began classes today (9/3), and Lakewood Public Schools will open their doors for students tomorrow (9/4).

Other school districts across the area won't open until after Labor Day. The Central Regional School District, Pinelands schools, Lacey schools and Southern Regional are won't open their doors for students until Tuesday (9/8).

It seems like everywhere that I have gone this week it's all that anyone has been talking about around Toms River. Some parents that I've overheard said that they felt like they were "losing a week of summer vacation." Other parents seem to think it makes sense to get as many schools days in now because September includes a few days off for Labor Day and Jewish holidays.

Of course, a LOT of parents are saying that they NEVER went back to school before Labor Day when they were growing up. I would venture to guess that part of the shift to sending kids back to school before Labor comes as more and more schools now have air conditioning units. Kids don't have to sweat as they begin their studies.

For schools without air conditioning, I would say this week must be very rough. We're in the middle of one of our the worst haves of the summer. After all, it reached 90* in Toms River today. With more than 20 kids in a room that makes it pretty sticky in there. I graduated from Toms River South in 2008, and I remember how hot those upstairs classrooms could get. I cannot imagine it was easy for students to keep their focus in classrooms like that today.

The good news? The forecast next week looks more comfortable as temperature will be closer to 80* instead of 90*. Maybe that is just Mother Nature's way of saying that the schools should have waited to open until next week?

So what do you think? Take our poll to let us know: is it OK for school to start before Labor Day at the Jersey Shore? And, of course, you can always sound off by leaving a comment below.

 

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