Texas Bill Would Push School Start Dates To September

Texas summers mean unbearable heat. This is nothing new. But a state lawmaker believes high temperatures should be taken into consideration when starting the new school year.

Pushing to Delay the School Year Amid Sweltering Heat

As Texas students return to classrooms under blistering triple-digit summer heat, state Representative Jared Patterson of Denton County is reviving legislative efforts to overhaul the academic schedule. According to KCEN, Patterson is championing the "Save Our Summer Act," a proposal aimed at pushing the start of the school year to September while wrapping up classes in late May or early June.

Balancing Energy Demands

The Republican lawmaker argues that reopening campuses during the hottest period of the year places unnecessary strain on the state power grid by forcing communities to air-condition their largest facilities.

Student Welfare

Beyond energy concerns, Patterson says he is thinking about young athletes and band members who are exposed to hot temperatures when activities resume in mid-August. In his view, returning to a traditional schedule, running roughly from Labor Day to Memorial Day, as previous generations of Texans experienced, is a practical measure that aligns with practices in numerous other states.

A Former Band Member's Prospective

I was captain of the Rifle Corps during my high school years in south Louisiana. We attended Rifle Corp camp each July and it was awful. Try pairing high temperatures with 80% humidity. Our camp director's solution was to have us practice in the shade of the cow barn next to the rodeo ring. We all lived. Proof of life can be seen in the pic below. I am on the far right.

Texas Heat Is Different

You may be saying, "That isn't Texas heat", and you are correct. But I was also in Texas visiting relatives in the summer of 1980, commonly known as one of the hottest Texas summers on record. My mother took us on a wild animal safari...in the middle of summer. My cousin who lived in Dawson was attending cheerleader practices.My husband played iron man football in Frost, Texas (where the team is so small they play offense and defense). He says they practiced in the early morning and late evening hours. Again, problem solved. My point is that Texas has always been and will always be hot, and we made it work.