The national Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day should not take place during the school year to ensure that students are learning in the classroom as much as possible, said Howard County School Board members.
“I see it as just a free day off,” said Board Member Diane Mikulis. “Why can?t it happen during the summer?”
The Ms. Foundation for Women in New York City launched the program in 2003 to promote career opportunities for girls, ages 8 to 12. The program later evolved to include boys. Parents take their children to work on the fourth Thursday of April for job shadowing.
“I understand the value of bringing your child to work, but must it be on a school day?” asked Board Member Joshua Kaufman.
The foundation has no plans to change the day to the summer, said Elizabeth Hines, communications manager for the foundation.
“The summer months are difficult for many families. They?re on vacation, doing various things,” Hines said.
But groups can hold the program on another day.
“The fact that we hold it on this day in April doesn?t restrain groups from doing it at other times of the year,” Hines said.
The national day gives the program significance, said Howard School Board members, who also questioned what students actually learn.
“There should be some kind of requirement” to show what the students learned at their parents? workplaces,” said Mikulis.
Parents and business owners should work together to make the day meaningful for students, Hines said.
“It takes commitment on all sides to make sure that children are learning,” she said.
The program also should be changed to another day because elementary and middle school students will take the Maryland School Assessments, said Patti Caplan, schools spokeswoman.
“We?re trying to let everyone know how important it is for students to be in school, particularly students in grades five through eight,” she said.
