When a school doesn't open it's doors until after 8:30AM and classes don't begin until almost 9:00AM, how the heck are parents able to both get to work AND see their children off to school?! What ever happened to 7:30AM school? Are teachers getting THAT soft that they can't wake up early anymore? Our school day, back in the 70's, began at 7:40AM and ended at 3:40PM. Our parents saw us as we left for school and were there when the bus brought us home. We began our year after Labor Day weekend. NOW, school begins in mid-August to make up for the shortened school days. Our children are learning nothing more than how to sleep in.