We don't understand why most school districts start classes before Labor Day, but we want that decision to remain with them, not the state Legislature.
State Rep. Robert Godshall, R-Montgomery, has introduced a bill requiring schools throughout Pennsylvania to delay the start of their academic year until after the holiday.
Mr. Godshall's proposal comes in response to complaints from officials in the state's tourism industry who believe an early start to the school year hurts their business, robbing them of both potential visitors and teen employees.
Kennywood Park, for example, decided to shut down during the final week of August because so many area schools were back in session.
Although this battle has been going on for years, it appears the tourism side is gaining some traction. The Godshall bill received approval this year from the House education and tourism committees, with the next step being a full House vote.
Even so, the idea has some powerful opponents. Both the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association -- the largest teachers union in the state -- have lined up against it.
So has Gov. Ed Rendell, who indicated through a spokesman that he believes decisions on when to start school are best made at the local level, not by the state.
That's our position as well. We can sympathize with the plight of Pennsylvania's amusement parks and other tourist sites. They need summer break to last as long as possible, and with 90 percent of state districts starting school in August, a significant chunk of business, and the available work force, is removed.
But local school districts also have a business to run. So we suggest tourism officials take their fight there, rather than to Harrisburg.
