I know it’s not technically accurate, but I’m starting to go with summer beginning with May Day, as old rural England did. Kind of sad to have it start just when the days start getting shorter.
Back when life was properly ordered (when I was a kid, of course) grammar school ended and summer began the Tuesday after Memorial day, and school began and summer ended the Tuesday after Labor day. Very simple. Very orderly. And nearly all of us knew how to spell, read, write and do math at an entering-high-school level when we graduated. But that was then and “now” is progress. ????
Summer vacation always started around that time when I was in school, but wow, it ended on September 22nd? I had to go back to school the Wednesday after Labor Day.
I remember when they went from starting after Labor Day to the last week of August, around August 28th. I was still in middle school (around 1972) when that happened. Then about 20 years ago, they began to start school here around the second week of August. Several districts in the area are on a year-round schedule, with mixed results. For the most part, it hasn’t really improved anything and it has taken away much of the summer from the kids. One of those districts recently went back to a traditional school-year schedule. Despite our protests to the contrary, we never outgrow fads.
The tradition of having a summer “vacation” began when most people and schools in the country were rural—most people were farmers. Kids were needed for light (sometimes not-so-light) farm labor so the family could raise and harvest the crops needed for their subsistence and maybe a little more for trade goods. So schools often ended teaching well before summer started. It is still traditional in southern Idaho for school to break for a couple weeks during potato harvest, when so many kids and teenagers help out with the potato harvest—even if they can’t be out in the fields, they can help with all kinds of other chores so their parents are free from those to help directly with the harvest. Maybe Sally MIGHT learn about that, in her version of Summer School….
Vince M about 10 years ago
I know it’s not technically accurate, but I’m starting to go with summer beginning with May Day, as old rural England did. Kind of sad to have it start just when the days start getting shorter.
dogday Premium Member about 10 years ago
Back when life was properly ordered (when I was a kid, of course) grammar school ended and summer began the Tuesday after Memorial day, and school began and summer ended the Tuesday after Labor day. Very simple. Very orderly. And nearly all of us knew how to spell, read, write and do math at an entering-high-school level when we graduated. But that was then and “now” is progress. ????
Aaron Saltzer about 10 years ago
Won’t Sally be disappointed.
Tedder13579 about 10 years ago
LOGIC!
summerdog86 about 10 years ago
I am driving my teen grandson 60 miles round trip for English 10 for summer school. Sucks!
Say What? Premium Member about 10 years ago
Summer vacation always started around that time when I was in school, but wow, it ended on September 22nd? I had to go back to school the Wednesday after Labor Day.
Number Three about 10 years ago
I don’t want to sound like a grump… But I wish summer was over.
Hate it.
xxx
Snoopy_Fan about 10 years ago
I remember when they went from starting after Labor Day to the last week of August, around August 28th. I was still in middle school (around 1972) when that happened. Then about 20 years ago, they began to start school here around the second week of August. Several districts in the area are on a year-round schedule, with mixed results. For the most part, it hasn’t really improved anything and it has taken away much of the summer from the kids. One of those districts recently went back to a traditional school-year schedule. Despite our protests to the contrary, we never outgrow fads.
holmswedeholm about 10 years ago
The tradition of having a summer “vacation” began when most people and schools in the country were rural—most people were farmers. Kids were needed for light (sometimes not-so-light) farm labor so the family could raise and harvest the crops needed for their subsistence and maybe a little more for trade goods. So schools often ended teaching well before summer started. It is still traditional in southern Idaho for school to break for a couple weeks during potato harvest, when so many kids and teenagers help out with the potato harvest—even if they can’t be out in the fields, they can help with all kinds of other chores so their parents are free from those to help directly with the harvest. Maybe Sally MIGHT learn about that, in her version of Summer School….
bubbles413 about 10 years ago
Lols