Why is it that people who insist that summer vacation was because of farm work never have any explanation for why big city schools always had summer vacations?
It’s an urban myth (and one that I grew up thinking) that summer vacations were due to kids being needed at home on the farm in summer. Summer on a farm is one of the low-effort times of the year, spring (planting) and fall (harvesting) being the main labor needs.
Actually “Year Round School” is inaccurate. What it would amount to is 4 semesters of approximately 11 weeks each with approximately 2 weeks off between semesters. This would in fact give families more flexibility in planning vacations and would also provide better continuity to the learning process.
Today’s Comic: Don’t be a fool. Lighting does strike twice in the same place. Only a fool would think of standing in the same place where lighting will strike again!
Harvest in Europe was done mostly in summer, you reaped during the dryest days. As you did it by hand you wanted to make sure you had as many hands possible to do it as quickly as possible to avoid rot and going hungry. So kids were freed from school in summer.
My ex and I had one interesting year when the kids were young and we had moved into a new neighborhood. Our older daughter was placed in a year-round school and our younger son was enrolled in a regular “three months summer vacation” school.Really had to do some juggling at times, as well as back and forth explaining why one got to stay home while the other had to go to school. Hard for young kids to accept adult logic. :-)
DDrazen about 9 years ago
And Time magazine asks “What Killed Summer Vacations.”
RickMK about 9 years ago
Why is it that people who insist that summer vacation was because of farm work never have any explanation for why big city schools always had summer vacations?
Paul Go Premium Member about 9 years ago
Or why kids didn’t have off time during harvest: often the busiest time for farming?
ahnk_2000 about 9 years ago
It’s an urban myth (and one that I grew up thinking) that summer vacations were due to kids being needed at home on the farm in summer. Summer on a farm is one of the low-effort times of the year, spring (planting) and fall (harvesting) being the main labor needs.
Stellagal about 9 years ago
Regardless, it probably wouldn’t hurt to teach the kids some agriculture and have a little garden with beans, lettuce, etc.
pmmarion Premium Member about 9 years ago
Actually “Year Round School” is inaccurate. What it would amount to is 4 semesters of approximately 11 weeks each with approximately 2 weeks off between semesters. This would in fact give families more flexibility in planning vacations and would also provide better continuity to the learning process.
locake about 9 years ago
Going to school is much easier than working on the farm.
Lyons Group, Inc. about 9 years ago
Today’s Comic: Don’t be a fool. Lighting does strike twice in the same place. Only a fool would think of standing in the same place where lighting will strike again!
cabalonrye about 9 years ago
Harvest in Europe was done mostly in summer, you reaped during the dryest days. As you did it by hand you wanted to make sure you had as many hands possible to do it as quickly as possible to avoid rot and going hungry. So kids were freed from school in summer.
tammyspeakslife Premium Member about 9 years ago
Good thinking Ruthie
Ushindi about 9 years ago
My ex and I had one interesting year when the kids were young and we had moved into a new neighborhood. Our older daughter was placed in a year-round school and our younger son was enrolled in a regular “three months summer vacation” school.Really had to do some juggling at times, as well as back and forth explaining why one got to stay home while the other had to go to school. Hard for young kids to accept adult logic. :-)
38lowell about 9 years ago
How much school year can you use, when you leave there?How long, before you flip that burger?