It’s been eight weeks forever in grade school. Well, more like nine. Last week in June until the beginning of September. I only got three months between college years.
Although, no rush, Michael. By week six, you’ll be begging to go back to school and have something to do.
In South Africa the school children have four holidays per year. About 3 weeks in Dec and July and about 10 days in April and October. Our spring officially starts on 1st September.
We had full year school in a few districts here for a while. Than it was stopped. The only reason school was out for summer was back when I was young most schools did not have Air conditioners and the farm kids had to tend to the farms and planting. They still were allow off for harvest if it ran into the beginning of school year in the fall. The only reason our system stopped full year was “parents” complained the kids could not get summer jobs with only 3 weeks off every quarter. 12 weeks down time was more than enough for building upkeep and planned family vacations. Just gave families more options for types of vacation, winter of summer stuff.
Up until Grade 8 here, we have full time. The students are grouped into rotating cycles. And there are three weeks between cycles. But when you get to high school it gets conventional. Maybe 9-10 weeks off for summer.
Dames is an old slang term for girls/women. As in the musical South Pacific and the song “There Ain’t Nothing LIke a Dame.” This was Lynn showing her age back then…
Actually, if I remember correctly, Johnston wrote this from Canada. Over the years of growing up with ‘FBOFW’, she made usual references to places like Quebec, Ontario, etc. And Elizabeth later had a career as a teacher in smaller villages. (Whose names escape me) And, Johnston always wrote the word ‘cheque’, as opposed to ‘check’. So, it could be that Canadian children only have 8 weeks of vacation, while we Americans have the usual 12.
My kids get 2 1/2 months (similar to tagteam). They got out on May 24 and go back Aug 13. With furloughs due to budget cuts (don’t get me started on that…), it is 175 days of school (should have been 180). That is the same as when I was a kid. Maybe the 3 months came from where kids get out in June and go back September. It just seems like 3 months, but was actually closer to 2 1/2.We had a balanced calendar for a year before the corporations got involved with politics and nixed it. The corporations were losing money because people weren’t going to the amusement parks, zoos, getting out as much and they were having trouble finding kids to work during the summer. So it’s gone, but I loved it because they actually got more breaks throughout the year to balance it out and it was fantastic! Everyone (teachers and kids) were more rested and refreshed because there wasn’t as much time between breaks, sick days declined for both and the kids were able to remember what they learned with a shorter summer break. One day the corporations will hopefully stop making the decisions for education…
I grew up in the rural west. Got out the Friday before Memorial day, went back the Tuesday after Labor day. Kids had to work the farms in the summer. Our school days were longer, though, and only two breaks…a week at Christmas and a week at Easter.
Kids always got about 13 weeks off school in the summer her in the U.S. My pen-pal from England told me students there go to school up until July then school resumes in September. She couldn’t believe it when I told her how long of a summer’s vacation U.S. kids have.
@algurka . . . The “our kids are behind the rest of the world” nonsense comes from people not paying close attention to the school systems they’re comparing.
In much of “the rest of the world,” special ed kids aren’t counted in the statistics. The significance of final tests varies considerably. Developing creativity isn’t given much attention in many cultures.
Of course, on the other hand, they also don’t have the overblown sports programs we have, and that communities are completely unwilling to give up. (Imagine Texas or Florida eliminating high school football!)
Our university system is the envy of the world. Just how, exactly, do the students do as well there as they do? Nobody waves a magic wand between HS graduation and college. The K-12 system must be doing SOMETHING right.
When you’re a kid and you’ve only 8 weeks of summer vacation before the next school year begins, you’ve got to make every minute . . . every second . . . of it really count!!!!!
I was referring to the “classic” gangster and war movies of the 30’s and 40’s we grew up watching on TV. We got a lot more exposure to them than first-run theatrical movies!
legaleagle48 almost 12 years ago
Only eight weeks? I had three full months when I was Michael’s age!
Gigantor almost 12 years ago
It’s been eight weeks forever in grade school. Well, more like nine. Last week in June until the beginning of September. I only got three months between college years.
Although, no rush, Michael. By week six, you’ll be begging to go back to school and have something to do.
JoanHelen almost 12 years ago
In South Africa the school children have four holidays per year. About 3 weeks in Dec and July and about 10 days in April and October. Our spring officially starts on 1st September.
Agent54 almost 12 years ago
We had full year school in a few districts here for a while. Than it was stopped. The only reason school was out for summer was back when I was young most schools did not have Air conditioners and the farm kids had to tend to the farms and planting. They still were allow off for harvest if it ran into the beginning of school year in the fall. The only reason our system stopped full year was “parents” complained the kids could not get summer jobs with only 3 weeks off every quarter. 12 weeks down time was more than enough for building upkeep and planned family vacations. Just gave families more options for types of vacation, winter of summer stuff.
el8 almost 12 years ago
dames?
psychlady almost 12 years ago
Time goes by so fast! Enjoy being a kid while you can!
tagteam almost 12 years ago
In Nebraska, we’ve been out since mid-May and go back on Aug 13.
rshive almost 12 years ago
Up until Grade 8 here, we have full time. The students are grouped into rotating cycles. And there are three weeks between cycles. But when you get to high school it gets conventional. Maybe 9-10 weeks off for summer.
tanya96 almost 12 years ago
what are dames?
drbeth almost 12 years ago
Dames is an old slang term for girls/women. As in the musical South Pacific and the song “There Ain’t Nothing LIke a Dame.” This was Lynn showing her age back then…
Cofyjunky almost 12 years ago
Actually, if I remember correctly, Johnston wrote this from Canada. Over the years of growing up with ‘FBOFW’, she made usual references to places like Quebec, Ontario, etc. And Elizabeth later had a career as a teacher in smaller villages. (Whose names escape me) And, Johnston always wrote the word ‘cheque’, as opposed to ‘check’. So, it could be that Canadian children only have 8 weeks of vacation, while we Americans have the usual 12.
Karen345 almost 12 years ago
I remember this feeling so well
lightenup Premium Member almost 12 years ago
My kids get 2 1/2 months (similar to tagteam). They got out on May 24 and go back Aug 13. With furloughs due to budget cuts (don’t get me started on that…), it is 175 days of school (should have been 180). That is the same as when I was a kid. Maybe the 3 months came from where kids get out in June and go back September. It just seems like 3 months, but was actually closer to 2 1/2.We had a balanced calendar for a year before the corporations got involved with politics and nixed it. The corporations were losing money because people weren’t going to the amusement parks, zoos, getting out as much and they were having trouble finding kids to work during the summer. So it’s gone, but I loved it because they actually got more breaks throughout the year to balance it out and it was fantastic! Everyone (teachers and kids) were more rested and refreshed because there wasn’t as much time between breaks, sick days declined for both and the kids were able to remember what they learned with a shorter summer break. One day the corporations will hopefully stop making the decisions for education…
Gokie5 almost 12 years ago
. . . like what lightenup was discussing.
sbwertz almost 12 years ago
I grew up in the rural west. Got out the Friday before Memorial day, went back the Tuesday after Labor day. Kids had to work the farms in the summer. Our school days were longer, though, and only two breaks…a week at Christmas and a week at Easter.
summerdog86 almost 12 years ago
I guess they won’t be chasing dames in the next 8 weeks. That will come in a few years.
iced tea almost 12 years ago
Kids always got about 13 weeks off school in the summer her in the U.S. My pen-pal from England told me students there go to school up until July then school resumes in September. She couldn’t believe it when I told her how long of a summer’s vacation U.S. kids have.
TELawrence almost 12 years ago
So guess what they’ll do: run to the schoolyard to play!
mpguy2 almost 12 years ago
@algurka . . . The “our kids are behind the rest of the world” nonsense comes from people not paying close attention to the school systems they’re comparing.
In much of “the rest of the world,” special ed kids aren’t counted in the statistics. The significance of final tests varies considerably. Developing creativity isn’t given much attention in many cultures.
Of course, on the other hand, they also don’t have the overblown sports programs we have, and that communities are completely unwilling to give up. (Imagine Texas or Florida eliminating high school football!)
Our university system is the envy of the world. Just how, exactly, do the students do as well there as they do? Nobody waves a magic wand between HS graduation and college. The K-12 system must be doing SOMETHING right.
Gretchen's Mom almost 12 years ago
When you’re a kid and you’ve only 8 weeks of summer vacation before the next school year begins, you’ve got to make every minute . . . every second . . . of it really count!!!!!
;-)
JP Steve Premium Member almost 12 years ago
I was referring to the “classic” gangster and war movies of the 30’s and 40’s we grew up watching on TV. We got a lot more exposure to them than first-run theatrical movies!
LOWRIDER84 almost 12 years ago
We got out on Memorial Day (May 31) and went back after Labor Day (1st Monday in September)