Why do schools have holidays at the same time?

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by leerabian

Causing flights to be extremely expensive during the Spring, Summer, and Winter. Shouldn't people have more intelligence?

Considering that Christmas and Thanksgiving are at the same time every year I think that's a good explanation for why students have breaks on those days. As far as spring break., that seems to be anywhere from early March to late April but is usually around Easter. I don't think "intelligence" has any relevance here.

[davidv]

There are many reasons why the school calendar is the way that it is, including:

1. The fact that the calendar was set up during a time when most students needed to help on the farm. Breaks were scheduled around planting and harvesting with kids going to school in the winter. While this calendar may no longer be needed in a largely urban society, many things have been put in place to accommodate such a calendar.

2. Many schools around the country lack air conditioning for summer classes. The buildings were built before air conditioning became commonplace, and retrofitting them with A/C is cost prohibitive, as is tearing them down and building new schools. A new urban/suburban high school costs $80 - $150 million depending on how big it is and what amenities it has.

3. The winter break coincides with two national holidays that are a week apart. Many parents use these holidays to extend their own vacations. Taking off the week between Christmas an New Year's Day means that you would use 5 vacation days while getting 9 days off (Christmas, New Year's, two weekend days, and five work days).

4. Breaks also usually coincide with the end of a term. If a school is going to take Christmas off, then you count back 90 school days from the last day before Christmas to find the beginning of the term. Consequently after you come back, you count forward 90 school days to find the last day of school.

5. It makes things easier for universities to offer and for teachers to attend continuing education courses if everyone a common calendar.

As for air fares, this is a new thing. Back in the old days (Before the 1980s), flying was a luxury most could not afford. We drove when we went on vacation.

[tgbwc]

I was looking at some options for vacation during our spring break, which occurs the week before Easter. The prices really dropped the week after Easter. Too bad we can't move our break later by one week. I'm thinking there must be some school systems with the week after Easter off, but not many.

[North Beach Person]

Our week off is after Easter this year. Most years Easter is at the end of it.

I'd rather just have a couple days and get out that much earlier in June. We're usually into the second week going into the third week as it is. We also go back around the 15th of August.

[dspguy]

I don't really have a problem with Winter/Christmas Break being scheduled when it is. It gives families and friends from across the nation the ability to get together. School-wise, nearly everyone is off. And that is important, with or without the religious connection to Christmas. Unfortunately, it does mean that the cost of traveling goes up.