In America in the1800s, schooling was not mandatory. Big city schools were in operation up to 260 days a year, closing only for short breaks between academic quarters. Children attended school when their parents could spare them, and in fact most children attended school for only six months a year. Doctors actually thought spending too much time at school was unhealthy.
Around 1900, urban school districts started shortening the school year to its current length of 180 days. Most cities instituted a long summer break because school buildings were not well-ventilated enough, and therefore too uncomfortable on hot days.
Perhaps more importantly, it was also too expensive to run schools all year round. Children from wealthy families were on vacation anyway, so there was no one left to teach.
Rural districts, on the other hand, began lengthening their school year around the same time to help children in agrarian communities keep up with their urban counterparts. Previously, farm kids tended to attend school only when they were not needed in the fields.
No doubt children today wish doctors still thought education was a health hazard, since the mandatory 180-day school year seems to many kids far too long.
But is ten weeks of summer vacation really too long? Education specialists are beginning to think so.
While budgeting concerns and poor ventilation may still be an issue, educators believe children forget too much over the summer. Children regularly score higher on standardized tests taken in late June than they do in early September.
In comparison to kids in other industrialized countries, American children also spend less time in the classroom. Japanese children, for example, spend over 240 days a year in school.
Some schools are beginning to switch over to a 'year-round-school' system, which, rather than lengthening the school year, actually spreads out the 180 school days throughout the year. Students then take a few longer mid-term breaks rather than one long summer break.
Forgetfulness and financial concerns aside, the logistical problem of what to do with the kids during vacation doesn't change, even in year-round-schools. In a country where most employees receive no more than two weeks of paid vacation, the problem remains the same.