Why traditionally do children have summer off from school?

Question

Studies have proven that students loose knowledge over the summer, what are the benefits of having a summer off? Would students achieve more in school if they worked all year long?

Answer 1

Our school calender was based off the needs of agriculture. You do bring up a concern about students retaining information over the long summer. Some schools are starting to go to year round schooling, but not actually going to school for more days. They are just spread out more. For example one system I read about took 3 weeks off in the middle of the summer and 3 weeks off in the middle of the winter. Then they would go to school for about 5 weeks and take another week off and repeat the 5 and 1.
It is a difficult change to make though because we as a society are so used to following the schedule we have set up.

Answer 2

Farmers used to keep their kids out of school during the summer so they could work on the farm. They still do this. My ex- inlaws all live in Iowa, and they have brought it up before.

Answer 3

Because childrens' minds are less capable of being jam-packed with info and at some point can cause either an unhealthy amount of stress, or in some rare cases, insanity.

Answer 4

yes its good we need a break i aint keeping my *** in that chair another 2 moths hell no school a year is 10 months 2 more left i need a break i dont kno traditionally but hell i need a break

Answer 5

to give them a break..... if they overload there minds with so much stuff it is proven that they can have brain damage

Answer 6

well duhh. kids would be killing their teacher and dying of bordom if they didnt get summer off!!!!!