Reason Why N.E. Has Pres Week Off!

[Bichon Barb]

I just found this out and thought it interesting.

Why do many schools in the northeast have Presidents' Week off?

During the energy shortage in the 1970's, many schools closed for a week in February in order to save energy. Many districts just kept the tradition.

Makes sense to me. High's this week in Syracuse are in the low 20's .

 

[goofyernmost]

I believe that, in Vermont at least, the combination of Washingtons Birthday and Lincolns Birthday coupled with Town Meeting day, made the week off (actually usually seven days) a reasonable thing. We also get a bad case of cabin fever about that time. We have about 10 months of winter and two months of tough sledding around here! When my kids were in school that was the week that we ended up in WDW. Whatever the reason, thank God it happened. I used to live for that time.

 

[lizzie64]

Funny,

Last February we moved to NJ. We lived in NY before and had President's week off. Moved to NJ and the kids started school President's week.

Boy did they feel jipped.

 

[antnee]

Ill be enjoying that week off this year

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

My kids only have Feb 14th and Feb 17th off this year . . .a long weekend instead of the week off . . .

Our town is trying to cut back on the days so that way school let's out earlier in June . . .this year, so far, we are getting out June 17th . . .keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[apagano]

I remember that. On the school calendar it was always called "Energy Conservation Week". I think now they just call it mid-winter break or something along those lines. Personally, I think they should spend some time in school talking about why they have that week off.

 

[TimeforMe]

Hmmm...interesting-I never heard of energy conservation week. We've always had that week off in CT and it was just a winter break and mostly to let the schools "air out" because of so many winter sicknesses, etc.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Yes, that is also what I heard - it was because of the energy crisis. I've also heard that our school is trying to do away with it!

 

[Virgo10]

I also thought it was to break the sickness cycle.

Can't remember if we got that week off when I was in school in the 60's but I think we did and that was during the glory days of gas prices. I paid 11 cents a gallon when I first started driving.

Roberta

 

[lindamg]

Well I DO remember being in elementary school in the 60s in Jersey and we had the week in February off then already. I know because we always flew to Florida to visit my granparents. We moved to Florida in 1973, so my visiting days were before the energy crisis!

 

[SplshMtn99]

In addition to Energy Conversation Wk, we also had Austire (sp?) days. That meant we had each Friday off in winters. Their logic was they only had to heat the building & pay elelectric 4 days/wk instead of 5 days.

We even had a special flag from the state hanging on our flagpole because we did so much to save energy.


But years later, the same school no longer even has February vacation. Each year the newspaper shows a photo of kids in class while all other towns are out on vacation.

 

[pumba]

and since I went to school in the 50s ..we always had one week in February and one week in April......it still continues......

 

[caitycaity]

hey bichonbarb i grew up in syracuse!

my district was petitioned when i was in school to keep the february holiday so people could go on ski vacations.

 

[figmentvi]

That's correct Pumba. I started school in 1961 and we always had 1 week in February and 1 week in April.

Back in "those days", there was no such thing as President's Day. We always celebrated Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays separately (two separate holidays). Then someone got the bright idea of combining them so that there was only 1 holiday and made it a Monday holiday.

 

[Boo'sMom]

In NH, we have the week following off....but for the same reason.
The April vacation was always referred to as "MUD vacation" Depending on the school district here, they still have the first day of deer hunting season off.....

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

I believe President's Day became the "official" holiday in the 70s (during the Nixon administration). I can remember celebrating both in elementary school, but when I got older, it was just one day. Now I don't even get that day off at work!

 

[DisneyMim]

Just to add my 2 cents, I went to school long before the seventies (in NE) and we always had off president's week and patriot's week in April. My hubby is a MA HS teacher and hasbeen for about 30 years. It has always been our understanding that it had more to with illness than energy conservaton. Whatever, I enjoy the two weeks off. There is talk from time to time of getting rid of one or the other or both, but I hope they continue the way it has always been. The kids need a break, especially today with all the homework, extra stuff etc that is so required for college. Just my little ole 2 cents.

 

[PattyH804]

Hello to all my fellow New
Englanders!
I've been transplanted to
the state that thinks they
are their own country...TX.
Imagine my surprise when
my DS's school schedule
showed Martin Luther King
Day as a Staff Day and no,
I mean NO days off in Feb.
Please note that I'm not
trying to offend anyone, I
think both days should be
off for what they are...
holidays, not staff days.
Right down the highway
is the George Bush Turn-
pike!
There's more crazy parts
to his school calendar, but
I won't get into it. It was
just hard for this little 'ol
CT girl to take.
By the way, in my early
school years it was both
president's days off and
the winter and spring
breaks. A couple of years
they tried to fudge things
around and gave us a
March break and let us
out earlier in June. My
neices now attend those
same schools and it's
back to the two breaks.
Patty who is now home-
sick for her family who
are all in CT.