The delicate politics of school holidays (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service

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The delicate politics of school holidays (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service.

Changing school calendars is a politically difficult maneuver because it makes statements about community identity. Our initial school calendar was determined by a mix of agricultural schedules and dominant religious thought. The result: summers off to work the land, and the end of December off to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Despite changing economies and demographics, we hold on to this system because it tells a story of who we are as a nation.

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