Contrary to popular belief, summer break was NOT created just to have children help around the farm with the harvest. Rural schools did have long breaks (2-3 weeks) so the children could help with planting and harvesting, but the Summer break was created in 1840 by the great education reformer Horace Mann. He worried that overstimulating the minds of children could lead to mental breakdowns and insanity. Not only were kids pleased, but the solution made teachers happy and concerns about spreading diseases in sweltering classrooms dropped. The boys and I aren't starting school until next week so we are furiously moving our stuff to the new house. We look like the traveling gypsies!
Kailua, Hawaii
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