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yellowdogintexas

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56. I think another reason for the early start was to allow for snow days

Fri Aug 8, 2025, 06:19 PM

Aug 8

Living where I did, we really had no ability to deal with a heavy snow (and even in Southern KY we had them) School would close if the buses couldn't get through. Between the high hill with switchbacks and the farmhouses far from the road (kids had to trudge through deep snow to get to the bus) we would have a lot of absences which cut the funding.

So we started early - 2 weeks before Labor Day and if we had snow closings might get out at the end of May. However if we did not have closing days we would get a week off in the spring and school would finish before Memorial Day, sometimes as early as the 20th of May. My Senior year we had 2 weeks of closings because of that scary hill. Approximately 1/3 of the high school students lived north of that hill. The Assistant Superintendent of the county schools lived at the bottom of the hill, and every morning he would get up at 4:00 AM and attempt to drive up the hill. If it was too slick to be safe, we did not have school. That year we had graduation on June 1st.

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debm55

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Did you start school before or after Labor Day? We started after Labor Day, though it made no difference as it was [View all] debm55 Aug 8 OP

Made no difference for me either True Dough Aug 8 #1

Oh you. You are smart. True Dough, I don't see you failing anything. debm55 Aug 8 #3

After SheltieLover Aug 8 #2

Thank you SheltieLover. When I taught the district changed to before Labor Day. It was so hot.Teachers brought in fans debm55 Aug 8 #6

Labor Day is this coming September 1, and I started school about 56 years ago. unblock Aug 8 #4

HAHHAHAHAHHAh. Thank you unblock. debm55 Aug 8 #13

After.... anciano Aug 8 #5

Same here and a room filled with wall to wall kids. Thank you anciano. debm55 Aug 8 #15

Same here. 70s. First and last 3 or 4 weeks were brutal paleotn Aug 8 #22

After, I think. Labor Day weekend was the last long weekend before school started, Ocelot II Aug 8 #7

Thank you very much Ocelot II. That makes sense. debm55 Aug 8 #27

We were lucky. yorkster Aug 8 #8

Thank you very much for sharing with us. yorkster. I started the day after Labor Day and went to mid June. Schools are debm55 Aug 8 #9

The Wednesday after Labor Day, and we had less holidays and more snow days. dem4decades Aug 8 #10

Thank you dem4decades. You are right, I don't remember any snow days off and we walked to school. debm55 Aug 8 #28

After in St. Paul, MN back in the late 70's early 80's JMCKUSICK Aug 8 #11

Thank you ,John. Did you have snow days off or snow delays? debm55 Aug 8 #29

Before, had no spring break and got out mid-May. Sneederbunk Aug 8 #12

Wow, that's a first, You were lucky as you got out so early. Jobs were easier to get.Thank you, Sneederbunk. debm55 Aug 8 #19

The day after Labor Day. The last day of school was usually toward the end of June. beaglelover Aug 8 #14

Same here beaglelover. And it was hot in the rooms. Thank you. debm55 Aug 8 #16

I dreaded going back to school each year. pandr32 Aug 8 #17

Yes, we went back after. But it was steaming hot inside. Thank you pandr32. debm55 Aug 8 #31

Started after Labor Day... MiHale Aug 8 #18

Thank you very much, MiHale, your post is very interesting about the early dismissals during harvest, debm55 Aug 8 #32

Up until my senior year in high school it was the Tuesday after Labor Day. rsdsharp Aug 8 #20

That is very similar to my experience at Penn State. I didn't mind going in August as the classrooms had AC. But they debm55 Aug 8 #34

Here in Huntsville, in the 60s and 70s House of Roberts Aug 8 #21

Oh my, House of Roberts. . I think that is way too early.Is there a reason for that. In PA you must get 180 days in debm55 Aug 8 #42

I think another reason for the early start was to allow for snow days yellowdogintexas Aug 8 #56

Thank you very much for your post, yellowdogintexas. Yes, here where I taught, we only had 2 days built in.I don;t know debm55 Aug 8 #58

Before. Built in snow days paleotn Aug 8 #23

Yes, I remember snow days in Jr and Sr. High. as we had to ride buses to school. Two built in snow days were built into debm55 Aug 8 #43

Greater Rochester area in western upstate NY. Always after Labor Day 3catwoman3 Aug 8 #24

I remember those days too, with no pants for girls even in the freezing weather. In my Junior year of HS we were allowed debm55 Aug 8 #53

After Labor Day Jilly_in_VA Aug 8 #25

I agree way too early for the grandkids. My schedule was very much like yours. debm55 Aug 8 #55

School ended after Memorial Day weekend Polly Hennessey Aug 8 #26

Same here Polly Hennessey. Thank you debm55 Aug 8 #59

Private (catholic) school so started day after Labor Day and got out rurallib Aug 8 #30

Thank you rurallib. I went to a Catholic grade school, We had Religious and Federal holidays off. That's why we went to debm55 Aug 8 #61

School started just before Labor Day markodochartaigh Aug 8 #33

Thank you very much markodochartaigh. Wow, the LD to the third week of May. A foot or two of snow is a lot for you guys. debm55 Aug 8 #62

Start school SWinter Aug 8 #35

Same here, SWinter, Allegheny County in PA had their County Fair during Labor Day weekend. There were many more farms, debm55 Aug 8 #41

After Labor Day, but we had to walk to school in the snow and it was uphill both ways. Also, there were dinosaurs. surfered Aug 8 #36

HAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAAHHA. I am going to put your in time out. surfered. debm55 Aug 8 #39

Hi Deb! Before: 3rd week in August. We did not have a KitFox Aug 8 #37

Thank you very much KitFox. Did you have a kindergarten in your district? When I went it was more socializing and play. debm55 Aug 8 #38

We didn't have Kindergarten. The district I spent KitFox Aug 8 #60

We started after jmowreader Aug 8 #40

Graduated HS in '74 Pas-de-Calais Aug 8 #44

Our summer vacation was three full months. Out around Memorial Day, back after Labor Day. Emile Aug 8 #45

Agree, with you Emile, three months vacation. debm55 Aug 8 #50

Always after Labor Day. Was ahocked to find out some other States started in Aug! 😮 electric_blue68 Aug 8 #46

Thank you very much, electric_blue68. They have to have AC. debm55 Aug 8 #49

After. If I remember correctly, it was the day after. LoisB Aug 8 #47

Thank you very much LoisB debm55 Aug 8 #48

We always started after Labor Day LetMyPeopleVote Aug 8 #51

Thank you LetMyPeopleVote, We did too. debm55 Aug 8 #66

always the 3rd week in August, even back in the 1950s in Kentucky yellowdogintexas Aug 8 #52

That would make sense , since it is an agricultural area. Thank you very much, yellowdogintexas. debm55 Aug 8 #65

I think it started the day after Labor Day, the doc03 Aug 8 #54

Thank you doc03, that is what I remember too. debm55 Aug 8 #64

Always after! elleng Aug 8 #57

Thank you elleng.When I was in school it was after. When I taught it was before. debm55 Aug 8 #63

My parents married in '54 (after death of my birth mother, ) elleng Aug 8 #67

Thank you for sharing, dear elleng. debm55 Aug 8 #70

Wednesday after Labor Day Eugene Aug 8 #68

Yep, that's about right. Thanks Eugene, debm55 Aug 8 #71

In NJ the rule is to start school on the Wednesday after Labor Day Wicked Blue Aug 8 #69

Both. WestMichRad Aug 8 #72

Always after Labor Day LogDog75 Aug 8 #73

Thank you very much LogDog75, I still that is still early. Long ago. I thought it would be a good idea for year round debm55 Aug 8 #74