The reason why us Americans have a long summer vacation is that kids were historically needed to help on the family farm. Right? According to a new book by a historian at the City University of New York, "this popular folklore on the origins of the school calendar is not entirely accurate." Turns out, the Hamptons are really to blame: "At the turn of the 20th Century, there was a growing desire to flee cities during the summer months, particularly among the more affluent members of society" and "city school calendars generally accommodated the needs and desires of wealthy families." [Huffington Post]
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