In Virginia public schools are prohibited from starting kids back to school until after Labor Day.  (There are exemptions that can be granted - but they seldom are.)

Is this to give the kids and teachers and families a nice summer break? No. 

Is this to save money on air conditioning the buildings on the last hot days of August? No. 

Is this to allow desperately poor children a chance to earn money their families need?  No

The purpose is to maintain a labor force of minimum wage workers (high school kids) for the tourist business.  In Virgnia we know what is important.

  Bob Yates <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> _One_ of the many factors militating against success in our
schools is the pressure young people feel to work during their high school and college years.

I have just spent 3 1/2 weeks with college students from the USA, Mexico, and Poland. None of the Poles (most of them in their early 20s) has had a real job of any kinds. Of course, part of this is due to the economic situation in Poland, but some of has to be due to expectations. Clearly, many Americans work to have a certain lifestyle and others work because they have to. Given the strong message in the States on self-reliance and the felt need to be independent, I am not quite sure how this will change.

Bob Yates, Central Missouri State University