Hello, such a long time that I haven't written something!
Summer holiday comes. Do you know how school holidays are organised?
Let's go to the past!
When school became compulsory to everybody, The government took account about farmers who needed their children to help them to work in the fields. So the government decided to give several days to children. Step by step, holidays in summer became longer to be maintened up to 2 months.
Nowadays
Between the beginning of the academic year and the summer holidays, children has half term and term holidays. Although the laicity is very present, holidays matches with religious (christian) events. Terms and half terms last about 15 days. On winter time, some French people go to ski. Some community centres organise ski travel from 1 day to several days. In half term holidays, pupils have not the same periods. Academic zones are divided in 3 zones. When zone 1 is on holidays, one week later will be zone 2 then a week later will be zone 3 for example.In the eighties, holidays still last 2 months. In the 2000, summer holidays began on July 2nd. Now academic year finish at the end the first week on July. The National Education is thinking about to shorten summer holidays to 6 weeks.
What do people do?
Most of people in France goes to holidays. Some choose to go to the sea side or to have a stay at the mountains. But some choose another destination like Paris or other touristic destination within France or in other countries.
Busy parents or not! send their children to summer camps. It is often with the agreement of children. Or they send them to relatives: grandparents, aunts and uncles or cousins.
Unfortunatly some can't afford to go somewhere. Municipalities organise clubs for children through Communities centers or directly by them. Children do sport, art, cooking activities or they travel one day or several days.
Some charity organisations like "secours Populaire" offers holidays to families having benefits, so that everybody enjoys their summer holidays.
Children and teenagers come back to school on September.
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