Quebec schools close for holidays during the first week of March. Here are five reasons why it's a terrible policy that hurts people and the economy.
1-It hurts the poor School officials justify the early break on the basis that poor families can't afford activities with their kids when the holiday is held later because the poor receive their entire income at the start of the month and - by this logic - have already spent that money later in the month. No actual study or research, as far as we can find, ever determined whether this is truth or myth. But if true, scheduling spring break early leads disadvantaged families to blow their monthly budget early, thus leaving their cupboards bare and their children hungry for the rest of the month.
2-It hurts the economy Many wealthy families use the spring break to visit warm, tropical places rather than spend their money at home where it can benefit restaurants, retail stores and other local commerce. If the break were held later, those same families would be less tempted to flee to warmer places. Those trips are harmful to the Canadian economy which already suffers a massive tourism deficit of over $14 billion annually according to 2010 government statistics.
3-It feeds jealousy and resentment Holding spring break at a time when the wealthy leave for warmer climes only increases the resentment, depression, sadness and jealousy felt by the less affluent students towards their international jetset classmates, which has been amplified by the advent of travel boast posts on social media.
4-It's supposed to a spring break not winter break The first week of March is considerably colder than any other time later in the period. Even holding even it a single week later would open up opportunities for kids to get outside away from their computer screens.
5-Other places do it later. Spring break in the United States is often held around Easter, which is in April and they do fine with it.