This idea has been brewing around in my mind for a while. As we busy ourselves in Palo Alto for back to school tomorrow, for four days and then a long weekend which is now really quite defunct as a time to go away, moving the holiday to August would give us the psychological readiness we are used to. The four day week may be a good idea for the first week of school for many reasons, but two four day weeks much make it more difficult for the administration. Even the local stores would probably do really well with Labor Day preceeding the school year and those parents who work full time have the benefit of the long weekend as the time to do all the back to school shopping. For those who want a last weekend away, the extra day would make it more meaningful. Even those who celebrate Labor Day in its true meaning, would probably celebrate more wholeheartedly if it wasn't back in the school year.
Many people who don't have children in school would probably bemoan the change out of traditional reasons, and there is nothing wrong with being traditional. I am just looking at this in a more practical sense and feel that my family would definitely enjoy having school start after Labor Day and getting down to business without the impending day off and the feel that school starts too early.
If we can't change the school year, maybe we should change the holiday.
