More school days?

With all the talk of lengthening the school year, nothing is ever reported about the fact that a 200-day school year was common in the United States in the 1930s. It would be helpful to know why and when this was reduced to the present 180-day year. Was it an effort by teachers' unions to win more time off, or was it thought to be desirable for children to have more free time, or was it an attempt to save money? E. Edwards, Doylestown, Pa.

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