I know this is not a main point but in this thread it is a recurring side point – I personally am tired of sending my kids to school for longer hours and more school days just because someone else don’t want to pay a baby sitter. I LIKE having my kids home. My kids NEED a break from school and I consider the time off to be crucial to developing a relationship and passing down the families values. Regardless how I fund that, someone’s need to have them in school should not override my need to have them home. The school year should not be set up to give less childcare days to working parents (which I am). It is already too long (both the days and the year) and should be set up to serve the best interest of the kids and their teachers.
And btw, I did open up my own school (a pre-school)and it was great but when the teachers insisted I pay their childcare in addition to their higher salaries I couldn’t make the budget work.
And as a personal aside, I am very thankful for that extra isru chag day off so I don’t have to stay up til 4 a.m. getting the laundry done and the learning program sheets filled out while I am cleaning up from ‘yuntiff’.