Why so many young American girls in Rome?
 

Last weekend (June 5-8) in Rome, we kept on finding ourselves next to American family groups.

A huge proportion included an early teenager - usually a girl - and all (eavesdropping on their conversations) seemed to be on holiday: they weren't Roman residents (though they may have been expatriates elsewhere in Europe). Almost no other nationality in family groups near us in hotels, archaeological sites, restaurants or churches included early teenagers.

European kids' absence was unsurprising. The cycle of Easter to May ponti (those holiday weekends Continentals stretch out) was, except where Corpus Christi's a public holiday, over: schools don't break up for another month and in some countries June's core exam time.

But American 14 yo's? Is it normal - as till recently it was in Britain - for American parents to take children out of school for family holidays? Or is there some mid-term break I've not previously encountered?

I think they were groupies, clearly in awe of your posts on here.

IT must have just killed you to be so near to so many "stupid Americans" as you continually describe us, Flanner, and to have been eavesdropping on the conversations as well. Wow.

Schools let out for the summer at various times. It is entirely a local issue. District, county, or in some cases state. Some in late May and some as late as mid-June. In my immediate area schools until recently let out around the last week in May. Now they've extended the school year through the first full week in June. But the next nearest school district -- just a few miles away - they were out May 27.

Graduations range over about a 4 week period from mid-May thru mid-June.

Many of not most Americans go into 'summer mode' Memorial Day weekend. Many go on holiday as soon as the schools are out so it wouldn't surprise me to see lots of American families on tour.

Janis is correct; schools now end at a varying times. I have 3 girls in teaching professions; one was done Memorial Day, one yesterday, and one next week. So early June is not too early to see families in Rome.

They were in Rome because they thought you were in London.

"Graduations range over about a 4 week period from mid-May thru mid-June."

On dear Flanner, looks like the third week of January is the only time to avoid the groupies.

We saw large numbers in Venice a few years ago, too, and wondered the same thing.

The academic calendars vary greatly in the US, even within a city. Public, parochial, and independent schools can differ by as much as 3-4 weeks. My high school son finished May 21 and my middle-schooler's final day was May 28, so we left for vacation on May 31.

Yep. My local school district is out before Memorial Day (May 25 this year) but will be back in school by the second week of August. A friend of mine from Philadelphia was just here and said his kids won't get out till next week but won't go back till after Labor Day (September 7 this year).

Read <i>Daisy Miller</i>.

Senior trips and club trips also can take place a few weeks before regular school is out - today where I live.

Beware - I'm coming next week with three granddaughters - ages 19, 14 and 12!!!!

Poor flanneruk - couldn't see the usual sights with his eyes peeled on young lasses!

The dates are spread out when US schools finish, but I think finishing school somewhere in the first week of June is most common.

Flanner may be interested in what God has to say about the UK
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/12/op...ml?ref=opinion

Much of the differences in dates relate to the location in the U.S. as well. Much of the difference relates to a/c and the need for it during summer. Older districts in the norther climes can go later in the year June, because they don't have issues with unconditioned schools aren't as likely to get hot in late spring, and the start after September to be closer to the end of summer for the same reasons - heat and the lack of a/c.

In new districts, a/c may be available in all buildings, so when school starts isn't an issue. I can remember my days in high school ending at the end of May/ early June and starting in September. Now, the same school district has a/c in all buildings, so school starts in August and out in May.

I'm not sure why only 14 yo GIRLS are taking trips to Rome with their parents.

I don't understand this post. It just sounds creepy to me - overtly observing families with teenage girls to the point of actually posting about it. Am sure there were equally as many teenage boys (I travel to Rome often with my own, fancy that).
Some people take their children out of school a little early to take advantage of cheaper flights and as everyone above has said, different areas break for summer at different times.

Schools in the US get out for summer from mid May to late June, return to school. Id August to early September. It depends on which area of the US they live in.

Does this mean we can expect a trip report?

Flanner you need to understand that the US is actually a confederation of state and MANY thing are controlled by each state or even each school district. And obviously different levels (elementary, middle and high school) as well as colleges can all operate on different schedules. And parochial and private schools operate on different schedules from public ones.

Part of this is a relic of being an agricultural economy - with schools closing earlier in the south and midwest - while those in the northeast are often later.

In some places schools close early to mid May while in NYC and area they last until mid/late June - and also start later - usually not until several days after labor day.

Also the other school holidays - except Thanksgiving and Christmas - intercession and spring break also differ by part of the country and individual districts.