Whether you’re traveling, catching up on your show, or hanging out with friends and family, February breaks offer time to relax and reset. But, its origins have nothing to do with academics and instead economics.
In 1973, the Yom Kippur War occurred, with the United States being a loyal ally to the Israeli military by supplying funds and weapons. The Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) exported oil to the United States. Once Israel received news of the support from the U.S. to Arabia, they ordered an embargo, leaving America in a financial crisis. This embargo ultimately quadrupled the price of oil, leaving numerous businesses to shut down which forced families into poverty. In order to decrease the needed demand for oil, February break was born. Schools are one of the top infrastructures to suck away energy, as the buildings are constantly being heated or conditioned with cool air. Shutting down schools would conserve energy, forcing the amount of oil needed to decline. Most states adopted this plan early on including New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, and eventually others.
The 1973 Oil Crisis officially ended the following year, in March of 1974. So, why is February break still an annual event 50 years later? It is a beneficial way to maintain energy costs, and honestly, it gives the students and teachers a vital mental break. Even though shutting down schools during the winter can reduce costs of energy and heating, numerous people see it as a way to put their daily life activities such as work, school, and sports, on hold–a welcome respite during the winter season when mental health declines
For Sophomore Anella Cavalieri, “Having the break was so helpful for my mental health and I feel like I came back from the break feeling ready to learn. Without the break, I could definitely see myself not being able to work to my full potential.” The stressors that high school brings certainly catch up to as the year hits its midway point, thus leading students to view February Break positively.
“Personally, I love February break,” says sophomore Shannon Gilliland. “I travel with my family and I can take a full brain break, which really helps me reset for the upcoming months of school work.”
While the break seems vital for students, as they do not have another break from school after Holiday recess until April, and the upcoming months relay a heavier workload, others would prefer those days off at a different time of year “I don’t think having an entire week is necessary,” says Alexa Greig, senior. “I would much rather end school a week earlier in June than have school off in a random week in February.” Having a week off in February means that the year ends later to see that all 180 days are completed, which cuts into Summer Break.
The week given as a break by the Ramapo and Indian Hills school district in February can be controversial due to its potentially outdated origins, but still, this break gives students needed time to reset.
