Children are going back to school today in French-speaking Belgium, when is it in your European country?

In Germany, it's different from state to state - some children have been back in school since 31 July (Saxony), while others still have their holidays until 9 September (Bavaria).

But it's six weeks everywhere, so some start very early while others finish quit late.

It's on next monday in France. On the 19th of August in Switzerland, Vaud district.

Apparently it was either last week Wednesday or Thursday here in Germany (North-Rhine-Westfalia). At least that's what I heard from colleagues who actually have kids 😬

Does it vary by Lander in Germany?

It's the case in Belgium, Dutch speakers only go back next week (and no idea about the German speakers)
- Yeah, it varies by state in an effort to not overwhelm the roads and travel destinations.
- Yes, it varies by federal state. I'm in Bavaria and we are always the last with the summer holidays.
  
  We always start in the second week of September, this year it's Tuesday 10.Sept.
  By then all german schools should be open.

One week ago in Sweden. Summer vacation started June 12th.

Ireland: Some secondary schools started back late last week. My own secondary level kids were today. Primary kids are this coming Wednesday.

Next Monday in Canada.

Also Canada, but next Wednesday. Monday is labour day, Tuesday is PD day.
- Completely forgot about Labour Day. Not sure if Tuesday is a PD Day. I'm in Ontario.

It’s today in Ohio (though different school districts go back in on different days, so it’s not even uniform across the state).

That is a weird European country, I've never heard about it. Do you speak french there?
- Huh, I somehow missed that key identifier, I could’ve sworn it said something more generic when I first saw the post, like just, “your country”. Whatever, I lived in Europe for years, I’m practically family.

Seems like Germany has a good idea to vary it, to reduce pressure on travel. However we should think bolder still, reimagine the whole timing of the academic year which derived from nineteenth century traditions when children helped plant and gather crops. Now instead we should consider climate change, and July became too hot for comfortable travel in most of continental europe. So it would be better to have long holidays in May-June and maybe September, while also investing in cooling for school buildings (maybe more practical than for small homes).