US 1, CN 0: School on weekends.

a point to the US for NOT having federal control of all schools everywhere and their calendars.

Our company, which runs 8 schools in China, has been informed today, two weeks into the school year, by email that the government is mandating changes to the school calendar in the following ways:
Because some holidays fall mid-week, the schools are required to give additional days off so that people can travel, meaning a one-day holiday on a Wednesday means no school Monday and Tuesday as well. Okay, sure, that's nice. People like to take advantage of holidays. But you what they've decided is required to happen to make up for those days? SCHOOL ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. ... I'm sorry, WHAT?

Not only have people already made travel plans based on the GOVERNMENT's holiday schedule, but teachers and administrators (and everyone in corporate) are now required by law to work on a weekend, meaning 7 consecutive days of work, because their holiday falls on a Wednesday. This is perhaps the first time in my life I appreciate Evanston, IL's completely shameless moving of holidays to accommodate their schedules. In Evanston, for example, October 31st may be a Wednesday, but Halloween is officially November 2nd (from 4-6pm). Previously, I thought that was obnoxious. and sort of cheating.

However, I now feel that this method is far superior to forcing a 7 day work week so people can travel on a wednesday.

Grrr. Argh.

CN 0, US 1.