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She was an elementary school counselor and the school was working under a federal program as a test. Many of the students in that part of Pasco County, Florida, were the children of migrant workers. The four term program worked better with their schedule of moving from place to place and with four shorter terms, the children had a better chance of finishing a course of study before their families left to go to a different part of the state or country.
The students and their families were all very happy with four terms - fall, winter, spring, and summer. Any student could go four terms a year or only three which allowed for an extended vacation if desired (or affordable). The teachers also liked it since they could work full time instead of nine months a year - or, as with the students, they could opt for a term off.
At the same time at Florida State University, I also had four terms. While many students opted to take summers off, when I was attending (between drop outs, 
) I went year round. For more diligent students, they could graduate a year early by going all four terms if they wanted, though the classes available during the summer were limited. But summers were great for special projects or off campus things, such as archeology digs away from Tallahassee.
I think four term years for all levels of school are ideal. For one thing, there are still weeks in between terms, so kids get more balanced breaks than they do now.
