This has been shown to be incorrect. In the late 1800's there was actually a summer term at some county schools, usually extending from early June until the end of August. And oddly, some school sessions were based on the lunar calendar. Yes, the attendance period recorded in the ledger book might begin on the fifth of September and continue until the second of October. Mimi asks if anyone can suggest a reason for the lunar calendar in a ledger book.
Research often brings surprises.
In most instances, it happened because of the influx of German and Irish immigrants, who came to work on the canal in the 1800's. They had children lots of them. And they had to be educated. Mimi's research turned up data on one teacher, F. P. Galpin, who at times had as many as 92 pupils. It is not known if the teacher was male or female.