One thing about Minnesota that all schoolchildren appreciate: two days in mid-October.

Each year, all the public schools in the state are closed on a Thursday and Friday for what's called MEA. I guess it's two days that the state education association meets, though I've never heard of any teacher who goes to it. Still, all across the state you know no one's in school those two days. Kind of unique. Usually the district I grew up in works it out so that at least part of Wednesday, or sometimes more, are also off. One year we had the whole week.