Connecticut school district facing backlash after stripping Veterans Day, Columbus Day from holiday calendar
By: nypost (New York Post)
What in the absolute hell...........................
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A Connecticut school district is facing backlash after deciding to strip Veterans and Columbus Days from its official holiday calendar in a controversial vote by the school board last week.
Students at Stamford public schools will no longer get the day off on both holidays for the next two school years after the board voted 5-3 to remove them on Tuesday night, the Stamford Advocate reported.
Board member Joshua Esses made a motion to wipe the holidays from the school calendar at Tuesday's meeting, arguing that the school year cut too far into the summer — ending in mid-June.
"We should make it shorter because it's better educationally for our students," Esses said of the school year — which is required by state law to have at least 180 teaching days for students, according to the local newspaper.
He also suggested cutting the religious holidays Eid al-Fitr and the second day of Rosh Hashanah from the list of official holidays with the same justification — but that motion received no support, the outlet reported.
Esses noted that Veterans Day and Columbus Day would instead be recognized and celebrated with lesson plans about the meaning of each on the day of, a state requirement.
Still, the board's decision — which was discussed at another meeting earlier this month when brought up by a different member — garnered outrage from veterans and Italian-Americans.
Veteran Alfred Fusco, a founding member of the Stamford chapter of the Italian-American service organization UNICO, told ABC7 that the school district's announcement was a double whammy.
4Alfred Fusco, a veteran and founding member of Stamford's chapter of the Italian-American service organization UNICO, told the outlet the move was a "gut punch" to him. abc7ny4A Stamford, Connecticut school board ignited a "calendar controversy" after voting to remove the Veterans Day and Columbus Day holidays. cityofstamford
"It was a gut punch. It was terrible. It had no inclination," Fusco told the station.
The school district defended its decision when reached by The Post, noting that other districts in the state already keep schools open on the two holidays.
"Stamford Public Schools already hosts many events in recognition of our local veterans, and we look forward to continuing that tradition on Veterans' Day in 2024 and 2025," a spokesperson for Stamford Public Schools said in a statement.
"In addition, our Teaching and Learning Department will be working to develop programming about Columbus Day that will be presented to students in recognition of that federal holiday."
A large part of the debate focused on the particular role of Columbus Day, which has been rejected by some Americans in recent years in favor of Indigenous People's Day due to the sordid history surrounding Italian explorer Christopher Columbus' treatment of native peoples.
4One board member cited the length of the 181-day school year that would last into mid-June, arguing that the schedule is too long. abc7ny4Versha Munshi-South said she observed a class lesson titled "Columbus: Hero or Villian?" at Dolan Middle School which made her rethink the holiday. Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The other board member Versha Munshi-South said she observed a class lesson titled "Columbus: Hero or Villian?" at Dolan Middle School which made her rethink the holiday.
"The students were using primary sources to investigate the true history of Columbus and I can tell you that based on primary source research, no, they did not conclude that Columbus was a hero," Munshi-South said, according to the Advocate.
"I don't think it makes sense to teach students one thing in class and then have Columbus Day off. It's a mixed message for students," she said.
Another member of the school board, however, said that she saw Columbus as a hero and thought polarization on the issue should not inform their decision.
"There's a lot of polarization with curriculums, so to paint Columbus as a villain is because of the polarization and I think we can't be doing that publicly," Becky Hamman said, the outlet reported.
"On Tuesday, January 23, the Stamford BOE approved the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Stamford Public Schools calendars following passage of a motion to have schools remain open on Columbus Day and Veterans Day," a spokesperson for Stamford Public Schools said in a statement.
"Several neighboring districts already keep schools open on Columbus Day and/or Veterans Day, and both Columbus Day and Veterans Day will be acknowledged on the Stamford Public Schools calendar with other holidays and religious observances that occur when school is in session."
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Stupid is as stupid does...................SMMFH
Teachers don't want to give up their free summers. Just imagine what would happen if schools were open year round. Having to work a full year? Inhumane.
The school should just drop days off all together.
No Christmas break, no MLK day, no spring break, and if the US Postal service recognizes it as a holiday they can't have it off.
That should get them out of school on time.
Typically hyperbolic and entirely inappropriate...
Coming from Captain Meme that is the height of hypocrisy.
That any schools anywhere still closed down for Veterans and Columbus Day is very surprising...
Where are those days still official school holiday?
They surely don't get those days off in Oklahoma.
So, anything to get old MAGA riled up! Am I right?
Will Biden lose the World War One Veteran votes?
Lawton did when I was in that area.
No, they did not in Lawton Public Schools.
OK public Schools do not honor all Federal holidays. Fort Sill does, not Lawton schools.
Texas Schools do not close for either either.
So you are going to tell me that a city with a high concentration of VETERANS isn't going to celebrate Veterans Day? Try again. I'm not one of your gullible lemmings.
No, basically he’s calling you a liar and he will get away with it here. A sad reality on NTers.
Is this the district you’re referring too? If so, you’re correct. Veterans Day is still listed as a holiday.
I'm sure there is an apology forthcoming..................../s
Someone should do a wellness check on Jeremy, might have passed out holding his breath waiting on one.
It's all about who the favorites are. Nothing new really.
I call it tactical moderation. In other words, stealth censorship.
Look at that!!!!! Somebody proved wrong (yet again). And to not be heard from for a while.
LMAO. We stand a better chance of Joe Biden doing something right than we do of seeing that apology.
Yep, mention democrats and it is a sweeping generalization, republicans are fair game. Death wishing is apparently okay as long as it's conservative posters and not Palestinian terrorists.
Why would it be surprising that we wouldn't have a day to honor veterans or a day to honor what was once one of the greatest discoveries in the world?
We have a federal holiday on November 11th but I was unaware public schools anywhere still closed for Veterans and Columbus Days.
You know it and yet want to make hay of if!
School close Memorial Day. That is enough.
Armistice Day? November 11th? There are too many school holidays in the Fall for that...
Columbus Day is only a thing in a few cities where there are lots of Italians. We never got it off school, though my dad was off because it was a Federal Holiday, and dad was a Fed...
odd language , since Columbus only "discovered" America for largely white Europe. Columbus Day is only used to celebrate Italian heritage now, and there are other worthy Italian Americans who could take his place.
[✘]
That deletion is Bullshit Bullshit Bullshit!
Where are Armistice and Columbus Days still public school holidays anymore?
If you are going to get all perturbed about this, why are they not school holidays in Texas or Oklahoma? Does it bother you?
Armistice Day commemorates the end of WWI
School close Memorial Day. That is enough.
Says who? Bill Ayers?
though my dad was off because it was a Federal Holiday, and dad was a Fed...
My sister worked for the federal government. She got every holiday off, major, minor or imagined. She retired at 52 a lifelong democrat.
The exact teaching of Marxist professors.
and people who know and understand history.
Why would European countries not celebrate Columbus as much or more than Americans do?
Because "Columbus" is American myth making which is used to justify manifest destiny.
Nope.
That's an easy one.
The continent of Europe wasn't discovered by Columbus, America was.
Because "Columbus" is American myth making which is used to justify manifest destiny.
As opposed to demographics being destiny
Armistice Day, November 11th IS Veteran's Day! Where do schools close November 11?
So fuck all Veterans that didn’t die eh?
Sounds very Trumpian …..
Do your local schools close for Veteran's Day? I cannot find they do anywhere...
Best you should call YOUR school board!
Kids get off for two days Thanksgiving...
The do not get off on November the 11th!
Take you false outrage and can that crap!
No we didn’t but we also didn’t get Mlk Jr, Presidents’ Day or Junteenth off either. You have no cogent point here
Yeah, about what I would expect. Weak, very weak sauce.
It seems to me that you are actually agreeing with his point.
We celebrate it because got votes for two presidents.
The first national Columbus Day was proclaimed in 1892 by Republican President Benjamin Harrison to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Italian-born explorer Christopher Columbus’s supposed discovery of America. It also helped to resolve a diplomatic crisis with Italy as well as gain support among Italian American voters – after 11 was killed on a New Orleans riot.
Then 42 years latter, before another election:
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Whereas Public Resolution 21, Seventy-third Congress, approved April 30, 1934, provides:
"That the President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation designating October 12 of each year as Columbus Day and calling upon officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on said date and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies expressive of the public sentiment befitting the anniversary of the discovery of America.";
Now, Therefore, I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the aforesaid public resolution, do by this proclamation designate October 12 of each year as Columbus Day and do direct that on that day the flag of the United States be displayed on all Government buildings; and, further, I do invite the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies in schools and churches, or other suitable places.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington this 30th day of September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and thirty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and fifty-ninth.
Signature of Franklin D. Roosevelt
FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT
A few years later, another FDR proclamation
The voyage of Christopher Columbus and his diminutive fleet toward the unknown west was not only a prelude to a new historical era. For the brave navigator it was the culmination of years of bold speculation, careful preparation, and struggle against opponents who had belittled his great plan and thwarted its execution.
Expounding the strange doctrine that beyond the ocean stood solid, habitable earth, Columbus had first to make his views plausible to his doubting patrons and then to overcome the seemingly endless array of obstacles with which men of little minds barred the way to the fitting out of a fleet. Even when the three small ships were well away on their epoch-making course the crews mutinied and demanded that he turn back. Columbus, however, held to his course and on the morning of October 12, 1492, the welcome land was sighted.
The courage and the faith and the vision of the Genoese navigator glorify and enrich the drama of the early movement of European people to America. Columbus and his fellow voyagers were the harbingers of later mighty movements of people from Spain, from Columbus's native Italy and from every country in Europe. And out of the fusion of all these national strains was created the America to which the Old World contributed so magnificently.
This year when we contemplate the estate to which the world has been brought by destructive forces, with lawlessness and wanton power ravaging an older civilization, and with our own republic girding itself for the defense of its institutions, we can revitalize our faith and renew our courage by a recollection of the triumph of Columbus after a period of grievous trial.
The promise which Columbus's discovery gave to the world, of a new beginning in the march of human progress, has been in process of fulfillment for four centuries. Our task is now to make strong our conviction that in spite of setbacks that process will go on toward fulfillment.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Statement on Columbus Day
Columbus Day and Veterans Day are Federal holidays. Eid al-Fitr and Rosh Hashanah are not Federal holidays and are not recognized as national holidays.
The school board is talking about only two days. And the school board is obviously using this to make a political statement. The arguments are not about education or what's best for students. Why not shut down the schools entirely and avoid the conflict? Don't charter schools do a lot better anyway? So, whack the student's and parent's national cultural traditions and deny them the ability to choose to go elsewhere. Tell us again how liberals defend and protect democracy.
Must have to do with percentages. Represent 13% of the population, get the day off. Represent 6%, no soup for you …..
Back in about 2 hrs
They’ve been doing this in colleges for years. When you have short semesters or quarters, and only a couple of days per week for class, every session is precious. The holidays still exist (faculty and staff still want holiday pay) but they are “observed” during times like winter break, when there are no classes. Look at a college catalog sometime and you might see Veterans Day or Columbus Day observed on something like December 27.
I’ll support Veterans Day forever, but Columbus Day is kind of dumb. Not because he wasn’t a nice person or he was cruel to natives. You could say that about any explorer from that age. It’s dumb because it has such a thin connection to the United States. He landed in the Caribbean. He was never on the land that became the United States.
And even if he had landed in Virginia, or some nearby place, he hardly seems worthy of holiday-level respect. He was not this brilliant earth scientist and navigator. He had no clue where he had landed. He thought he was basically in Japan. When I was a kid, they were still telling this fable that Columbus proved the world was round. That’s nonsense. People knew the world was round. They also knew it was way bigger than Columbus thought it was.
They didn’t go sailing west to get to the East because they quite sensibly figured that they couldn’t stock ships for such a long journey. Imagine sailing halfway around the planet in shitty 15th-century sailing vessels. You’d be on the ocean for like a year with no land around. The thing they didn’t know was that the American continents were there.
Columbus was neither smart nor brave. He got lucky.
I’ll give Columbus accidental credit for sparking exploration into the Americas, generally. But honestly, if he hadn’t done it, somebody else soon would have. They probably would have set out in bigger boats, though.
Nothing in the actual history of Christopher Columbus tells me we need to set aside a national holiday for him. You’d have to invent a myth to make it worthwhile. Which is what people did.