Should schools be closed on Veterans' Day?
By Suzieqmom
@Suzieqmom (2755)
United States
November 10, 2010 9:28pm CST
Tomorrow, November 11, is Veterans' Day in the United States. It is a federal holiday--banks, post offices, and other government offices are closed. However, for schools, it is now an "optional" federal holiday, meaning they can choose to remain open. Our town is having its annual Veterans' Day memorial program, but the schools in our district have opted to remain open, so my children will be going to school. I personally think this is one of the more important non-religious federal holidays, and believe the schools should be closed, so that families can observe this holiday in any way they see fit. What do you think?
4 responses
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
11 Nov 10
I used to have it off when I worked for the State.
It is also the anniversary of Scamp's rescue. 13 yrs ago my friend, Elaine, rescued this little, LOUD, black kitten from the parking lot of her condo complex.
I lost her almost a year later, but I still have my sweet, LOUD black Scamp!
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
11 Nov 10
Sounds like a special day for you--lots of bittersweet memories. I am not particularly pro-military (or anti-military, either), but my father was a Korean War veteran, and he passed away this year. I would have liked my children to have been able to attend our Veterans' Day tribute in his honor.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
11 Nov 10
my dad was drafted during WWII, but never entered the theater of war - if you consider my luck, he'd been killed and we'd've never been born!
I might make a point of going to the school and make sure there is some remembrance of the day there.
Schools are getting bad about what they celebrate... like do they even KNOW where the name comes from? All Hallow's Eve? or the eve of All Saint's day?
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
12 Nov 10
No, they don't because that would be considered teaching religion in school! 
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
7 Dec 10
The education system doesn't teach kids to be very patriotic these days. most don't even say the Pledge of Alligence anymore. They'd have to tell them why the holiday and they don't want to bother with that.
What annoys me is that they have no problem giving the kids the day off for "teacher in service day" where the teachers have the day to do work without the kids there, but they don't want to give them Veterans Day off. Every day off during the school year they have to make up in the summer as they have to have so many days per school year of in class days. So extend the last day of school into the summer to allow for the teachers to have a couple days a year, but don't honor those that have fought for our freedom.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
8 Dec 10
I know exactly what you mean. The problem with the school calendar became comical in our district last year--we had too may closings due to snow, and not enough allocated snow days. The schools had to give back a day to make sure the kids got their required 180 days, but they couldn't interfere with contractual days off for the teachers, so they ended up making the kids come into school on the WEDNESDAY of Spring Break--but not the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. Go figure!
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
29 Nov 10
I think that is a wonderful idea. I hope Canada decides to do it--and then keeps it a holiday.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
12 Nov 10
I agree with you. I'm not sure why public schools have the option to stay open.
