Thursday, January 29, 2009

Illinois School District Nixes Veterans Day

H/T to Neal Boortz who found this story.

One school district in Illinois has decided to take Veterans Day off the calendar of holidays for the future with the explanation that the students just don't understand the significance of the day.

School board members in District 300 have taken away a school holiday next year claiming students don’t understand the meaning behind the day.
Here are some questions for the school district. Who is responsible for teaching the children what this day means? If the students are not taking the day off, can we expect that instead the schools will tie in their teaching on this day to Veterans Day like they incorporate black heritage themes in the month of February to everything? Will any special recognition be given during the day to veterans? Or is the intent of the school district to completely wipe the observance of this day from the collective memory of their future community organizers?

They say they will honor veterans during class on that day but I remain skeptical.

And this is why.
A national tour featuring decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan won't be stopping at Forest Lake Area High School today as planned, after school leaders abruptly canceled the visit.

Steve Massey, the school principal, said the decision to cancel was prompted by concerns that the event was becoming political rather than educational and therefore was not suitable for a public school.

No comments: