Should schools have a day off for Veteran's Day?
By Suzieqmom
@Suzieqmom (2755)
United States
November 13, 2012 3:53pm CST
Here in the United States, we celebrate Veteran's Day on November 11. It is always a federal holiday on that exact day, unless Nov. 11th falls on a Saturday or Sunday; then we have a federal holiday on the following Monday. When I was growing up, schools had the day off so that kids could attend the various towns' Veteran's Day commemorations.
Our town still has a solemn Veteran's Day service to honor our country's armed forces; however, our kids no longer have the day off from school. My son said that he thinks that is awful because it shows that our school district no longer honors our veterans.
However, we have several days off in November every year--2 for our state teachers' convention, two and 1/2 for Thanksgiving, and then almost a week of 1/2 days for parent-teacher conferences. So we probably don't need another day off.
I think that we should cut back on some of our other days off and still honor Veteran's Day by giving the kids the day off, or at least having them attend the town's commemoration. What do you think? Do your kids still have the day off, and should they?
2 people like this
6 responses
@habibti320 (925)
• United States
13 Nov 12
In my city, some schools closed and some did not.
Most of those kids don't know why they had a day off.
1 person likes this
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
14 Nov 12
That seems even worse than having all the schools follow the same policy! Kids should definitely know why the country celebrates Veteran's Day; otherwise it is just a wasted day off.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
13 Nov 12
Personally, I think it is wrong to celebrate anything that ennobles or glorifies war. And while such may be alight for atheists it is unfair to expect Christians to celebrate such. Those that follow Christ cannot take up arms
all the best, urban
@urbandekay (18278)
•
14 Nov 12
"There is a difference between honoring and glorifying war and honoring the men and women who serve and protect our country."
Yes, but do you not feel that the latter will deteriorae in to the former?
all the best, urban
@urbandekay (18278)
•
16 Nov 12
I am inclined to think then that you are rare amongst people, who sadly unlike yourself, make no such fine distinction. Where they so to do then many things might be better. We can love the sinner whilst abhorrent the sin
all the best, urban
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
14 Nov 12
There is a difference between honoring and glorifying war and honoring the men and women who serve and protect our country. I am generally opposed to war in principle but still value the sacrifices that the members of our armed forced must make. We would not have freedom of religion (or any other freedom) if we didn't have people protecting those freedoms.
@AmbiePam (93314)
• United States
14 Nov 12
I don't think they should have the day off. They get Memorial Day off (thus honoring those who have served. If they did let kids out of school the majority would have asbolutely nothing to do with Veteran's Day. Some kids might show some iniative and do something to honor the veterans, but for the most part they wouldn't. If I were a kid I'd want the day off. As an adult I don't think it is needed.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
14 Nov 12
That's a valid point--generally every student has off for Memorial Day. We have a parade in our town and lots of kids participate, by marching with their sports teams, scouts, bands, or other groups, and they stay to watch the laying of the wreath and the rest of the service.
The Veteran's Day service is similar; but of course many less kids participate since they are in school. Whether they would do anything if they had the day off is a good question. I think a good compromise would be to have the schools go on a mini filed trip to watch the town's commemoration, and then have them go back to school.
On the other hand, I kind of think that all government and civic offices and schools and such should be closed on all of our federal holidays. I don't really think they should get to pick and choose; I think that becomes something of a slippery slope; some towns, counties, states etc. could then force all of their workers (as opposed to essential personnel) to work on any or all of the federal holidays.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
14 Nov 12
it is a federal holiday here in Canada as well but that is pretty much the extent of it. the kids still go to school and everything pretty much carries on as normal except for a few lucky few. however, i did hear that they were tabling a motion to make Remembrance Day here in Canada a holiday which would be very nice!
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
14 Nov 12
What is Remembrance Day--is it the same as Veteran's Day or something different?
Sounds like Canada and the US treat this pretty much the same....
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
13 Nov 12
I don't know about American holidays, but for Hungarian holidays we get fairly several days off, and giving too many days off just result in the kids learning less... there are holidays for which we don't get a day off, but there's a commemoration of it on the school radio or a little gala in the school for 2 hours or something. I think it's a pretty good idea to balance between giving a day off or no.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
14 Nov 12
That's not a bad idea...even if they did some sort of commemoration at school, or let the kids go to the township one (like a field trip) then I think that would be ok. But since it is a federal holiday, I kind of think it should be a school holiday too.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
13 Nov 12
I think the kids get many days off.. that they dont even know why. If a student had a grand father or family member who was a war vet. id say give them the day off from school. But to just give 99% a day off from school... makes no sence to me.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
14 Nov 12
But don't you think all kids should learn to honor the people who fight for our country? I agree that they should know WHY they get Veteran's Day off (and every other holiday); it makes it more meaningful for them.
