How are you observing Veterans Day today?
The General Assembly hopes that families will use the day to honor the nation's military veterans. That's why state legislators have amended the calendar law over the years to make Veterans Day a school holiday for students and staff.
No such status has been designated for Memorial Day. That's why, as some of you have complained about, Memorial Day (May 25, 2009) is a regular day of classes this school year for tracks 1, 3 and 4 for year-round students.
Memorial Day is a vacation day for traditional-calendar schools, meaning a day off for both students and staff.
In past years, Memorial Day has been a teacher workday/weather makeup day for traditional-calendar schools so classes have sometimes been held. Attendance has been pretty low that day.
It remains to be seen how many year-round students will be in class on Memorial Day. Classes usually aren't held on Memorial Day at year-round schools.
Comments
All our complaints aimed at WCPSS, seem small compared to this
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 17:15 — Voice_of_Reason_I bet everyone who voted in the last election saw this coming: see the video {click} be sure to watch it in it's entirety. Maybe the economy in the tank has a silver lining. This is scary stuff.
VOR... you didn't know
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 18:10 — rr77rr99VOR... you didn't know about this?
Did you know the $4,000 college "tax credit" is contingent upon 1,000 hours of "voluntary" community service?
In fact, did you hear about the proposals for "required" community service?
Yep. I bet all the educated voters who cast their vote for knew all those fine details... what 53% of the voters in the United States who cast that vote are very happily ready to anty up before they "collect" their OB Bucks.
:)
I guess now my Chicken Little friend will be cutting me down.. bonk, there goes another piece of sky hitting me in the head again... ouch.
Service for College credit OK in my book BUT
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 09:37 — Voice_of_Reason_It's the civilian defense corp stuff that is frightening to me. I would also not be surprised if the armed services will have recruiting problems because the future administration has different values than most of the volunteer force. I smell draft in the future, and that will be for BOTH men AND women (The Dems have said as much). I can tell you from someone that was in the armed services just after the last draft, the current volunteer force is vastly superior. I have also worked with other countries that conscript people, and my opinion has been strengthed against the draft.
VOR.. I watched the link
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 09:59 — rr77rr99VOR.. I watched the link posted on here and did some more digging about this "civil defense" thing. I agree with you. It's disturbing and in the audio it was taken almost "flippantly" with the interviewer.
What makes me really sad is, why do people have to be "called upon", "bribed" into or "required" to do "volunteer service"? Where did our society melt down to a point where helping your fellow community member, child, family, whatever, become so wrong?
Isn't community service or The National Guard (paresent civil defense - right?) something that people of their own free will should want to do for their fellow man? As a sense of pride and humanity?
From where I am sitting, (looking at the big hole in the sky), that has deteriorated so much and we're left now with a President who is looking at making these things somewhat mandatory. That's so incredibly sad.
Let's take it down to the WCPSS, since this is the WakeEd blog and all. When schools went MYR there was a reduction in volunteers, when there is a redistricting, a loss of volunteers. Is that becuase that sense of community and purpose was also torn away? Do parents just feel like ... why bother? We will just be jerked around again soon, I am not "investing" my time.
I am just asking. Maybe some of the other bloggers can weigh in on that.
Maybe it's a look into a much bigger problem... the whole country is at a "why bother?" stage?
So call me Chicken Little Too - OR
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 10:30 — Voice_of_Reason_Maybe in the spirit of Paul Revere.
That's not all
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 10:15 — Voice_of_Reason_I have heard President-Elect Obama say :
Link
To me, this is above scary, it's frightening. I just hope economic troubles stop this. God help America.
Correction
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 20:08 — SideburnsCorrection:
The college credit is based on 100 hours of service -- not 1,000 hours. If you're going to complain about it, at least get it right.
Sideburns...sorry, pecking
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 07:37 — rr77rr99Sideburns...sorry, pecking at the key board with my talons (Chickens have large talons... Napoleon says so... if you are over 50 or have no sense of humor about one of the best movies EVER - you will not get that joke).
Anyhoo Sides... yes, I put in an extra zero. Oops. Barry is calling for a plan that would have college students performing 100 service hours a year and middle school students 50 hours a year.
Now, I didn't say I was "complaining" about it. Just stating the fact that the $4,000 "tax credit" is not a "freebie" that so many folks seem to think it is. My children will be working for their college money no matter what - Walmart, community service.. no difference to me.
So, it looks like more folks are joining in pecking me to death. Cool. That with the sky hitting my head all the time I should be good for some disability insurance in no time. :)
Chickie signing off
Correction 2
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 00:35 — g88ky07It is based on the 3rd day, of the 4th month, of an odd numbered year with 7 in the date and 621,332 pieces of crow dung hitting you SQUARE in the head!
After it has hardened and left a mark!
Oh I knew about it and more
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 18:27 — Voice_of_Reason_Yes, I too join the ranks of Chicken Little at the national level. I am disappointed the lack of press and voter ignorance in this election. Oh well, as they say I voted so I have the right to complain. I pity the fools when they realize what they did.
WE celebrated V. Day by
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 10:58 — g88ky07WE celebrated V. Day by marking on our calendar for next year that we will take the day off on Memorial Day '09 at our MYR camp!
Veterans Day
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 17:24 — mommy59As a US veteran I think the schools should be in but instead of classes the schools should have Veterans Day assemblies.In Ohio the middle school that our daughter attened had an assenbly .The staff that were vets were recognized and there was always a speaker.The best was one year I arrived late and you know what happens when you arrive late,you sit in the front.There were chairs set up for Veterans who were family mmembers like grandparents or parents.I sat next to the guest speaker unknown to me until they introduced him,he was a Tuskegee Airman-I had never met one until that day.How exciting for the students to hear one speak.
I agree
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 09:54 — Voice_of_Reason_As a veteran myself, I don't have a problem with school on Veteran's Day. I agree also it would be a great teaching opportunity to help children understand the sacrifices that veterans do for them. To make them understand that our mission is more about keeping the peace and protecting our nation, than killing and destroying our enemies. And what service before self means, among other things.
Moore Square had
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 18:03 — vsheehanAs a family, we sat and
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 17:00 — rr77rr99As a family, we sat and watched Pearl Harbor last night. My teenager got up and left the room unable watch it again (he's seen it before). They showed it one year to the kids in his history class and he said, "All the other kids were sleeping on their desks, and I was the only one watching it, and mom, I started to cry."
My younger children were full of questions... "How many people died" "Why did they do that" "Did we get them back" "Did we go to war" ... it was a teaching lesson for all.
My children know all about where our relatives fought and the sacrifices they made to serve this country. This is why it angers me so much that WCPSS has made Memorial Day a school day. I am thankful we had today off at least, as it was a day to reflect for our family.
I am positive that in the classroom they would not have discussed why we should honor the great soldiers that have protected and are protecting this country and people all over the world... as it would be deemed "offensive" probably to some of the students. That seems to be the big buzz word in schools these days... "offensive". "Don't want to offend."
My children are scheduled to be in school on Memorial Day and I already know, they will not be there. I think in this day and age, teaching children about where this country has come from, and the sacrifices that have been made, and the bravery shown to allow them to have the freedoms they enjoy today, is the only way to possibly save those rights for the future.... because it's a slippery slope this country is on right now... a slippery slope.
God Bless all of you that have put your life on the line, have made sacrifices we can't imagine, all just to keep MY family safe. Today, we honor you, but EVERYDAY we pray for you.
Excuses to complain
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 23:43 — supportwcpssI guess you only teach your children these things on Memorial Day. I teach my children these lessons all the time. Just another excuse to whine and complain chicken little.
Thanks Patti, your thoughts
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 16:32 — g88ky07Thanks Patti, your thoughts are always, well, they're always, well ...
Memorial Day observance is no excuse -supportwcpss
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 09:41 — Voice_of_Reason_As a 3x combat veteran, I can tell you having school on Memorial Day is very much an issue with me. My children are not scheduled on that day, but that does not change my opinion. Memorial Day was established as a MEMORIAL to honor our war dead. The day itself is like a statue or other physical memorial. To have school that day is like pissing on the Lincoln Memorial. How dare you call someone a complainer and whiner for this. I guess your teaching of your children is lacking. Even if people just use that day to be with their families, that pays tribute to the ultimate sacrifices that those veteran's paid for us. Memorial Day is far more important than Veteran's Day in the big scheme of things. So WCPSS supporter, I hope you think before throwing insults at other people right to their opinion. N77RR99 might be overly opinionated or critical at times, but this is one issue he is dead on. I for one, support his outrage on this issue.
Mr. Melodramtic
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 09:47 — supportwcpss'Voice of Reason' is quite an oxyMORON. Pissing on the Lincoln Memorial??!?! Gimme break. God forbid the local gas station owner who needs to open his gas station on Memorial Dayto make a living. I guess he is pissing on the Lincoln Memorial. Honoring those who served our country has nothing to do with the day we honor them. And before you play the card "I'm a vet and you're not' my Father and 2 uncles served so I know about honoring people.
This is just another veiled comment to randomly blister WCPSS.
Indepedent of your asanine comments, I do respect your service to our country.
Independent of your rump kissing,
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 16:22 — g88ky07Independent of your rump kissing, we don't ALL feel the need to brown nose the system that alienates, ignores and squashes any and ALL respect for parents of the children they supposedly want to educate to their utmost ability!
It's obvious that went out the window years ago!
It takes NO effort on most of our parts to "randomly blister wcpss" they make it SO easy!
VOR... I get your
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 10:06 — rr77rr99VOR... I get your point.
supportwcpss, you are most certainly entitled to your opinion, as I am mine. I applaud our rights as Americans to do that and enjoy a good debate.
If you feel that swapping out the day before Thanksgiving (that Wed) in exchange for Memorial Day is a good call, I am sure WCPSS appreciates your support on this. It's great they have a strong opinion like yours to back them up and they do need more voices like yours to counter act the opinions like mine.
I would like to continue the debate and ask you, what if WCPSS pulls off Martin Luther King Day, Christmas, from the "day off calendar" and made those days required attendance days?
Chicken little just a wonderin' here.
God Bless our first Amendment and supportwcpss, thanks for being you :)
Minor vs. Major Holidays
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 10:16 — Voice_of_Reason_I believe most people agree that the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are the major holidays in this country. Followed closely by Labor Day and New Years Day. Minor sometimes observed holidays are Presidents Day, MLK Day, and Veterans Day. I don't have any problem having school on the minor ones, but I think there should be some type of observance or theme in the classrooms that day.
Civil Conversation...wow
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 00:54 — supportwcpssA actual civil discussion. Wow.
Personally, I would say New Years Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and 4ith of July are Major. The rest are important for various reasons but is one more important then the other is a argument no one will win.
Amazingly, I agree with the day before Thanksgiving and the Martin Luther King argument.
Your Opinion is in the Minority supportwcpss
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 09:25 — Voice_of_Reason_Over the years most business only give the "Big 6" (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) and the next most common day off is the Friday after Thanksgiving. This is fact, not my opinion. Your incredible lock-step opinion of WCPSS clouds your mind. I prefer to deal with fact, not opinion. If you doubt what I say click on this [link].
PS - now you see what a civil conversation is, maybe you can learn from it. Insults are not civil, especially when used "first strike." If you would like to argue civilly, why don't you present reasons or facts that support your opinions. Very few people on this blog would attack that. The BoE or WCPSS can do no wrong, so "shut up you whiners, complainers, idiots, etc." is not civil or promoting a civil discussion. Personally, I wish there were more people on this blog willing to provide educated counter-arguments.
VOR... I believe I must
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 10:32 — rr77rr99VOR... I believe I must agree with you, however, I'd like to see the "weigh" in on if others believe that the holidays you listed are "minor" to them. That's where the shades of gray come in.
I just can't wrap my mind around why students have the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off. If parents want to leave a day early to go on holiday, then go. Children are marked absent. No biggie. They can even ask for a form to fill out that that day is an "educational day" and the principal can sign off on it to have it be an excused absence.
More than making kids come to school on Memorial Day...To make teachers, bus drivers, central office staff (or do theyget to stay home with the traditional calendar kids?) come to school on Memorial Day when the "rest of the country"... and their family members, and relatives from out of town etc are also off is inexplicable to me. Like you said VOR, it's a "major holiday". It's not a bank and gov't office holiday.
That's the real kicker here... to take away a "major holiday" and swap it out for just a day in the middle of the week does not make sense in my world. But, who knows, here in Chicken Little world, I have lots of dents in my head from where the sky keeps hitting it... ouch.
Something to put a smile on your face GM
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 12:33 — Voice_of_Reason_Voting Aftermath, the video [Click to play]
I'll take mine with a Svedka
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 16:31 — g88ky07I'll take mine with a Svedka Widget!
It's about public wants
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 10:48 — Voice_of_Reason_If 90% of the people get the holiday off of work, there is pressure to not have school that day. As far are the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and especially the Friday after, that is what most parents would desire. It's the same with the time between Christmas and New Years. IF the public school system really cares about the parents (and their employees), those days would be off. The minor holidays I listed, for the most part are workdays unless you are a government or financial worker. That's why I listed them as minor.
I completely understand why
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 11:15 — rr77rr99I completely understand why you listed the days as "minor", I am just saying, let's take MLK Day for instance. I am sure some people would be outraged if that was not a day off from school as many families dedicate that day to a time of rememberence and prayer. What makes MLK Day any less important than a Veteran's Day to other families - or both days equally important? At least those are days that are recognized in some fashion. The Wed before and the Friday after Thanksgiving are not "holidays" they are days of convenience or families. I understand that. (I work those days, so it does not matter to me. I just have to find something for my youngin's to do as they can't be left alone..yet)
I just want to know from WCPSS officials... How does WCPSS arbitrarily decide that Memorial Day - a national holiday - really just isn't that important? How come they didn't decide the MLK Day isn't really that important? Or the Fourth of July really isn't that important? They are only concerned with "number of days in school". If they are going to start using holidays as school calendar days, I am just interested if they will be "rotating" the holiday, like next year they take away Christmas Day or the Friday after Thanksgiving. Is this how it's going to go now?
Why couldn't the school year be extended by one day then to account for the mandated number of days needed in school and this day be a holiday? I don't understand that and would like someone to explain it. Maybe supporter knows and can shed some light on this dimwhit.
And by the way, for all the YR folks, the track four kids, are off for 5 1/2 weeks this coming holiday season. Due to the way the vacation falls between Christmas and New Years... that's 5 1/2 weeks of finding something to do with your kids in the middle of the winter. And GOD FORBID it should snow... make up days are on Saturday.
A whole other discussion :)
We don't make up days on
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 16:28 — g88ky07We don't make up days on Saturdays at our house and we NEVER will.
I don't have to "find something for my child to do" I'll be more than happy to spend time with them and actually BE part of their lives! Unlike many who call the Y or ship them off to the grandparents or stick them in daycare.
Raise your own darn children and maybe fewer will end up junkies, criminals and worse!
As stated before, wcpss can do what they want with their Memorial Day or any other holiday, and so will we!
I agree
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 12:22 — Voice_of_Reason_To some, MLK day is more important than Veterans Day, I understand that. It doesn't change the fact they are "minor" federal holidays. I think WCPSS used Memorial day as a school day for convenience, with little reverence for the day's importance and meaning. I do also believe we need to take this one up with the State Legislature, since I believe they already have mandated some holidays to schools. WCPSS and the BoE, I am sorry to say are a lost cause, with little interest to the public at large when it comes to this.
I stand by my comment
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 10:24 — Voice_of_Reason_This is not just aimed at WCPSS. In Goldsboro they tried to do the same thing until the public got wise and the pressure was too much. Memorial Day is a special day that our government established as a holiday for a reason, just like the 4th of July.
As far as your comparison of a gas station operating; a gas station is not a public facility. Before you throw out police and fire, I remind you providing essential services is not dishonoring. And Memorial Day has only to do with those sevicemen that died in the line of duty for our country, not to honor those living.
By the way, thanks for the insult; it speaks volumes on your character.
AND, I will throw that card because I (Capital I) volunteered and served for 24 years not just people I was related to or know. I too have others : my father served in the Army WWII and Korea, my Uncle was in Patton's Army in WWII but that does not make my right to say what I did any stronger.
Hey, thanks for the name
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 09:03 — rr77rr99Hey, thanks for the name calling. That's sweet.
I didn't say we only use "one day" to teach our children. On the contrary, we use everyday, but having a day off together, like on Memorial Day is a way for our entire family, aunts, uncles, grandparents and the like, to gather and celebrate and remember as well.
This is why I am "whining and complaining" about WCPSS not understanding that to some families, actually spending time together also matters.
But, hey, thanks for being mean.
Mean???
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 09:41 — supportwcpssThat's comical comign from someone who continuously degrades people at a moment's notice. Nice try chicken little...
What's your problem supportwcpss?
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 13:12 — Chris_HYou really have an issue with people that like family time don't you?
Hey, thanks for the support
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 17:59 — rr77rr99Hey, thanks for the support CH.
When did "family" time become politically incorrect by the way?
We still treasure it. My children treasure it. Man, are we weirdos or something? Should I be encouraging my offspring to head out to the streets and find something to do with themselves other than be "hanging" around the house and visiting their granparents and aunts and uncles on weekends?
And I agree with G88 person... they can have a whole track out worth of Saturday's that are "required school days" and there's no way my kids will be attending. No way.
Explain ... I am also
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 09:58 — rr77rr99Explain ... I am also stupid...
I would LOVE it if more
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 12:43 — AngelaWI would LOVE it if more classes would do this! What a lesson to be learned, outside the standardized testing box, that imparts so much more than simply "flats and skinnies"....God Bless America and the men and women who have served and continue to serve and protect our freedoms so enjoyed and so often taken for granted. A personal thank you to our friends serving in the Air Force who came back safely from Iraq. And the family we have lost who served and protected so that MY kids may enjoy the freedoms so hard fought. Thank you.
I agree totally with you
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 13:27 — H2OGuyI agree totally with you Angela, and with what this teacher did. She taught a very valuable lesson to her students. We as a country feel "entitled" to everything, when really, we ARE NOT "entitled" to anything! Its a PRIVILEDGE to have what we have.
However I couldn't imagine the "red tape" a teacher in Wake county would have to go through to do something like this. I could just see every "civil rights" group coming out of the wood pile and bushes saying that "this teacher" doesn't have the right, and how he/she has violated the civil rights of those students. LOL....that's the sad part of what our country has become!
Education needs to show all citizens how lucky we are to have a public school system and how we should VALUE it and not take it for granted!!
Happy Veteran's Day
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 11:55 — Sideburnshttp://www.snopes.com/glurge/nodesks.asp
We are lucky. We have a vet
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 11:26 — vsheehanWe are lucky. We have a vet in the house we just give him the day to do what he wants. Our kids also call their relatives who are Vets(Lots of them in the family) and wish them a happy Vets Day. Also we have a Veterans Memorial down the street. We go as a family to the memorial talk about what it is for and how no matter what you think about any war the US is in you need to think about the sacrifice that Service members give willingly to our country. We talk about the other people who work for society for little reward who do not have an official day of thanks but who give up a lot to help society ie police, firefighters, teachers, community organizers, ect.
They got it wrong...
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 10:50 — SouthEastWakeMomThe tracks currently supposed to be in school today are the same three scheduled to go to school on Memorial Day. I think that most parents of MYR students would prefer to have Memorial Day off rather than Veteran's Day (given that nothing really closes for Veteran's Day other than the post office and some government offices whereas Memorial Day is a true national holiday). But we all know the credence WCPSS (and apparently the GA) lends to parent's concerns.
The General Assembly...
Tue, 11/11/2008 - 10:07 — JSBinNC...have their head up their butts. Today is NOT a day off work for me - so while it sounds nice to have a day to reflect and thank those that have sacrificed so much for our freedom - my kids are in child care while I sit at my desk.
At least Memorial Day is a day off for all, generally speaking - or it was.
If they are trying to promote family time to think about important things - well then they need apply some common sense to the legislation.