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The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system as it prepares to undergo historic changes. Will the new school board scrap the diversity policy in favor of neighborhood schools? Will year-round schools be converted back to a traditional calendar? How will the new board respond to growth and the school construction program?

WakeEd is maintained by The News & Observer's Wake schools reporter, T. Keung Hui. While Keung posts information and analysis on the issues, keep us posted on your suggestions, questions, tips and what you're doing to cope with the changes in Wake's schools.

Wake GOP: Skip school on Memorial Day

Submitted by KeungHui on 05/22/2009 - 10:43

The Wake County Republican Party is telling kids to play hooky from school on Memorial Day.

In a press release today, Wake GOP Chairman Claude E. Pope Jr. says families should keep their children home from school on Monday. Students at year-round schools have class on Monday while traditional-calendar schools and modified-calendar schools are off.

For a quick history lesson, the school board voted 5-3 in 2007 to adopt the year-round calendar for 2008-09. School administrators said then they scheduled class on Memorial Day because principals wanted to have off on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and not to shorten winter break.

MEMORIAL DAY IS A DAY FOR REMEMBERING OUR NATION’S HEROES AND FOR BEING WITH FAMILY, NOT FOR BEING IN SCHOOL, SAYS WAKE GOP

Families with students on year-round calendar should keep children home from school on Monday

RALEIGH, N.C. – Wake GOP Chairman Claude E. Pope, Jr. is assailing the Wake County Public School System’s (WCPSS) decision to send all students on year-round calendars to school on Memorial Day. These tens of thousands of students, along with traditional calendar students, instead did not go to school the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, a convenience holiday.

“Memorial Day, which was established in 1868, is a national holiday of remembrance of the millions of American patriots who have fought to protect this country’s freedom. It is shameful that the WCPSS decided to make this special day a school day for Wake students who attend year-round schools,” said Pope. “On behalf of the Wake County Republican Party, I urge parents to keep their children home from school so that they can honor our veterans with their families.

“Decisions by the school board and WCPSS like this once again illustrate that the needs of Wake parents and students are not a priority. This is why the Wake GOP and PACs like Take Wake Schools Back are working hard to recruit and elect four new school board members who will make common-sense decisions and listen to parents,” Pope added.

UPDATE

Here's the school system's official response to the GOP press release:

"School calendars are developed by a very large committee of stakeholders and then presented to the Board of Education for review and approval. The Board approves calendars two years in advance by formal action at a regular Board meeting.

We will be holding classes on Monday and we would expect that parents will make the decision that is best for their family."

In addition to the statement, Michael Evans, Wake's chief communications officer, said it will still be considered an unexcused absence on Monday unless parents fill out forms saying why it shold be excused.

Comments

It would be desirable to

Fri, 11/20/2009 - 08:12 — newsliker

It would be desirable to listen still to opinion of experts in this occasion

7 out of 25. That was par

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:33 — PinkSlip

7 out of 25. That was par for the school. Somewhere between 25-30% of students were in school and we do not blame the parents. If we were not in constant fear of losing our jobs we would not have been there ourselves. Very sad indeed.

Wake GOP Press Release .... May 26, 2009

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 08:47 — Jeff_morse

For Immediate Release,

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

For Further Information, contact:

Nolan Gesher

919-601-9106
ngesher@wakegop.org or

Gail Marold

919-302-1620

gailfer123@yahoo.com

WAKE GOP FURTHER EMPHASIZES THAT SCHOOL ON MEMORIAL DAY IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE, BUT AN AMERICAN ONE

Poor decision by a majority of the Wake County Board of Education and WCPSS demonstrates lack of patriotism and concern for parents’ needs – leading to more than 13,000 students staying home on Monday

RALEIGH, N.C. – As a result of the widespread attention given to the Wake County Republican Party’s call for year-round students to skip school on Memorial Day, Wake GOP Chairman Claude E. Pope, Jr. points out that it is only the bad decision of the administrators and school board majority that have made parents and students choose whether or not to attend school on an important national holiday.

“The issue of students having to go to school on Memorial Day is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue, but it is telling that our GOP organization was the only group that decided to take a stand,” said Pope. “The Wake GOP fully respects the education of our students, but students should not be forced to go to school on such an important holiday in lieu of a day given off to beat Thanksgiving traffic. Every American should be honoring the military heroes who gave their lives for our freedom on Memorial Day with their families.”

When the Wake County GOP called the WCPSS central offices to inquire about attendance figures for Memorial Day, the offices were closed. Estimated reported figures indicate that only 60 percent of students at the schools were in attendance. The Wake County GOP received numerous calls and emails from parents saying that they were keeping their children home to observe the holiday appropriately.

The Wake County Republican Party in North Carolina seeks to recruit, train, support, and elect local candidates to all municipal, school board, county, and legislative seats. The Wake County GOP focuses its mission around the key values of fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility, family and neighborhoods, and government accountability. For further information, visit

www.wakegop.org.

###

Hey SupportWCPSS

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 19:54 — Voice_of_Reason_

By my calculations if you take the amount of families that didn't send their kids to school (X2 for two votes) and figure that only included those that had school. Then add roughly the same percent for the people that would of done the same if they had school. Those numbers would be a landslide defeat for the current school board if you use historic voting numbers for an off year election. So much for your slam dunk. October can't come quick enough.

Memorial Day

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 19:17 — GySgt_USMC

For the first time in my life I am ashamed to say North Carolina is my home. First, our glorious state capital can't spring for a simple Memorial Day parade; and second, this is just another school day? Perhaps it was too tough to take a stand. SHAME on everyone of you in Wake County who went along with this or stood idly by and let it happen. I don't care how tough your life is, at least TRY to find a little courage when it really counts. Memorial Day is a Federal holiday and a State holiday. Wait, that bears repeating: Memorial Day is a Federal holiday and a State holiday. What part of 'holiday' is so hard to understand? How is it possible that a public school can be open for business on a FEDERAL HOLIDAY??? (read: FEDERAL HOLIDAY!) If anyone does not want to show respect for my fallen comrades (because it's too tough, maybe?) then you should relocate to Pitcairn Island or some other coward's refuge. Memorial Day was set aside as a national day of remembrance AND for recognition purposes. May I refer you all to this website strictly for educational purposes:
http://www.usmemorialday.org/order11.html
I don't buy the sheepish wail that 'it wasn't us' and 'there's nothing we could do'. The whine of those with no intestinal fortitude! Life is tough for those folks, I'm sure. I vote and help elect people to watch over things and ensure this kind of hug-fest garbage doesn't happen in my town, county and state. I for one shall seek out and identify the scoundrels involved in this desecration of the memory of our fallen comrades and ensure all of this nation come to know them by name. Why, I still have the use of one out of my four limbs, so apparently I must be best suited for the task?!? If any of these people hold public office, I shall seek to have them removed; the same as any other cancer. To those of you who think this was a good idea, or it was okay, or alright, or not so bad, or whatever other sheep-like phrase is popular today, I'd like to leave you with a quote from John Wayne in the movie "Sands of Iwo Jima"
-- "Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid!" -- John Wayne

Semper Fi, Mac

R.T. Bond
GySgt USMC (Retired)

Thank you

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 11:45 — SDR256

Thank you Sargent Bond for your dedicated service and you passionate post. Its wonderful to know there are still those out there willing to fight for what is right. If you're in a District that has a Board of Education candidate up for election this fall - there are four - you can help us vote in candidates who will be willing to listen to constituents like yourself. This current board has become isolated and arrogant. If you are not in one of those districts, please consider donating to and/or joining Wake School Community Alliance to help us vote out this current board. (www.wakesca.org)

I like that quote, I think I'll reuse it if you don't mind.

My deepest and most sincere

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 08:23 — rr77rr99

My deepest and most sincere thank you for your sacrifice for my family's freedom. I don't forget that, on Memorial Day or any other day of the year. We only live like we do because men and women like you make it happen for us.

God Bless you and your fellow soldiers who walk among us today and who watch over from above.

My chidlren did not go to school on Memorial Day. It would have been a disgrace not only to your fellow soilders who gave their lives, but also to our family members who died serving our country as well.

Gunny, that makes 3 veterans with the same message

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 19:42 — Voice_of_Reason_

I also heard Char/Mec had school also today (Snow Day). That's the two largest school districts in NC. I hope the GOP takes it to the next step and ban school districts from doing this. This needs to be a state ban or it will keep happening. Write your state legislature.

I haven't heard a vet against this yet for for the school system doing this. And I think the state should mandate a program at all schools on the Friday before Memorial Day to honor those fallen heroes by explaining the significance of the holiday.

I am also sick and tired of

Wed, 05/27/2009 - 21:55 — dryeraseuser

I am also sick and tired of hearing the folks complain about everyone that said that Monday should have been a holiday. IN this country, on this special day and especially during the times we are in...NOTHING should have been going on in any government building! God bless you SGT., what you did and continue to do brings us great pride and I deeply admire you!!! Tough times brings out the "regular ole Joe's " in the world and I think things are going to change! I totally have the faith in that, TOTALLY!

I Will Remember on Election Day

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 12:41 — NoNewGunControl

Beverley Clark, Rosa Gill, Eleanor Goettee, Lori Millberg and Susan Parry disrespected the men and women who keep us free and voted to hold school on Memorial Day instead of a day that meant absolutely nothing.
I will not forget. I will keep the list of these zeros on my wall until election day.

NAMING NAMES

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 19:31 — GySgt_USMC

Thank you so very much for identifying some of the culprits. I'm sure more need to be weeded out, but it's a start.

Semper Fi,

Ray

Add Horace Tart to the list!

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 19:45 — g88ky07

No matter what Horace Tart tells anyone, he knew when they voted for this that his voted wouldn't matter either way. So what did he do? He started his little run of voting along with Ron to make it look like he was listening to parents. Don't kid yourself, he wasn't and hasn't listened to anything! HE voted to approve the 22 schools to be converted and had that vote not passed your FYR children wouldn't have been required to attend today!

As far as district 2 is concerned that vote was a 6-2 vote and you can add Horace to those that said "send 'em to school, Memorial Day isn't necessary!"

I say it is and will always be at our home! Thank you beyond words for your support of and sacrifices for freedom Ray!

And all the rest of you! God Bless you all!

What A Stupid Idea

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 09:26 — NoNewGunControl

My wife..who teaches in Wake County (YR) emailed to say that 2/3 of the students on her team are absent today. She cannot teach the regular curriculum since she would only have to teach it again for ones who are not there. What a waste of a day. And as far as that "Unexcused Absence" thing goes, Wake County refuses to allow teaches or administrators to retain failing students or those who refuse to learn or cooperate thanks to "No Child Left Behind".....so what is the point of the empty threat of an unexcused absence? My daughter teaches high school in an adjoining county (conventional calendar) and they blindly pass every student also regardless of their grades or attitude. Thanks to our "Leaders"....we are in pitiful shape. Why are such idiots elected to the school board?

Shame on them

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 20:48 — louiselee44

"For a quick history lesson, the school board voted 5-3 in 2007 to adopt the year-round calendar for 2008-09. School administrators said then they scheduled class on Memorial Day because principals wanted to have off on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and not to shorten winter break."

Let me get this straight - the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and one day of winter break trump the day that is set aside for all Americans to remember those who fought and even gave their lives for our freedoms??

The school board members who voted for that should be ashamed - and I hope they are hearing from all who are hot about this.

Any way to find out which

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 22:01 — SDR256

Any way to find out which were the five?

Wasn't this Horace's first vote with Ron?

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 08:18 — g88ky07

If it wasn't it was close. Horace Tart knew his vote wasn't needed to pass this ignorant calendar change so chalk one up to his re-election bid!

If you're letting your weak reps know how "hot" you are about today make sure Horace is on your list!

No school for us, and many others we know, today!

It was in the link in the

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 22:11 — KeungHui (author)

It was in the link in the post. Click here directly for that link. As you'll note, there's been some turnover since then with two of the school board members from 2007 no longer on the board after having chosen not to run again that year.

Thank you Keung!

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 22:24 — SDR256

Thank you Keung!

The house is burning

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 19:42 — SDR256

Wow. 130 comments about the Memorial Day holiday? Are you kidding me? With the abuse of power that the BoE has been inflicting on the parents and students of Wake County and its taken this to gain such response? Like I was saying Sideburns, gotta focus the magnifying glass so that it burns, otherwise no one even sees the burning rays that are causing cancer.

How about this for scary folks - the BoE can do what the hell they want with your kids when they want and where they want and no one will ask questions - the Supreme Court just sealed that authority with the Mandatory Year Round case. No question. They have total authority - they can take away magnets, they can break up the system into smaller community components, they can stop busing, the can expand it.. They do not need to ask any of us or care how happy or unhappy we are. They do not need to look at data to see how educated or uneducated our children are. They can decide everyone should be purple and that is most important over anything. If you care about any of these issues - one way or another - vote in the Fall for a board that reflects your family's concerns.

Yes

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 20:03 — supportwcpss

They are called elected officials. We'll see in the Fall how everyone feels.

I saw just as many comments indicating they didn't have an issue with Monday.

Bull Feathers

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 15:06 — NoNewGunControl

Obviously you can't count. According to my wife who teaches at a year round school in Wake County, and the other teachers she has contacted today, between 66 and 70 percent of the kids stayed out today. If you get a different number, it's simply typical liberal distortion of facts by the media as well as public school administrators. (That translates to outright lie)

Isn't it something!

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 19:53 — g88ky07

Let's see how many parents send their kids to school tomorrow because they feel "it's the right thing to do" or because "we didn't have anything else planned" or because "we weren't going anywhere" ...

It's amazing this new many people have FINALLY woken up in Wake County!

As stated, these people can do what they want, when they want, where they want and the ONLY thing you can do is vote in October IF you're lucky enough to be in 1 of the 4 districts that can vote! If you're not, volunteer to help those that can and replace all 4 seats with people that care about YOU and YOUR children! Take your schools back Wake County! Enough of the carnival ride is enough!

Happy Memorial Day to all you veterans, family members of veterans, friends of veterans and to everyone who still fights so that we can vote for CHANGE this October!

Trajedy

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 19:33 — dwall

My bad. I know I made a mistake. Does the school board?

Unexcused Absence?????

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 19:17 — NoNewGunControl

O my Wurd....a chanse thet my chile may git an unexcuced absinse fer missin skool on Munday. I gess that ruens thet chanse 2 git that thar Morehead Schlorship we wuz countin on fer Lil' Jonny.

My u shur r gud with

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 10:44 — Big_Picture

My u shur r gud with tempuraree spellin'. Was you edukated in Wake Countee?

Hmmm

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 11:22 — Dadof3

is that a spelling issue, or a drinking issue?

LOL!!!!!!!!!! Good one.

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 18:33 — rr77rr99

LOL!!!!!!!!!! Good one.

I Get It Now !

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 19:08 — NoNewGunControl

The School Board gives new meaning to the term..."Educated Beyond Their Intelligence". (Folks who can still diagram sentences or explain how to split atoms, but wear loafers because they don't know how to tie their shoes) When the next elections come up, give them all the rest of their life with every day off.

Memorial day

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 18:55 — dwall

I think this is truly a case of where our country is headed. We now have school boards that are more interested in having extended vacation than they are honoring the people that have died for our freedom. As a firefighter of 24 years I now know that Sept. 11th will soon be forgotten by people that once thought it was a trajedy. Our school board in Wake County could not care less about the Men and Women that died for our freedom. Let's make sure that they are not in power long enough to totally ruin our part of the country that in my opinion, IS Still The Best Country In The World!

Keep Your Kids Home On Monday

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 18:33 — NoNewGunControl

Too many liberal democrat anti-military and anti-veteran idiots running the public school system. Who else would make a decision for children to attend public school on Memorial Day?
As a vet and former full time employee of the NC National Guard, the I was FORBIDDEN to work on MLK's birthday (without written permission from the State Adjutant General) and it must have been an emergency or critical situation to receive that approved permission) because some government employees optioned to work that day for free to protest the fact that a federal holiday for a preacher and activist whom they feel didn't do enough to justify a federal holiday in his name and believe it was declared a federal holiday simply to appease blacks and cow-tow to their demands. Right ot wrong....in their view, it was all about Political Correctness and the government playing "Thought Police" for "Show and Tell".
Surely millions of veterans deserve a mandatory federal holiday in their honor..... if MLK Jr. did. Memorial Day should be a mandatory holiday for every government agency...including schools. Any Saturday would have been a more acceptable and respectable choice. What your business does with its non-government employees on Memorial Day in a free country is your business.
If this one day off keeps your kid out of Harvard, or infringes too harshly on your..... summer vacation you've got much bigger problems (including some head-space problems) to worry about.

You can't be serious!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sat, 05/23/2009 - 19:31 — louiselee44

dcourtine - what on earth are you talking about??????????

SOS-NC and OUR school calendar law have about as much to do with Wake County MYR schools attending on Memorial Day as someone in China!!!

I have been as patient as I can be about flat-out lies being told by people who don't know what they are talking about. They might even think they know, but they don't.

I am sick and tired of being blamed if Suzie makes a "D" on her exam, or whatever. I guess we caused the economic crisis as well - I'm waiting for someone to tie us in to that.

I miswrote/confused

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 16:27 — dcourtine

I miswrote/confused Memorial Day with Easter breaks, but Louise Lee, tell me where I lied. It is a FACT that SOS-NC is responsible for the traditional calendar difficulties, which led to no days available for snow makeups that parents complained about after enjoying the nice long summer that came from SOS. It is a FACT that a LARGE number of parents (year round or traditional) think education is not high on the list of important things for kids, and thus they pull their kids out for vacations at ANY time of the year, especially the last day or two before scheduled vacations, and heck, even before three week trackouts. Beating traffic is a whole lot more important than the child being in school for a lot of parents.

As patient as you have been, so have those on the other side that don't fault the school board for everything. Yet, if we agree with anything they do, we're told we're uneducated robots that believe anything they tell us.

If Suzie is "your child", then YOU are partly responsible for her D. If you are the parent, it is YOUR job to help your child with school. You are supposed to work with the teacher, the student and whoever else is needed to help your child succeed. If that isn't what you're talking about, then insert your first line here, because I have no clue what your example means.

My point is simply that if parents choose to keep their kids out of school tomorrow, I sure hope they attend the parades and don't just sit home all day (excluding families who have lost loved ones in battle...who can do ANYTHING they want.) I just don't like parents trying to make a point against the school board by using our heroes as the excuse. Send your child to school and teach them the importance of education, and have your cookout after school...and make a point to the school board in a different way...such as running against them (how many people did that in the last election when there was a chance to make a change?).

dcourtine...

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 20:36 — louiselee44

I am sorry that you misunderstand what I say, thus misunderstanding me.

Not only do you not know much about SOS-NC, but you certainly know very little about me personally. If you did, then you would know that I am a former teacher of 14 years, and value education. You would also know that I have a record of thanking and complimenting school board members on certain decisions that they make.

I am very much aware of how I need to raise my child, thank you very much, and have always been extremely involved in helping out in many ways in the public school system. Suzie is not "my child" - just a made-up character used as an example of just one of many things that SOS-NC gets blamed for - yes, exam grades.

I hope that wherever children find themselves tomorrow, they will be immersed in learning about and appreciating the thousands of men and women who have so bravely fought for our freedoms.

P.S. - just FYI, I did send my daughter to school on the spring break make-up days.

P.S.S. - I never called you a liar. I just shared my frustrations because I could not for the life of me figure out why anyone would bring SOS-NC into this discussion.Thanks for clearing that up - we all make mistakes.

I hope you have a meaningful day tomorrow.

I think it was the start of many of the problems we are facing..

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 19:42 — midtownmom

"just a made-up character used as an example of just one of many things that SOS-NC gets blamed for - yes, exam grades."

But...SOS was instrumental in making the calendar law which does have bearing on exam grades. Before the legislative change, winter exams were given BEFORE the winter break, at the end of the semester when information was still fresh. Now the kids have one to two weeks off, a little review, then exams.

Now the AP exams are weeks before the end of the second semester, which has a direct impact on all AP courses, esp. on the block schedule.

The legislative schedule also impacted the use of the year round schedule in Wake County. I truly think that the school board changed many of the schedules after the ruling because they had so little leeway with the regular calendar.

Believe what you will

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 21:10 — louiselee44

I give up trying to educate those of you who have already made up your minds about what SOS-NC and the school calendar law are all about. It goes against my nature to just let go of trying to get people to see the whole picture, the whole truth, and all of the facts, but I need to focus my energy elsewhere.

I can walk away, knowing that I have done (and am still doing) the right thing for the right reasons. Fortunately, there is still a groundswell of support from citizens all across our great state who are well-informed on both sides of the argument, and who really "get it". There is so much more to the issue than what you chose to zero in on.

P.S. - We've waited 5 years for proof that the school calendar law has a "bearing" on exam grades. None exists.

Clarification

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 21:22 — supportwcpss

You have done what you consider to be the right thing for what you consider to be the right reasons.

I your believe your reasoning is wrong in most cases.

You're saying her time would

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 07:56 — CaryCurmudgeon

You're saying her time would be better spent flinging caustic remarks and name-calling on WakeEd (like you do)?

Believe whatever you like...

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 22:10 — louiselee44

I just try to do what God calls me to do. :^)

Have a nice week!

Yet another reason to reject government schools

Sat, 05/23/2009 - 19:02 — kmisegades

Shameful actions such as these are a further boon to the expanding network of non-government schools in Wake County.
Keep it up, WCPSS.

The public is invited to a meeting with the founder of Thales Academies, Mr. Robert Luddy, on Tuesday, May 26th from 7-9PM at the Apex campus of Thales Academy, an affordable, world-class community school. The topic will be our Middle School curriculum and plans for Thales High Schools planned for Wake County.
www.thalesacademy.org

Why does year-round calendar get shafted????

Sat, 05/23/2009 - 17:41 — tigger516

Can anybody explain why the calendar committee for the year-round calendar was forced to choose between being off the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving & Memorial Day in the FIRST place???

It's obvious the traditional calendar committee did not have the same dilemma since those schools get BOTH days off. Exactly what is the problem with the year-round calendar. Can someone explain this?

It seems to me this is ONE MORE example why FORCED MYR is harmful to families. We will have one child with 2 parents @ home for the Federal Holiday while the other child has school. Great for families right???

Oh yeah, just paid for the TRACK-OUT care for next school year. When will N&O put out a chart of the fees for these track out camps and compare them with the fees for SUMMER camps to illustrate the REALITY of INCREASED expenses families endure when their children are forced to attend year-round schools versus traditional ???

OT-alert Enloe High School, East Raleigh

Sat, 05/23/2009 - 07:06 — AngelaW

http://venitapeyton.com/2009/05/enloe-high-school-east-raleigh.html

Educators Call For Public Response To House Proposal

Sat, 05/23/2009 - 07:02 — AngelaW

http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news/story/35123/educators-call-for-public-response-to-house-proposal

Holly Springs Elem hosting vets on Monday

Sat, 05/23/2009 - 06:56 — wsca_09

Holly Springs has invited several local war veterans to speak to our 3rd-5th graders at 9:30am on Monday morning! They will cover topics such as:
• Why we commemorate Memorial Day
• America’s Veterans continue to make the world safer
• Your (Students') role in honoring the sacrifice of Veterans
• You (Students) are worth the price paid by America’s Veterans
Making lemonade from lemons.
Parent/Community volunteers make school experiences richer for ALL children. Join us at www.wakesca.org, and our next meeting in Knightdale on June 17th, to learn how you can make a positive difference.

Let's not forget...

Sat, 05/23/2009 - 08:55 — merlemac

I appreciate the schools required to be in attendance on Monday, who are putting forth the effort to educate our children on the history and importance of Memorial Day. How, though will you implement the importance of "being together as a family"? This is also one of the most important parts of the freedom that our fallen hero's have given their lives for. There is so little time in our country today that is left for "The Family". This day so many of us will remember our fathers, grandfathers, brothers and friends that gave everything that they had to give only to come back home in a flagged draped coffin. To take one day out of the year to hold our families close and celebrate the fact that "WE CAN" is so little to ask. Let us not forget, if nothing else on Monday, in school or not, to stop what we are doing at 3pm and stand in honor of what so many of us take for granted.

We WERE together as a family today!

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 12:57 — wsca_09

My husband and 2-year old attended the assembly at HSES that proudly featured three of our country's finest. These heroes/heroine taught the children more about the cost, value and responsibility of freedom than we could have taught them ourselves. We also asked that our Kindergarten-aged daughter be excused from class for 1/2-hour so that she could join us and learn for herself what a difference she can make in the world.

There is no substitute for parent involvement when it comes to successful schools, students and citizens. Each parent should experience the pride I felt when I looked out in the audience and saw my 6-year old beaming at me, knowing that I had arranged for her to share this experience. It was fun!

We will arrange this type of powerful educational and patriotic event each year, but it's a-okay with me if we do it on the Friday BEFORE the National holiday!

GOP - take the whole school year off!

Fri, 05/22/2009 - 23:13 — Real_Americans_Think

Hey, GOP, why not take the entire school year off? Y'all don't value education anyway. Consider that your best candidate for high office was the galactically stupid Sarah Palin, and your key spokesman is Joe the Plumber. Maybe y'all can home school and thump each other over the head with your Bibles.

Sad little man ........

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 20:08 — AmericanGuy

Real -Americans_think - sooooooo ......... I am guessing from your posts that you are NOT a Real American and your ability to THINK is seriously compromised.

Since you have gone on the "attack" of people who are expressing their frustration with a group of elected officials decisions I thought I would return in kind to you.

You must be a sad little man living in your parent's basement among your Star Wars action figures and getting your "news" from Jon Stewart off of stolen cable.

I am betting you don't have children and probably aren't real close with your parents who pay for your existance.

Another sure bet is you are a product of our public school system. You think of your self as an "intellectual" everytime you fire up the grill at your minimum wage job eventhough you struggled in high school with the simplest classes you could find.

I pity you.

You are correct on one point. Real Americans DO Think.

We think that we want quality schools for children.

We think that throwing money at the school system is not getting the results in quality of education.

We think that allowing the desecration of the Constitution is a bad thing.

We think that we are not getting the school system that children and our taxes deserve.

We think that this decision made by the BOE is politically motivated to insult the people who serve and served.

We think that decisions like the one passed by the BOE that Federal / State holidays set aside to honor our service people who protect your right to be a mental midget with a strong opinion to be wrong and we are expressing our frustration.

We think the train is heading in the wrong way.

This is a political issue because these are elected political officials.

Maybe it would be wise to change your moniker to Think_Before_You_Type?

Real Americans appreciate

Mon, 05/25/2009 - 11:15 — Big_Picture

Real Americans appreciate our veterans for what they gave for our country and our freedom. Real Americans value education but don't consider ice cream and movies to be more important than honoring vets and being with their families. Give em a break if they choose to stay home today.

Chill out

Sat, 05/23/2009 - 08:00 — designman

Wow, such hatred. Maybe you should take Memorial Day off work and spend a little time thinking about the sacrifice that many have made to make this great country of ours. Then, perhaps, your petty and off-base views of the GOP would not seem so important.

Fortunately you do not really respresent what Real_Americans_ Think, but is amusing that you think so. Thanks for the chuckle.

Wake GOP: Skip school on Memorial Day

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