In Stamford public schools we get certain holidays such as Veterans Day, Columbus Day and MLK day off from school. An alarming number of students don’t know why we have these holidays off; they just know that they don’t have to go to school. I actually blame this on the fact that we get these days off. In the already rigorous academic schedule there is very little time to learn about these holidays. Also, when these holidays fit into the already over-stuffed curriculum, they become irrelevant, having passed months ago or being months away.

Instead of having the day off, I think we should have school on Veterans Day, MLK day, and Columbus Day. However, this should not be a normal school day. Instead of doing assignments based off of some food article in the New York Times, on Veterans Day students would have to do assignments based on the writings of veterans. In history classes on Veterans Day we would be learning about why we have Veterans Day and how it started. On Columbus Day math classes could map out his voyage and practice word problems using Columbus’ voyage as an example. On MLK day world language classes can explore themes of racial injustice in countries around the world, such as Spain and the Spanish inquisition. In every class we can find an assignment to fit the holiday.

While I know that many veterans, including my grandpa that served during the Korean War, were upset last year that we were going to school on Veterans Day, I would like stress that if we went to school on these days it would not be a normal day. No projects could be due on Columbus Day, no tests on Veterans Day and definitely no notes about WWII on MLK day. We would be able to honor these influential people at school by actually understanding why they are influential. On Veterans Day we would be able to give a proper thanks to the veterans that served or are currently serving and properly celebrate the explorer that found the Americas. On MLK day we would properly be able appreciate everything that he and his movement did to allow for my mom and dad to be legally married, and for me to have the same opportunities as someone with a different skin color.

I know that on Veterans Day, I will be thanking those who fought for this country and praying for those men and women serving all around the world. But I will also be wondering how many of my fellow classmates will be doing the same.