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Friday, January 14, 2011 | 8:54am
SOUND OFF: Should Georgia Schools Use MLK Day as Snow-Make-Up Day?
Infuriated Civil Rights Leaders say its disrespectful of Dr. King’s legacy.
#MLK
Ok I lied. Let’s get back to exercising out brain. Here’s a quick one for you to chew on. In the wake of the snow and ice stroms that have rocked the Southeast, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting two Georgia counties have decied to use the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to make up a snow day! This of course has infuriated civil rights leaders, who argue its an insult to the civil rights icon and in of all places, his home state.Fannin and Gilmer counties in north Georgia will abandon the federal holiday Monday as schools have been closed all week due to the inclement weather. The superintendents from the school districts are saying given the already missed nine days due to weather this school year, they have no choice and that the decision is not intended as an insult but Georgia State Conference NAACP President Edward DuBose disagrees.
“It’s an opportunity for people, black and white, to reflect on what King’s dream meant for blacks and whites,” he said “And it’s humiliating to hear that school districts want to take a snow day rather than to honor Dr. King’s legacy.”
This is a very interesting debate. The whole idea of school is to educate and how do we do so if kids aren’t going to school. However the life and legacy is one of tremendous importance to not only Black history but American History. The question is what does the students having a day off do to honor that legacy. The truth of the matter is if asked, I’d bet Dr. King would say “Those kids better be in school.” So we have a dilemma. I think the debate is about intent. Is this a precedent we don’t want to be set? Is this somehow intended to belittle the accomplishments of Dr. King? SOUND OFF: Should the Georgia School Districts open schools on the Dr. King Holiday.
FILED IN Editorials
Tough one, really…I think there are too many “holidays” as it is. Columbus, presidents, labor, memorial day and on and on. They should get rid of all of them…it would be a legitimate concern that the kids already missed so many days if they did away with the other “holidays” as well. What a better way to honor Dr. King than for kids to do their homework and improves their future chances of succeeding in their future careers, on that day. With the always increasing dropout rates and illiterate students graduating high schools all over the country, they need to have their behinds in school!
Then get rid of KKKolumbus Day then that’s some BS anyway ,how are u going 2 give some1 credit 4 discovering something that was already established. That’s like Vanilla Ice saying he discovered Hip hop music or saying he was a founding father of the Art form. U should be able 2 be out of school but have topic 4 kids 2 discuss his legacy. Now can MALCOLM X get some love damn ?!Valentines Day and St.PatricKKK’s day get rid of those while we at it.
LOL!!!
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I’ll be the first to sign the petition for a Malcolm X Day!!! Shit, I’ll sign it 1000 times if allowed!!!!!
I don’t know where you are based but we do go to school on the majority of federal holidays. The only holidays recognized with a day off are Thanksgiving (which is fundamental to the American spirit), Christmas (which is to celebrate the birth of our Savior), and MLK day (which is to celebrate a man who brought the term tolerance to the for-front of American politics). I have seen snow days taken from Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even Spring Break. Most of us don’t even get the chance to celebrate Easter with time off. All children NEED an education regardless of gender or race!
I remember when we had a snow storm here in st. louis in 1982, shut down the whole city for two weeks, we made it up by going to school on saturday and a extra week after the school year was up. I don’t think thats it’s an out cry because of King’s holiday, but i see no reason why they should have class on His holiday either. I also agree with E.L., they have way too many school days off from the other so call holidays.
“The truth of the matter is if asked, I’d bet Dr. King would say “Those kids better be in school.””- Did you say that in a Dr. King like voice? LOL!!
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I say keep the schools open, but have the day still be dedicated in his honor. Have the kids watch the “I have a dream” speech. Have them write about what the legacy of Dr. King means to them, and how it paved a way for todays youth. As Juan said Dr. King would want some form of edcuation to still be in progress on his day.
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Matter of fact, I just thought of an assignment for my son….
Yeah why not. hahaha.
Habersham county school system along with piedmont college will be canceling the federal holiday…
I’m with Mr. Bad Guy, make sure the kids know who MLK was and what he was about.
Leave mlk in tack. so many people fought for that day and it would be recognized and observed. as for those wimpy Atlanta people — give up your Saturdays until those kids make up the school year. It’s the teachers and admin that don’t want to sacrifice their weekends. Oh well that is what your job is – teach those kids.
They are pullin this shit in some places in Ohio also. MLK day needs to be observed as usual, MLK was a true “unity” figure. Without this man our country would more than likely be in a very different place right now. This is BS they need to make up days at the end of the year or God forbid that precious spring break.
would you be opposed to holding class on the weekend?
No weekend classes would be good. We have a school in Columbus where the kids go all year long, getting only a week or two every couple months depending on holiday schedule. I still remember when people where not celebrating this mans legacy, Shameful. There are plenty of days that the Union driven teachers could give up other than MLK Day. Pick one that doesnt commemorate Unity, or as you said give up that Saturday kids.
I sure wish folks would quit whining about everything !……Sending kids to school next Monday only makes sense. For those of you who are WAA WAA WAA about it, look at it this way; Our kids just had an entire week off- So let’s call it ‘MLK Week’ this year!. His actual birthday is January 15th anyway, so it fell into this week anyway….Now go find something else to be unhappy about !
How immature “mtn guy.” Martin Luther King sacrificed is life as so many civil rights leaders. I find it apalling that this holiday was not perserved to acknowledge the attributes and impact this man had on the country. Why couldn’t the school system choose the first day of summer break? It makes no sense and my daughter along with her entire Girl Scout troop will not be going to school on Monday. We are celebrating the King holiday in downtown Atlanta, which happens to be his birth place.
Well I’m glad we have someone personally effected to speak on the issue. I don’t live in one of these areas nor do I have kids. I’m curious what will you, your daughter and the Girl Scout troops be doing to commemorate the occasion?
Yes, but if not, some of the other holidays could be school days. Or, why not use Saturdays during the school year ….say every third Saturday….
Martin Luther King sacrificed is life as so many civil rights leaders. I find it apalling that this holiday was not perserved to acknowledge the attributes and impact this man had on the country. Why couldn’t the school system choose the first day of summer break? It makes no sense and my daughter along with her entire Girl Scout troop will not be going to school on Monday. We are celebrating the King holiday in downtown Atlanta, which happens to be his birth place.
I think it is about intent. They say they have no other choice but i remember we had a blizzard in 96″ in DC and we made up days by gettin our summer cut short. They didnt make us go to school on St.Patties day or no sh*t like that. Matter a fact, the end of summer vacay use 2 b the day after labor day now children here go back 2 school the 2nd week of August. They cut days all the time but 4 them 2 say that they have no other choice but 2 make kids go 2 school on Dr. King Day is bs. Dr. King Day didnt use 2 b a holiday at my job either but no blacks would come 2 work n then the whites eventually followed so they just start given us the holiday. These crakers (n i dont mean all whites just the Crakers)dont want us 2 beleave n nuffin. They dont want us 2 make it a big deal but they not talkin bout goin 2 school on Presidents day. My kids will never go 2 school on MLK day whether its a holiday or not.
There’s several more holiday’s left in the school year they could have picked others and like many suggested attend on Saturdays. We should never tolerate disrespect where MLK is involved. I say we go to year round schol with all the time off plus summer and weekends American kids go to school for about 3 months total.