Posted by Bill
In north Georgia, we have had something unique in my life as a Southerner- a week long snow and ice event that has shut down just about every school district north of Macon. This has happened after just one week of the new semester. Most districts build in 3 or 4 makeup days for this sort of thing - they've already lost 5. Not a good situation. Parents are understandably going nuts, as are most children by now.
Thursday, school officials in Fannin and Gilmer counties (near the NC state line) announced that they would have to start back to school on Monday. I read that Charlotte, NC plans to do the same. Monday is, of course, the federal, state, and local holiday for Martin Luther King's Birthday. It's not really his birthday, which is the 15th, but we've got to have those Monday holidays. We're supposed to all have a day of "reflection and service" or something like that, for what it's worth. Martin Luther King was a great and courageous man who valued education, not meaningless symbolism.
They also plan to hold class on the Washington's Birthday holiday on February 21st. This is the holiday to honor the "Father of our Country" that nearly everyone insists on calling "Presidents' Day" incorrectly. I know I think Washington is clearly worthy having a holiday named for him, but that's another subject.
My point is that the usual self appointed "civil rights leaders" are "outraged" by this action. They are all over the news. It's so predictable. I've yet to hear of any Daughters of the American Revolution protesters.
The post office is also talking about delivering Sunday and Monday since they've missed the whole week, too. After this feigned "outrage" I'll bet they back down.
4 comments:
Update - cooler heads have no prevailed. The initial "outrage" that was reported on the news sprang from a local hot-head state senator who specializes in this sort of thing. This afternoon, son MLK III himself, or "Marty 3 sticks" as he is affectionately known, says it's an understandable decision. The counties in question have already lost 9 days in fact, including the 5 this week.
You would think that the minority community would recognize the real value of education more than the symbolic value of time off, but you would be wrong.
Typo in my reply. I meant to say "cooler heads have prevailed."
Yes, the whole symbolism thing. I personally think a holiday recognizing all the heroes of the civil rights movement would have been more appropriate than singularly honoring one man, regardless how primary his role. But, that was not the decision.
Ed,
this is Georgia, most minorities don't recognize the value of education but most of the State's population doesn't either.
Education is often talked about and debated but it's not really a priority in most cases. First, education has been politized putting teachers and administrators ahead of the students, second, we are stuck on stupid thinking more money equals better results.
Post a Comment