Several school systems in the D.C. area are debating whether they should close for Inauguration Day:
The Prince George’s County school board is to vote today on an emergency resolution to close schools Jan. 20 to mark “a day of great historical significance, in that the first African American President of the United States of America will be inaugurated.” Loudoun County’s school board voted Tuesday to release students from classes on Inauguration Day. And Howard County school officials were told yesterday to work with employees and parents who want to take the day off and to make sure classes are covered for everyone else.
Across the Washington region, school systems are debating whether Inauguration Day should be a holiday or a teachable moment.
Rosalind Johnson, a Prince George’s school board member, said there would be little point in holding classes in her county, which is a short Metro ride from the White House. Eighty-nine percent of Prince George’s voters cast ballots for President-elect Barack Obama.
“We’re not going to have any children in school anyhow, and the staff isn’t coming, either,” said Johnson (District 1). Noting the tenor of the e-mails she has received, she said, “Enthusiasm doesn’t even begin to touch it.”
Montgomery County schools will remain open. “We have no plans to close school on Inauguration Day,” said Brian Edwards, chief of staff to Superintendent Jerry D. Weast. “Indeed, it will be a historic moment, and I am certain that many teachers will use it as part of their lessons that day.”
Some systems, including those in the District, Alexandria and Fairfax County, had already planned to be closed for the day. D.C. schools would face an insurmountable logistical hurdle in remaining open, officials said. Alexandria and Fairfax recognize it as a holiday.
Arlington County schools will release students for the day. Elementary schools in Prince William County will be in session for a half-day because of parent-teacher conferences, and students in Frederick County, Md., will be off because of a teacher workday.
Most other Washington area systems list Jan. 20 as a school day, but some are reconsidering. Some teachers and parents are lobbying to create a holiday; others just want the day off.
I can remember sitting in my third grade classroom watching Jimmy Carter’s Inauguration in 1977, so I do agree that there’s some educational value in allowing students to skip school for this. Also, the historical nature of this year’s Inauguration shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand, especially for students in predominantly African-American school systems like D.C. and Prince George’s County.
But if your not going downtown to see it in person, I don’t see why the kids should just get another day off. Let them come to school and watch the ceremonies on television. Like it was for me some 31 years ago, it would be a great learning experience.
Of course, the fact that the day before, January 19th, is a federal holiday may have something to do with the fact that people want the day off as well.
[...] I noted when the issue of school closures on January 20th came up shortly after Election Day, closing schools in the District, or in places like Arlington and Alexandria that are close enough [...]
He is not African American….he is bi-racial. How would his mother feel?
twetherell:
Racial identity is not as simple as you would have it, especially in the South. Remember that, throughout much of the South (even in my lifetime and I am 52) a person was considered “colored” if one of their great grandparents was of African heritage (i.e., 1/8th) and some said a person was “colored” if they had “even a drop” of African blood. If you look African-American in our country even today, you are perceived by most people as African-American. If you don’t believe me, accompany a “biracial” male in an elevator or try to catch a cab on a city street.