New Jersey: Debate over remembrance holidays
A legislative proposal that has passed both the House and Senate of the state legislature and is waiting for the Governor's signature will no longer require New Jersey schools to teach about Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Other holidays includes Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, Arbor Day, and Commodore Barry Day, which commemorates Revolutionary War hero John Barry.
Currently, NJ has a 1967 state law which requires schools to promote "the development of a higher spirit of patriotism." Other states that have a similar law to this are Florida, Nebraska, and Washington.
The sponsor bill, state Senator John Adler, cited a 2004 report by a state commission that schools should be given more flexibility to decide holiday observations. Plus he does not think schools would take the effort to recognise such holidays.
Unfortunately, New Jersey school officials support the bill.
The New Jersey School Boards Association:
It's simply time and flexibility," said Mike Yaple, spokesman. There's nothing in the legislation that can undermine the amount of pride and honor a community feels toward their veterans."
CNN Article - Veterans fight to save school remembrance mandate
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Now, I am curious why Martin Luther King is not mentioned. I am really sure we all have reasons why MLK should be recognised and we should apply that reasoning to the other holidays that will no longer be required if the Governor signs the legislation.
Giving the schools more flexibility seems to me like a very poor excuse to reduce the teaching of our civic history to our students. Sometimes these requirements are needed to ensure that students know about our country's foundation, its history, and their Founding Fathers.
On a side note, it would really screw up the vacation schedule. A lot of people do travel during Memorial Day wknd, Thanksgiving Day wknd, and Washington's Birthday wknd since it's a 3-day holiday. I know, a petty excuse, but I really think these days are quite important and should be remembered.
While some are against the Iraq War conflict, our military and our veterans have done their duty to protect this country during the world wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf conflicts. Days like Memorial Day and Veterans Day are tributes to their sacrifice.
Update 16 Jan 2007
This is the time for action against a law which is unjust for our military veterans.
Contact John Adler, NJ state senator, democrat who co-sponsored the bill to end the recognition of Memorial and Veterans Day.
Legislation that will repeal the holidays (see section 5)
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