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April 29, 2003
Memorial Day Has Been Cancelled
Memorial Day has been cancelled. At least that's what they're saying in Alexandria. Alexandria, the city that sits in the shadow of the Pentagon. Here, in the waning days of a war, in a school district populated with families of veterans, the Alexandria School District has decided to keep school open on Memorial Day to make up for missed days in winter. The decision to use Memorial Day as make-up day was made by administrators before the campaign in Iraq started, said Barbara Hunter, executive director of information and outreach. She said a few parents have complained, but added that while the school district respects their arguments, "I don't think there's any chance it will change." I don't think they would miss the point this year of all years. What they are teaching them is the bureacracy rules over everything else. Sure, Memorial Day is a day of barbecues and pool openings to some people. But there are always the parades and the memorials. In my town, which does not boast the military population that Alexandria does, the turnout for memorials and salutes to the veterans is overwhelming. I imagine in Alexandria it is even more so. We have just lost soldiers in a war. The day that is set aside to memorialize those soldiers and all others lost in combats throughout time has now been lost to the families of Alexandria. Sure, they could do it on any other day. But the significance here is that the shcool district doesn't care. To use Memorial Day to make up for a snow day is a slap in the face to every person in Alexandria who has lost someone to the perils of war. It is a blow to all those who have relatives and friends overseas right now, fighting for freedom. It's disgusting is what it is. If you are as outraged as I am, you can contact the ACPS Superintendent, Rebecca Perry, here. Comments
In Virginia, the state with the proudest military tradition of all? This is very odd indeed. Civil disobedience is called for here. Kids, have yourselves a little "stomach ache" conspiracy, always respect authority, but make sure authority respects you, too. Sometimes a little adjustment is needed, a tweak here, a nudge there, it's called a feedback loop, and bureaucracies notoriously, automatically (nature of the animal) try to seal themselves off from this loop, as it interferes with efficiency. Tension between closed sysytem within larger open system; system order law is such that the loop must be kept open according to the larger system rule, the enclosed sytem will always resist, a natural response, any intrusion is ipso facto chaotic. Stay home, honor Memorial Day with your families. Posted by: Buddy at April 29, 2003 10:25 AMMB submitted the following to the Superintendent of Schools: http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20030429-11845743.htm only one question comes to mind: have you renounced your U.S. citizenship, also? Our school district did the same thing a couple of years ago. I was so pissed that I took my chilldren to scholl and then turned around and checked them out. That way they didn't stay long enough to be on the offical state roll that funds based upon attendance. We then went to visit my fathers grave. (WWII vet) and had the added bonus of seeing a very impressive presentation by each of the services. My kids will never forget it. Hell I'll never forget it. Had I lived close I would have taken them to Arlingotn to see the ceremonies. That is one to behold if you've never had the opportunity. Posted by: Dog at April 29, 2003 02:04 PMThe Alexandria School district can do whatever they want to reinforce a misbegotten decision, but If my kids were going there, they would miss school that day. I would take them to The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington. As a matter of fact I do that now with my kids, for Vetrans Day. Their schoold does not give them athat holiday. Posted by: Jim Patras at April 29, 2003 03:28 PMWould someone in the Alexandria area either confirm or deny that the need for the schools' make-up date is directly related to the sniper epsisode. if so --Who said irony was old-fashioned? Posted by: Paul Challacombe at April 30, 2003 06:07 PMPost a comment
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