School Board Cancels Holidays, Replaces Them with “Day Off”
The left that gave us the destructive idiocy of “political correctness” and “identity politics” has more recently been joined by “wokeness” as the latest labeled obscenity of the political cancelation movement.
Apparently, political correctness, identity politics and wokeness have taken over the Board of Education in Randolph, New Jersey. The members of the Board – who should represent the interests of parents and students – unanimously voted to cancel holidays and remove their names from the school calendar. Of course, this caused an outrage among the parents and children.
Instead, the Board created a universal name for all holidays. A new holiday, if you will. No more Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Hannukah, Ramadan, Yom Kippur or any other offensive school-year holiday on the Randolph school calendar. The one-size-fits-all new holiday is … “Day Off.”
Incredibly, the Board claims that the decision to replace all the holidays with Day Off was to respect diversity. I find it difficult to conjure up words to properly express how incredibly crazy that explanation is. You cancel all reflections of diversity to respect diversity? No! No one should buy that line of bovine byproduct.
It is the variety of holidays that enable us to nationally – as Americans – share expressions of our diversity. Every holiday is a learning experience – making it that much more repugnant for a so-called educational institution to crush diversity in favor of sterile secular monolithic meaninglessness. This is the stuff of Russian communism and the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
One can reasonably question whether removing the holidays from the school calendar will also expunge classroom education and participation in these traditional DIVERSE holidays.
How would one celebrate Day Off?
I suspect as the new holiday takes hold, we would develop activities and even holiday songs. In keeping with the spirit of the holiday, families might gather in local parks and do nothing. We could serve bread and water as the soon-to-be traditional holiday meal. Homes might be decorated with colorless signs saying, “Not in school today – HAPPY DAY OFF!” Our talented songwriters may compose such unforgettable holiday songs as “I’m staying home today, but I don’t know why.”
If the School Board of Randolph, New Jersey were to take their measure to the logical conclusion (and I use the word loosely), they would fill in the rest of the calendar with “Day On.” That would eliminate all those divisive notations, such as “Final Exams” or “School Play.”
More and more, our school boards are taking actions that would be hilarious skits on Saturday Night Live. Or reported in the satirical publication, The Onion. But unfortunately, this comedy is no laughing matter.
So, there ‘tis.
Y’all find the strangest things to get upset about.
No holiday holiday has been cancelled. You are free to celebrate Santa coming down your chimney, the Easter Bunny bringing you chocolate, Halloween ( except in a lot of school districts where Christian parents believe that it conjures evil spirits), Kwanza, Indigenous people’s day. Juneteenth , Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha,( except in the aforementioned Christian districts) how ever you want.
This manufacturing outrage over BS is just too much. A day off by any other name is a day off.
There is supposed to be a separation of church and state, this is one of those occasions.
Besides, what difference does it really make? I remember the Jehovah’s Witness and Muslim kids in my school growing up that had to sit quietly or go to the office while the rest of us celebrated the Christian holidays in school. I felt bad for them, and didn’t understand why they weren’t participating. Why not just be inclusive to everyone so that no one feels like the “other” or “less than”.
Having a “Day Off” does not impact how or what you do with that day. I know that it won’t in my house.
Much ado about nothing.
You’re still a moron, Ben. This just goes along with the ‘dumbing down’ of America mantra which the left seems so good at doing.
But Ben can celebrate Leap Frog day.
Ben is free to celebrate gay day
Dan, I celebrate every day. For every day in my life is a joy. I’m surrounded by loved ones, a great career, everyone including myself is healthy, and a nice roof over my head. I have lots to celebrate.
Just name changing the holidays, this is part of taking down the American traditions, history, etc. Mostly the objective of the Squad. The Squad hates this country, they can’t pledge allegiance to the flag, afraid to offend Allah and their Mohammad. They take the oath with false allegiance. The squad should not be in our government. .Anti-American people should not be in sensitive positions within our government! The squad is moronic.The squad will have to go along with Schumer, Pellosi, Schif and Nadler. EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE!
School Boards are made up of persons elected by democratic processes from the school district’s adult population as representatives. It serves at the will of that population. If Day Off instead of the traditional name for certain days is the will of the majority of voters in the district, then that School Board is acting within the electorate’s wishes. If, on the other hand, the School Board is acting on its own and the district’s voters object by a majority, then the School Board’s membership can expect push back.
This being by petition to recall, or by the vote in the coming election.
One wonders whether the School Board approved this change unanimously, or by a rule of majority, simple majority, two thirds majority, or other rile. Those who possibly voted against the measure, if the count was not unanimous, are either heroes or villains.
In defense of the Board, holidays appearing on the generally produced calendar are not all on the calendar published by the Board as Day Off on a particular date and, therefore, a student holiday. Some religious holidays observed by some in the district fall on dates when school is in session. At other times a Day Off is called on a calendar date no associated with some special event or a nationally observed event. That Day Off is on the school calendar for its convenience, some break for teachers’ something or other.
Student and parents of students appreciate understanding what dates school will be on and which will be a Day Off. President’s Day, Columbus Day, All Saints Day, and any other day calendar publishers include that coincidentally fall within the school year do not become “cancelled” if a School Board determined “Day Off” happens on that date.
Additionally, always prior to handing down judgement prerequisite must be in-depth study. In the instant case, Larry, what study, if any, did you pursue before determining this School Board is representative of societal ills which you personally find abhorrent. It is doubtful much at all but “ on its face” and full trust placed in the reporter/author’s information. How close to the true facts; persons presenting initial motion on the subject, who seconded it, discussion had including rationale, debate had and who, time period allowed for community input, and final voting- voice or secret ballot, unanimous or majority.
Opinion writing, everyone has opinions, some have strong feelings on a topic and vocalize pro or con, a few even expend effort and render something in writing, fewer still have invested time and effort to gain knowledge toward understanding the thing before passing judgement, forming an opinion, and engage in spreading it.
A scant number, having spread their opinion widely, when found that their opinion could not be supported in true facts generally accepted, will publicly recant and withdraw the opinion.
Again, Larry, I understand your rights under the First Amendment to speak and write your opinions for publishing. But, when you write for public consumption, it must be something that nourishes and positively encourages social and cultural development and change.
Blasting away at all things you propose as wrong with our country, culture, and people you argue and complain about, because the Dems are at the root of it all.
A conspiracy theorist among conspiracy theorists you have to be up right up there with the most prolific. Cancel culture as concept was fabricated by conservatives to distract fellow conservatives’ attention from true facts, that America is a social, cultural, ethnic, religion and racial plurality. One size designed and manufactured by white men will not fit all persons who identify as American. Previously, these white men where called WASPs. This White Anglo Saxon Protestant label no longer is accurate. White men are yet white but are not all Anglo in heritage, nor Saxon in DNA, and few are Protestant Christian faith followers.
Old White Men (OWM) promulgate the lies conspiracy theories are founded on. The lies designed for masses of people “of their kind” scratching around in search of something, anything, that may seem supportive and encouraging for their belief in an nonexistent alternate reality.
Larry, you and your opinion formation on things real that turn reality in to evil doings Dem sponsored. Therefore, illegitimate and unworthy are ideas , proposals, and benefits brought by the other side are anathema.
In this you strike your word sledgehammer down on the wedge dividing the country limb from limb through tissue, bone, tendons into the heart. To what purpose or hoped for end is worth destroying America through upending democracy’s basic tenants as a government for all the people, by all the people, with all the people being included.
While, I do not agree with all the people, including you, I respect people’s rights with the law. That being for others like benefits from freedoms I, myself, enjoy. Freedoms which are not boundless but end where another’s freedoms begin. This ending and beginning, recognized as boundaries, may be negotiated, in some cases. In most cases, boundaries between people’s freedoms and one’s rights exercised within those freedoms. A freedom to act in a certain way where other people are not endangered does not mean one has freedom to act the same in times when respect for others is proper, mutually beneficial, right, and just.
True, we all are free to choose among alternative opportunities. Whether the choice is to act to do or to act by refraining from, one must face and deal with whatever consequences come with doing or refraining, being the one choice beneficial and the other choice detrimental or probably neutral.
Especially, in life’s final one or two decades, where we both find ourselves, our determining which choices will be, or certainly are, beneficial turns on one’s definition for beneficial. Benefits enjoyed by the one, only, for self May be considered in the choice. Thinking of others’ good and benefiting numbers of persons beyond knowing who and how, can be of some personal benefit for the giver.
Choosing the refrain from doing option has through out human history shown to have been beneficial and positive.
If you may recall the book of Proverbs gives wisdom found practical for life, given the one reading or hearing, gains knowledge to understanding.
The teacher wrote, For everything there is a season for acting, in doing something beneficial for others beyond self, both those known and the stranger.
A time and season for acting, by refraining from doing something,
that may also have some benefit in it, for one knows not the good his refraining does.
A word to the wise …..(..
Mr. Dover – In which clause of our Constitution is “separation of church and state” even eluded to? After reading his blog and your usual retort, I really have to wonder which of you is making “Much ado about nothing”? I’d have to say it’s between the school board in a state of confusion or you in your normal state of delusion.
Phony Phil
The first clause in the Bill of Rights states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
Establishment clause of First Amendment often interpreted to require separation of church and state
For approximately the first 150 years of the country’s existence, there was little debate over the meaning of this clause in the Constitution. As the citizenry became more diverse, however, challenges arose to existing laws and practices, and eventually, the Supreme Court was called upon to determine the meaning of the establishment clause
My understanding is that the so-called teachers union has already negotiated contract for all educators HOLIDAYS. Would this proposal be a BREACH OF CONTRACT??
Wearing their hearts on their sleeves looking for anything that hurt’s their feelings!! Get over it and grow up.
Terry, I agree, I can’t believe this would upset alert so much that he would write an article on it.
The Boomer Snowflake !
Political correctness is a construct of the right. We see little evidence of this on the left.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/30/political-correctness-how-the-right-invented-phantom-enemy-donald-trump
Political correctness is a disease