Tom,
Are you just incapable of being nice? I wasn't rude to you. Which paid positions in the school system would get overtime for working on veterans day? You said it, now show me....

Luca,
I understand your point and maybe I got a little carried away, but I do know what the holidays mean. Veteran's day honors all vets, including those who gave their lives. I always remember and honor all our vets, especially the WWII guys who saved our world. We'll never see their like again. I am a non-combat vet of the Korean conflict who always observes both Memorial and Veteran's Days. I just don't think keeping our kids in school on November 11th will teach them anything.

@George. I am sorry that you think school teachers are incapable of teaching kids. What percentage of parents do you think are teaching kids about honoring sacrifice and service to one's country on November 11th? i would bet that those same parents do it year round, and don't wait for our annual Veteran's Day to mention it or attend a parade. Sounds like the model they have in Wilton is at least a positive effort that attempts to reach all the students and engages veterans - people who are being honored - in the process. So if the Wilton teachers can't teach them and the vets cannot inspire them, why is sitting at home playing "Call fo Duty: Black Ops" on their xBox the solution?

George,
I most certainly thank you for your service. I had the privilidge of being raised in a family with many Veteran's; My father, both grandfathers, both great grandfathers...my still living, WWII Vet Great Great Uncle who is 95 years of age, and still refuses to talk about the war. These are the people who taught me about the respect, the honor, and the value...these are the people who taught me to be grateful for all that I have, because of people like you, who served to protect this country. Not everyone knows a Veteran. Not everyone is raised with those values. Not everyone understands. Parents who were not raised that way, certainly aren't raising their children that way, either. If you go up to a child of 7 years old, and ask them what a "veteran" is, they possibly would not be able to tell you, because their perception of it is fuzzy. Seeing a Veteran in front of you, teaching you, talking to you, explaining to you the importance of the day...that's what has an impact. Taking a child to a ceremony is great...but unless they truly understand why they're there, it isn't going to teach them much of anything.

Paul--
Its an awesome point to try to accuse me of being other people. You appeared out of nowhere and suddenly are aware of all the accusations. care to explain? I asked you how does someone know that you are Paul D? you went silent on that? you know why? because between the 2 of us, only one is honest, and it certainly isnt you.
But lets go over your statement:
1) " I dont think that kids..are taught to understand the holidays including Veterans day. An interesting statement given that you also said "George. I am sorry that you think school teachers are incapable of teaching kids." And then argue that kids should go to school. So lets recap --you dont think they learn. But then you chastise someone else for saying the same thing. And now you want kids in school -because you dont have faith in learning in school. Brilliant.
2)"This fact is particularly acute ... (facts are not acute --just to let you know..as you correct people all the time ....) Your statement has immeasurable disrespect in addition to ignorance attached to it. You are saying that Veterans and those who serve are poor? Or are destined to be poor? While those who currently enlist are of slightly lower economic status --veterans are far more likely to end up finacially successful than non military people.

Why I am doing this Joyce, I have no idea but here goes-
1. http://www.defense.gov/news/Dec2005/d20051213mythfact.pdf - see page 2 on socioeconomics in the military. Before you spout off, recognize Fairfield County towns such as Darien, Ridgefield, and New Canaan have some of the highest average incomes by zip code in the country.
2. I don't think kids are taught to understand holidays because it is not part of the curriculum. Not because teachers can't teach.
3. "Acute" is an adjective meaning sharp or severe in effect. I would think you would agree that having military personnel in your family is likely to increase the effect as so many young men and women have been killed over the last 10 years.
4. I want the local BOE to set the dates off, not the federal government.
5. A friend who is on this site recognized "Paul D" -my name- and sent me an email to my personal address asking if it was me. I said yes. He then informed me of your nonsense, including calling yourself "Luca" When your real name is Joyce and you live in Darien.
5. Rell was vetoed many times. I apologize with all my might to all the people whose lives and decisions were affected. Did you apologize to everyone for your errors?

Paul D. (apparently the only Paul D. in Fairfield County. Sure man....why dont you sign your name if you are so easily recognizable. here is what happenned--you saw someone accuse me of being Joyce and someone else of being Steven. you have been on patch for some time, but change your name when you get caught in whatever it is you decide you no longer want to be associated with. There are most like 1000 people with Paul D that might post, so your theory is beyond preposterous.
I 'spout off' only when I have facts. Your expose -which you no doubt did as much reseearch as possible to obtain-still only says that the vast majority of servicemen are middle class. At least 2 things that render your assertion patently false 1) Darien New Canaan Ridgefield you correctly point out have high income earners. But in your myopia you somehow conclude that having a town of high earners means there are no middle class in any of those towns? Thats simply STUPID. 2) your report is from 2005 which prior to your awesome link--I already said "todays recruits are from slightly lower economic stature (you accused me of not reading--how about you?) but that Veterans are not just from the Iraq war, "Paul"--they are from World War 2 Korea Vietnam Grenada and every peacetime in between. There are ample Veterans in each of the towns you list... care to retract?

Facts cannot be acute. But lets use your type of vernacular for a second and describe your types of facts as dull facts. Facts that are not very well honed.
I will ask the BOE or the School system, or perhaps someone here can tell me if teachers ever teach outside the curriculum? When the Hurricane Irene hit, were the teachers forbidden to talk about the effects? Paul, your assertion that kids are never taught about various holidays because its not on the curriculum is a very clever way to elude your point about kids being taught. Too bad, that teachers are not restricted to only subjects on the curriculum. Just another dull fact of yours.
Im fascinated though by why you want to establish that i am other people. If I am Steve and Jpyce and Chaz -then why havent I seen them in months?
Why dont I need to have them agree, as you theorize with me now? And more importantly, (and I cant remember in full) I dont think they agreed with me ever. My recollection is that Joyce was calling for an end to the Darien "shuffle". She said it was too expensive. Whiile I argued fervently for the senior citizens of Darien to go forward with the shuffle. If Im both Joyce and Luca-then why would I take polar opposite view of the issue that I felt strongly about? It makes very little sense what you are saying. But go ahead---explain the twisted logic that you imagine.
Maybe next I can say I am for affordable housing-and then invent someone who says I am against it. Why?

Paul
yes-when Im wrong I say Im wrong.
I dont do the disingenous "immmmmm wrrrronng " because I dont consider it a threat to my manhood to be wrong.
Evidence was when you told me there was no supermajority. I said I stand corrected, but that prior to the last elections-there was a supermajority.
it didnt hurt.
In terms of your ridicule-- I just have to read any post of yours. I just got home from a movie--so Ill go over them as you post and just point out-that your style is to ridicule.
If you dont want to admit to it --then I take it you are not proud. So , my suggestion is to actually use your brain and try to debate .
You were able to post a link-- thats a start. It was very limited as it only referred to the current military--but if you look hard you will find that in general veterans are far more successful than non veterans. Its stands to reason. We learn respsect, discipline and we are taught a work ethic that stays with you.
Im guessing Paul, that you never served our country. Never considered it for that matter. And that is your right. But Im also guessing that you have strong opinions on the validity of defense and military spending.
Just a quick anecdote--check out why the falkland islands were attacked by argentina. the answer is, england imposed austerity measures that severely weakened its presence in that region. The Argintines saw the weakness and attacked--costing the Brits hundreds times more and lives. Be careful.

Teachers and students are in school the same number of days regardless of vacations or holidays. Fewer vacations in the school calendar means they could start later in August or end in June earlier. Makes no difference.
The arguments tend to be 3 - 1. start earlier in August so that AP classes in the HS have optimum time for instruction before the tests... also, at RHS they have senior internships at the end of the year; also buildings aren't AC'ed and if you have been in a school in June that does not have it, you would vote for this. 2. Keep the Feb vacation, it is the week most likely to have snow days anyway, and with Monday off for P-Day, you get one free. 3. Lose Feb vacation because of its proximity to state testing in March. The week off affects testing prep.

Hope that helps. :)

I disagree that vaca or no vaca makes no difference. Talk to the teachers. They say all these vacations are is too disruptive to the learning process. Christmas break throws the kids off. It takes them a while to readjust and get in the mode. Then Feb break happens and ooops, they loose their thoughts again. Takes a while to get back on track and along comes April break. Too much. You need contiguous learning time, not disjointed time.

Try reading a book, not by sitting down for one block of 60 minutes over the next two hours, but instead by reading for one minute at a time, alternating every other minute. It's a mess.