Schools

Ridgefield Veterans Ask That Schools Stay Closed On Veterans Day

Veteran groups in Ridgefield showed their disapproval of the Board of Education's plan to keep schools open on Veterans Day for the next three years.

Ridgefield American Legion Commander George Besse invoked the words of President Calvin Coolidge in front of the Board of Education Monday night: "The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten."

The board, in its draft of the school calendar for the next three years, planned to have a full day of school on the November 11 holiday to prevent the school year from spilling too far into the month of June and to preserve other holidays during the year.

Several of Ridgefield's veterans groups feel this action is a slight against the honor that day represents.

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"Veterans day is a sacred day for all veterans," Besse said.

The sentiment among the several men in attendance at Monday's meeting was that the day should not be considered a day for "business as usual" and that November 11 should be set aside to honor veterans by making it a school holiday.

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Several members of the board argued, though, that a day for students to attend school and learn about United States history there rather than at home would be a more apt way to honor the day's meaning.

"The things the kids learn at school can be so much more than what they learn sitting at home," board member Irene Burgess said.

"This is not meant as disrespect," board chair Austin Drukker said. "It seems better to immerse the students on that day as opposed to sitting at home."

Drukker added that, because of the passion shown by the veterans regarding the holiday, the board should consider honoring their wishes -- there will be a vote on February 13 to resolve the issue.

Days the district plans to close the school are Columbus Day and Presidents' Day, both of which were cited as possible alternatives to Veterans Day, as well as the possibility of adding it to the beginning of the school year in August.

In 2011, the district held a half-day of school because of the number of early cancellations due to the storms Irene and Alfred -- the day was originally slated to be a holiday.

The veterans in Ridgefield hold ceremonies in town on Veterans Day and have lent their times to the schools in the past before the day off to talk to students about the meaning of Veterans Day.

"Relegating the holiday to 'business as usual' is to downgrade the holiday," American Legion member George Schuster said. "We hope you will reconsider."


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