What an Honor

What is the best way to honor a man who dedicated most of his adult life to ensuring equality for all Americans?  Who fought to break down barriers to quality education for all kids?  Who demanded that his government provide the assistance necessary to move out of generational poverty and gain economic security?  Well, for a group of parents and students in Appleton, that way is to keep kids out of school and spending more time playing video games.

That group is using an on-line petition to pressure the Appleton School District to make Martin Luther King, Junior Day a day off for students and staff every year.  It probably surprises some people that MLK Day isn't necessarily a scheduled off day in many area public schools.  Oshkosh did not have off of classes this year.  In fact, the next Monday had no classes--as the Friday after MLK was the last day of the Third Quarter--and the in-service day would allow teachers to finalize grades.

I understand why the parent and student group is pushing for the day off--a number of other Federal holidays are observed by the Appleton School District--so are a few Christian holidays.  So to not "recognize" Martin Luther King, Jr Day in the same way "diminishes his importance" and represents yet another example of "institutional racism".

But if they were to just get past the "same means equal" mentality, they would see that being in class better exemplifies what Dr King hoped to accomplish.  The Reverend certainly did not advocate for less education for African-Americans--so why would he want those kids out of the classroom on a Monday in the middle of January?  Especially after spending more than a week off just two weeks prior for the Christian holidays?

And what about the impact on low-income and single-parent families we hear about when kids are out of school for bad weather, bomb threats or just summer vacation?  Will parents that cannot afford to hire baby-sitters have to take time away from work that they also can't afford to watch their children?  There won't be the before-school programs or the after-school programs to provide what is essentially free day care. The school breakfasts and lunches won't be available to provide two meals that day for those kids.  The school nurse won't be there to dispense behavior-control drugs at the proper times and in the proper dosages.  And the structure provided by the class-day will be lost--so kids will have to come up with ways to entertain themselves--some of which likely will not be very positive for themselves or the community.

What the "day off" group should be advocating is for MLK Day to be a "day of action" instead.  Take kids to a traditionally-black church in their area and hear the words of Doctor King in the setting where he delivered many of them.  Take them to the Museum in the Castle to explore the history of minorities in their city--or to learn about the state's role in winning the Civil War.  Or perhaps the best way to "honor" Dr King is to provide them with the math, science, spelling, vocabulary and historical knowledge they need to be successful adults in our society--regardless of their ethnicity.  I'm pretty sure MLK would be "honored" by that.