Parents Upset About School On MLK Day

[pstokely]

Source: KMBC.com

ODESSA, Mo. -- Some parents in Odessa said they were upset that the school district chose to make up one of last week's snow days on Monday's Martin Luther King Jr holiday.

The district's small percentage of black students are allowed to have an excused absence, but parents said it's not fair that other students don't have the same option.

"There are others who might want to celebrate Martin Luther King Day," said parent Kim Strickland.

Read more: http://www.kmbc.com/news/26520652/detail.html

---

How many school districts used MLK Day as a snow makeup day?

[azurnoir]

1. a number of schools in NW Minnesota did that too

I would say most of them have 0 Black students and that is why, doesn't make it right though

[pnwmom]

2. A lot used President's day, too, and will also use Memorial Day.

They have to do something or they might end up having classes in July.

[pstokely]

3. Some districts build snow days into their calendars

But that's in places where they get snow

[pnwmom]

9. And even when they do in a snowy winter it's often not enough. n/t

[CreekDog]

4. giving some students a holiday and others not --all based on race?

in addition to being illegal, sending the message that only black students have reason to get the holiday (as if MLK's work only helped black people is wrong.

[harmonicon]

11. that's exactly what I thought...

I don't remember anything about the good reverend having a dream about one day black children and white children having different school holidays.

[Brickbat]

14. Yup. It totally goes against his message.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

5. Racist America

I wonder if the bi-racial kids got half a day off!
I was stunned when I came to this country and on all the forms asked what race you were. I have always put down 'Human'.

[SnakeEyes]

6. Honestly...

I think all holidays that don't involve many businesses shutting down, families gathering together, or at least a day of actual celebration to be ridiculous. Celebrate MLK Day by having kids stay home and be unproductive! You can insert most other holidays into that sentence. How about staying in school and gearing the day's lessons toward MLK?

[pstokely]

7. Not everyone had MLK Day off

Private sector (other than banks) doesn't take most Federal holidays off. The malls were open, Wal-Mart was open. They'd all be closed if they really cared.

[boppers]

8. We were closed.

Private sector. Internet and marketing sector. 100 person company, 12 million a year in revenue. 1 African American employee, in a city that is 0.28% African American (we have over three times the amount of AA employees that statistics would dictate, though a 0.28 employment of 100 is a funny number to start with). All told, the city is 93.98% white.

We're also a pretty progressive company.

[HockeyMom]

10. I have had MLK off in private businesses decades ago

So has my husband. Actually, I have never worked at a place, business, school, or non profit, that DIDN'T give it off. The school district where I work in Florida has only been closing on MLK for the past 5 years. That is pitiful. It took actual demonstrating by black students, parents, and staff, to change it.

[snooper2]

12. We were closed...private sector,

Telecom

My buddy's shop was closed - Rolex

My friends wife was off- works for a finance company



I think you meant to say the retail shops are open -

[Brickbat]

13. Our district has always had school on MLK day.

[melm00se]

15. many NC school districts

did and that got some groups all riled up. It made no difference when those districts said that they were also doing make up days on President's Day and Memorial Day.