Is it Un-American?
The Becton Board of Education tabled a vote on a 2008-2009 calendar that would have schools open on Nov. 11, Veterans Day. The decision to postpone a vote came after the board heard the impassioned plea of East Rutherford VFW Vice-Commander Al Levy at its March 12 meeting.
Levy, a veteran of the Vietnam War, expressed his concern that holding school on that day would dishonor those who have fought and died in the United States armed services.
"How are you supposed to teach the children respect for veterans when you don’t respect their holiday,"
Levy told the board.
Becton’s superintendent James Jencarelli noted in response that it was the board’s intention to arrange special veteran-related instruction for the students on the holiday.
"We should not only respect that day but expound on what veterans have done for us," said board member Jerome Winston. "I would guess quite a few kids, quite a few adults, don’t know what Normandy is."
Levy volunteered to set up a VFW committee to create a Veterans Day curriculum for students, but held firm that schools should nevertheless be closed on the day itself.
The original decision to open schools on Nov. 11 was made in conjunction with the Carlstadt and East Rutherford Boards of Education. But East Rutherford’s Board of Education had moved earlier in the month to reinstate the holiday after a similar plea from Levy’s daughter, Irena Romanello, also of East Rutherford. Romanello comes from a family of veterans. In addition to her father, Romanello’s husband served in the first Gulf War. Her grandfather served in World War II.
Though East Rutherford and Carlstadt schools traditionally close for Veterans Day, a glut of nearby off-days contributed to the board’s initial decision to cancel the holiday for the upcoming year. Schools will close on Tuesday, Nov. 4, for the presidential election, and then again on Nov. 6-7 for the annual NJEA Teacher’s Convention.
There is no word on whether the Carlstadt board will vote to reinstate the holiday, but the three districts usually strive to maintain consistent calendars. The three district superintendents will revisit the issue before the next round of Board meetings, according to Jencarelli.
Lyndhurst, North Arlington and Rutherford school districts will also be open on Veterans Day, though North Arlington schools will be limited to four-hour sessions due to parent-teacher conferences.
Rutherford schools have been open on Veterans Day for at least 30 years with no complaint, according to Superintendent Leslie O’Keefe.
"We can do a better job educating students about the significance of the holiday by having the schools in sessions," said O’Keefe.
