Board pres. defends Veterans Day action
A reader recently wrote to your newspaper criticizing the Keyport Board of Education for its celebration of Veterans Day by keeping the Keyport public schools open. The Keyport Board of Education, along with a number of other Boards of Education across our nation, made a very deliberate and reasoned decision a number of years ago to mark Veterans Day each year by not closing school.
While students enjoy a day off, we felt the purpose of this particular occasion would be better served by the young people in our community attending school and learning how veterans from our armed forces have defended and protected our American democratic way of life.
Lessons explaining the importance of Veterans Day are given in classes in our schools. Moreover, veterans are invited to speak in social studies classes on this special day. Short memorial programs or moments of reflection are held on school grounds as a way of expressing student gratitude for the heroic efforts of these men and women in our past. The Board of Education feels children and young people will better understand the significance of this day by staying in classes and learning about it.
We realize our decision may not gain the approval of everyone, but freedom of thought and expression is what American veterans served, fought and, in some cases, died for. Rather than take away from the respect and admiration we have for veterans, we feel our approach ensures future generations will hold these veterans in the highest regard they deserve.
Ed McNamara
President, Keyport Board of Education