Despite the Memorial Day Holiday, class was in session Monday for students at New Haven’s Amistad Middle School. Administrators instituted the half-day schedule as they attempt to make up for snow days taken over the winter.
“I don’t think they should have had it on Memorial Day,” said Diane, the mother of a seventh grader at the school. “Saturday would have been fine. I think it would have been much more of a turnout.”
Father Steve Harvin disagreed, “I think it’s good. Kids still need to learn. Either they are going to make it up one way or another. A couple of hours out of the day is not really going to hurt.”
Attendance Monday was lower than usual. Some teachers combined classes to fill up a room. Fourth grader Marquis Rishard told Fox Connecticut, “There was barely anybody there.”
One parent protesting the change was Darnell Goldson. Goldson started an online petition calling the decision to hold class on Memorial Day a “dishonor to American military families.” Still, educators continued with the modified schedule.
Administrators for Amistad Middle School could not be immediately reached for comment. Amistad Middle School is a public charter school run by Achievement First.