Fifteen Windsor H.S. students won't attend school on Veterans Day (Connecticut)

WFSB-TV, Hartford, Conn. ^ | November 11, 2005 | AP

[LurkedLongEnough]

WINDSOR, Conn. (AP) -- Windsor High School planned classes today, but senior Dan Marsella didn't plan to be there.

"I think it's rude and disrespectful," said Marsella, 17, who is planning to enter the service and hopes to attend the U.S. Naval Academy or the Coast Guard Academy.

Instead, Marsella and 15 other students planned to boycott school to attend a memorial program at a local VFW.

The high school was delayed at least two hours Friday due to a power outage. "It's a very important day for those who served our country and protected us," he said.

Most of the state's 166 school districts are closed today, but more than a dozen have decided to hold classes instead of closing for the federal holiday, according to the state Department of Education.

State law says school districts that hold classes on Columbus Day and Veterans Day must give students lessons on the subjects being recognized on those days.

Edward Carney Jr., commander of the American Legion Department of Connecticut, said he appreciates what the Windsor school district is trying to do by incorporating veterans into the curriculum, but the organization would prefer they observe the holiday by closing.

As for Marsella's planned boycott, Carney said he agreed with the young man's point of view, but he didn't want to see him get in trouble at school.

"If he feels it's part of his right to freedom of expression, tell him I appreciate it," Carney said.

Marsella said that his mother will call the high school today to let the office know he won't be in class and that he plans to be honest with Joseph Arcarese, Windsor High's principal, when he returns to school on Monday.

"If I'm not allowed to make up the work, that's the price I'll have to pay," he said.

[LurkedLongEnough]

I've never heard of any Connecticut school system being open on Veteran's Day. What a shame.

[JRios1968]

Instead, Marsella and 15 other students planned to boycott school to attend a memorial program at a local VFW.

They'll learn more, and more important lessons that way.

[Pondman88]

I am suprised that school is open today. Most are closed.

[shezza]

Instead, Marsella and 15 other students planned to boycott school to attend a memorial program at a local VFW. The high school was delayed at least two hours Friday due to a power outage. "It's a very important day for those who served our country and protected us," he said.

?? Either the reporter flunked journalism school or needs a dictionary: non sequitur

[coder2]

Minnesota schools are open today --- but they are closed for Martin Luther King day...

[big'ol_freeper]

Schools are open in Maryland on Veteran's Day. Have been since I moved here in 1995. Then again, the state has always been hostile to veterans so at least they are consistent.

[nmh]

This gets me mad. These men and women risk their lives to keep these ignorant cowards safe and free. Someday ... sooner than they know ... these brave men and women won't be there to defend these childish cowards ... and then what will they do? Cower in the corner? Cry? Beg for Mom to protect them? What?

The reason I state this is because ... events ... and Bible prophecy lead me to believe it is VERY possible that His second coming is close. Of course I don't know when that will happen, for sure ... but how things are going out there ... the moral deterioration that is now supported by laws such as in abortion and special rights to perverts and homosexuals ... leads me to believe it really may happen soon. If I am right, then I ask again, what will there godless, narcissistic cowards do with NO ONE to protect them?

[2banana]

Here is one veteran's opinion - go to school - have the school teach about the high cost of freedom...

[nmh]

I add:

John.15:13

[13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Just as Christ did for us with the hope that we'd believe.

Countless men and women have done just that - given their life and risk their life. There is NOTHING more honorable than giving your life for another and for righteous reasons as our military routinely does,

[blaquebyrd]

Here's another veteran agreeing with you. Go to school and learn about the sacrifices veterans have made.

[nmh]

Many hugs your way!

I'm sorry some don't appreciate what you did.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Update, just found the other CT towns holding classes:

"The other school districts holding classes today, according to the state Department of Education and local officials, include Avon, Canton, Clinton, East Lyme, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Madison, New Canaan, North Branford, Old Saybrook, Trumbull, Westbrook, Weston, Westport, Wilton, and Regional School District 18."

[Archangel86]

I was gonna say...
I never got Veteran's Day off when I was in school. S'what we get for livin' in a blue state, eh?

[LurkedLongEnough]

Your idea of "school" is probably different than what I've experienced. Some teachers refuse to have an American flag in their classrooms. Those teachers and many more would just spew hate for the military.

[coder2]

Oh I know --- it's just the hypocrisy of this state that I disagree so much with.

It's not that I have a problem with the schools having veteran's day off --- to the kids, it's just a day, it probably won't mean much (although to my kids it does). It's more the fact that they have King's b-day off, but not Veteran's Day or even President's Day anymore. This is what I find so interesting..

[Burf]

I doesn't surprise me in the least with Moscow/Stalingrad on the Mississippi controlling the show.

[kidd]

The Windsor VFW is located at 276 Broad Street
Phone 860-688-1487

Only memorial is at 7pm. Nothing during school hours.

[FormerACLUmember]

God bless these brave young men for honoring today, Veteran's Day.

[coder2]

Very sad, but true...

Would move in a minute, but hubby likes it here. At least we don't live in the "cities" anymore.

[68skylark]

There was a report in the last few days that the Army is having a lot of recruiting trouble from many high schools -- not because of left-leaning staff, but because the quality of the education is so bad that the kids can't pass the military entrance exams.

So maybe the best thing we can do on Veteran's day, and other holidays, is open the schools an extra hour or two and focus on good, solid teaching.