NAACP Blasts Charlotte Schools Holding Classes On Martin Luther King Jr. Day

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina chapter of the NAACP is criticizing a decision to have students in the Charlotte area make up for a snow cancellation by attending school on Martin Luther King Day.

The Charlotte Observer reports that the city's NAACP chapter called Wednesday on area clergy to urge church members to keep their children home on Monday's federal holiday.

Charlotte City Councilman Patrick Cannon also criticized the system's decision, calling it disrespectful to the slain civil rights leader's legacy.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman says state law governing the school calendar gives local districts little flexibility in scheduling makeup days.

A severe winter storm canceled area schools for the first three days this week.

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Information from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotteobserver.com

Comments

[INTJ]

10:09 AM on 01/19/2011

The hypocrisy of the local NAACP is obvious, in that it wants to boycott sporting events - although this issue has nothing to do with sports - but NOT the Democratic Convention. If the issue were truly about racism, they would not make such an exception.

[Cathy S]

06:40 AM on 01/18/2011

Really??? So, out of 365 days in the year, there's no other day to make up days missed because of snow? Really??? With all the racism coming out of the teabaggers movement, I would think that common sense would tell the school system to pick another day.....well, unless it's a bunch of teabaggers in the system.

[jtdellin]

04:29 PM on 01/18/2011

Actually no, there is not much time for students to make up missed snow days. NC law requires school to be in session from August 25-June 10, STUDENTS CAN NOT GO TO SCHOOL AFTER JUNE 10TH). Teachers have to have 15 workdays, and Sundays may not be used. Students must be in school for 180 days/ 1000 hours. Also, if this was going to be a problem, why did the NAACP not speak up in May 2009 when this was passed?

Before anyone comments about why teachers do not need that many workdays, the workday between semesters teachers have to finish grades and get syllabi and other paperwork ready for the next day. Being a teacher does not just mean showing up and talking to students, but lists of meetings, professional development, PAPERWORK, and some time devoted to aiding in instructional time. Oh and lets not forget, trying to make every parent happy because they just know little Joey or Ashley is the ideal child and should have A's no matter what.

But yes, NC state law has many requirements which the school system must follow. I believe parents would rather there children go during the week than pushing it off to Saturday's.

[GlennWatson]

11:44 AM on 01/17/2011

There is a long list of things schools don't do enough of. Teaching about MLK and the Holocaust are not on that list.

I am not saying these topics should be ignored but lets not pretend they are getting short shrift either.

[ncwiseguy]

10:36 AM on 01/17/2011

just a lot of noise...............without any substance.

kids need to get smart..........they have a minimum number of days to attend school...........so go to school...........

mr king would probably appreciate that.

[crazypplmakemylife]

10:42 PM on 01/16/2011

:)...I think you should go back and read the comments again......Nothing was said about how MLK was not a great man. He was and he did some very great works. However, he is not the only one who has done something for our country to unite us. Students do not get off of school for those days. For this one year, let's all calm down and not criticize the schools so much for going to school on MLK day....for this 1 year.

[ImblackandImproud]

08:06 PM on 01/16/2011

I'm shaking my head at some of the comments that I've read. WOW! REALLY! Are you really concerned with idle children taking a day to play video games? If idle minds are your true concern please tell me what your child is doing now? Is he or she reading a book? Working on math? Ummm????? If this is your concern then what about Saturday school? Because it sounds like the concern is about kids having idle time. Its so funny how we forget. If we are going to speak about what Dr. King would want. Would he want children in some (black) school districts not to have textbooks? Ummm???? Would he be concerned with the serious disparity between white schools and black ones? I'm sure he'd much rather discuss that.

[crazypplmakemylife]

10:34 PM on 01/16/2011

:)...I think you should go back and read the comments again......Nothing was said about how MLK was not a great man. He was and he did some very great works. However, he is not the only one who has done something for our country to unite us. Students do not get off of school for those days. For this one year, let's all calm down and not criticize the schools so much for going to school on MLK day....for this 1 year.

[ImblackandImproud]

07:47 PM on 01/16/2011

To crazypplmakemylife. I'm sure someone feels the way that you do everytime you take a vacation day or time off for your birthday or some other day that's important to you. Your birthday may be very insignificant to me since I don't know you or your life's story. But I hope you have a mother or someone who loves you and would find your day very important. So please understand the importance of this day to the people who respect the work and leadership of Dr. King. How many days is it in the schoold year? Why couldn't summer vacation be shortened by a day? I think the decision to have school open that day shows great disrepect on the part of the Superintendent. LET US NOT FORGET.

[BPD]

07:43 PM on 01/16/2011

so as a parent of a child in this school district, i hope to shed some light on this situation. they are using MLK holiday as a make-up for snow, but then closing the school this friday jan 21 (for what reason i cannot tell you). so am i upset? yes! if it is about keeping the kids in school for their education then why take away an already scheduled holiday and to turn around and give a day off in the same week? its still a 4 day week now. and at the expense of a federal holiday. also there has been so many issues with decisions to close minority schools for budget cuts, etc. i see why the naacp is holding a protest. this is ridiculous

[QCBlogger]

10:57 AM on 01/17/2011

January 21, 2011 was designated as a protected teacher workday two years ago. It's protected to give teachers time out of the year to plan teaching lessons and complete paperwork. All annual calendars are decided two years in advance by a group of parents, community members, teachers, principals and other staff. For more information (http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/News/Pages/DistrictreleasesstatementonM.aspx; https://extranet.cms.k12.nc.us/news/stories/newsletters/pdf/8A11A201073945AM.pdf)

[Kathleen Hagans Jeskey]

06:43 PM on 01/16/2011

So for all you people who think it's okay to make up a snow day on MLK Day, how would you feel if the did it on Veteran's Day? Would that be okay with you? After all, they're just sitting around watching tv, the days need to be made up, etc etc. Still okay, right?

[crazypplmakemylife]

10:37 PM on 01/16/2011

that would be completely fine with me......I hope so for everyone else too! It isn't a race issue, it's an issue of the students going to school to make up a day........I think it would be more beneficial to the kids anyway to go to school on this holidays and spend the school day learning about what great things that these people have done for our country.....MLK...our Veterans....our Presidents...etc.

[QCBlogger]

10:32 AM on 01/17/2011

Yes, it would be completely ok with me if kids had to make-up for inclement weather on any other holiday. I would not be offended in anyway because I believe educating our children should be the top priority in this discussion. MLK would want all children to receive the same opportunity to learn in the classroom. How are we helping them if we are keeping them out?

[crazypplmakemylife]

01:55 PM on 01/16/2011

I'm not understanding why this is such a huge deal to you all. It is MLK day, traditionally students get out of school on this day (to sit around and watch tv/ or game just as someone else said). We have other holidays that are set aside and observed by our country, but there is one difference between MLK day and those days (President's Day, Columbus day...etc.).....Our nation as come to worship MLK day. Set aside all of the positive things MLK completed in his lifetime and also take into consideration all of the positive things others have done (which we do not take a day to observe, and I'm not saying we should). The kids missed 5 days of school, to all of you who worship MLK day, you should have celebrated while your children were out of school last week......too bad for you!!! And to Jesse Jackson and all of his cult followers...who still "punish" white citizens...for slavery 100 years ago......Get Over It!! Really?? Come' On!!

It is not that big of a deal anymore, let's work on making our nation stronger and forget about the past, everyone has paid for it and is tired of hearing their mouths run!!!

LAC

[corwin]

11:19 AM on 01/16/2011

I don't know if Dr King would have wanted the kidds in school on his birthday.And,frankly ,it's a non issue. (Was there ever an argument.MLK should set school calendars?) Das need to be recovered. Kids need to be educated. The NAACP seems more worried about PC,or a desancitification -is that even a word/ of DR King than the students

[BPD]

07:12 AM on 01/17/2011

so as a parent of a child in this school district, i hope to shed some light on this situation. they are using MLK holiday as a make-up for snow, but then closing the school this friday jan 21 (for what reason i cannot tell you). so am i upset? yes! if it is about keeping the kids in school for their education then why take away an already scheduled holiday and to turn around and give a day off in the same week? its still a 4 day week now. and at the expense of a federal holiday. also there has been so many issues with decisions to close minority schools for budget cuts, etc. i see why the naacp is holding a protest. this is ridiculous

[QCBlogger]

10:58 AM on 01/17/2011

January 21, 2011 was designated as a protected teacher workday two years ago. It's protected to give teachers time out of the year to plan teaching lessons and complete paperwork. All annual calendars are decided two years in advance by a group of parents, community members, teachers, principals and other staff. For more informatio­n (http://www­.cms.k12.n­c.us/News/­Pages/Dist­rictreleas­esstatemen­tonM.aspx; https://ex­tranet.cms­.k12.nc.us­/news/stor­ies/newsle­tters/pdf/­8A11A20107­3945AM.pdf)

[jtdellin]

04:37 PM on 01/18/2011

Protected teacher workdays are given by the state, they must fall between the end of one quarter/semester and the beginning of the next. What most people do not realize is that CMS has little time to work around all the laws that NC gives them. If you want to complain, do not look at CMS but talk to your rep's in Raleigh, they are the ones who make the laws. Oh, you might be wondering about all the laws... well we have to make the tourism industry happy, that is why you have a majority of these problems.

[Freesia2]

12:17 AM on 01/16/2011

Someone made the point that Martin Luther King, Jr. himself would want the kids in school. That that would be the best way to honor him. Technically, they're correct.

Except they're not. Charlotte isn't doing it for educational purposes. They're doing it because given the choice to make up snow days on the anniversary that  commemorates an African American hero or some other day - they'll choose Martin's day. (That's not to lambast everybody in Charlotte. I'm sure many people don't like this. That's to lambast the people who don't see a difference between Martin's day and some other day. And don't want the children to either. And you know why. Sure you do)

And yes, Martin would applaud any day a kid is being educated. He would also applaud the idea that one of the things kids are being educated in is respect for the worth and sacrifice of an American hero so that they're own life is informed and inspired by it. Which would mean a clear message of a day of observance. As if he were a Lincoln. You know - a white American. Now he is a reclaimed "snow" day. And yes you can read that pun as I meant it.

[GlennWatson]

06:20 PM on 01/15/2011

We lost five days of school this week in North Alabama. Some systems are going to school on Monday and some are not.

The real problem is when to make up those days. Last year we added two days onto the end of the year after exams. Five kids showed up.

[ArtMaggot]

01:35 PM on 01/15/2011

No better way to celebrate MLK day than with a job or working on your education!

[O K Ali]

01:26 PM on 01/15/2011

Ugh. That is why I never joined. Dr. King would rather have those children in school. They missed practically a whole week because of the snow and they want to give them one more day to sit on the couch to play video games. text messages, and update their Facebook status.

[BPD]

07:14 AM on 01/17/2011

so as a parent of a child in this school district, i hope to shed some light on this situation. they are using MLK holiday as a make-up for snow, but then closing the school this friday jan 21 (for what reason i cannot tell you). so am i upset? yes! if it is about keeping the kids in school for their education then why take away an already scheduled holiday and to turn around and give a day off in the same week? its still a 4 day week now. and at the expense of a federal holiday. also there has been so many issues with decisions to close minority schools for budget cuts, etc. i see why the naacp is holding a protest. this is ridiculous

[QCBlogger]

10:58 AM on 01/17/2011

January 21, 2011 was designated as a protected teacher workday two years ago. It's protected to give teachers time out of the year to plan teaching lessons and complete paperwork. All annual calendars are decided two years in advance by a group of parents, community members, teachers, principals and other staff. For more informatio­n (http://www­.cms.k12.n­c.us/News/­Pages/Dist­rictreleas­esstatemen­tonM.aspx; https://ex­tranet.cms­.k12.nc.us­/news/stor­ies/newsle­tters/pdf/­8A11A20107­3945AM.pdf)