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The Edutopia Poll
by Sara Ring
The day after Thanksgiving has become a de facto holiday for American public schools, most if not all of which are closed both Thursday and Friday. This four-day weekend allows extra time for staffers and students to celebrate with family, especially those that must travel to do so. But at a time when school districts are struggling to get students' math and reading scores up, can schools afford to take another day off in a semester already packed with federal holidays, and with winter break around the corner?
Black Friday, as it's sometimes known, can be particularly tricky for working parents who need to find child care for their children on that day. Is it time to rethink this post–Turkey Day tradition? Tell us what you think!
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It seems in my part of the world that not only are we out the day after Thanksgiving, but now the day BEFORE as well. When I taught at a private boarding school, this made sense, as students were traveling some distances and a longer break validated the trip. Now, I'm not so sure whose best interests we have in mind!
In my experience parents will cater to their own conveniences. If Friday was a school day I can foresee that not many students will be in attendance and if that's the case then for many teachers it would be a blow off day. So is it really beneficial to have class that day? I have had many instances when school was in session on a Holiday and I had less than half of my students in class. Many parents will sacrifice a 1 day absence to travel or for that matter to shop. Many districts only have 1 holiday from the start of school till Thanksgiving. The Fall may be packed with holidays but that doesn't mean that schools get that time off.
Not only that but how will having school effect the national and local economies? How many local businesses rely on Black Friday to kick off their holiday sales?
One day does not make a difference
I agree with Tabitha. My district only has off Thanksgiving and black Friday, but many students do not come in the day before Thanksgiving or even the entire week of Thanksgiving because they are traveling to spend Thanksgiving with relatives. It would be a wasteful school day. I'd much rather tack the day onto the end of the year if the one extra school day was that impactful on school achievement.
Only Thursday and Friday?
Because of budgetary concerns our district decided to close for the entire week before Thanksgiving. I guess $ trumps education.
Our district is off the day before Thanksgiving as well as the day after. This helps families with travel plans and gives students a short break.
Thanksgiving = Family Day
Of all national Holidays, Thanksgiving is seen as a time of family gathering. It has no religious conotation, so it's universal. And in the America of today, many families (mine included) gather from distances to be together. This is practical becaue it's a four-day weekend - elsewise my daughter from California could not join us at my brother's house in Boston, while I travel up from New York