Credit: 1st Lt. Travis Mueller/U.S. Army
The Pennsbury School District will not give students the day off next Veterans Day.
Next November 11, students in the district will be in classrooms and learning about the meaning behind the holiday.
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For years, students in Pennsbury have been given the day off in recognition of the holiday.
However, Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith, the son of a veteran, felt students weren’t really getting the most out of the day off.
Smith said the district talked with the high school ROTC and local veterans groups as they worked to change the calendar.
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This year, all of the district’s schools will host educational events to recognize military veterans and the role they play in our society.
“I feel this day presents an opportunity to educate our students on the importance of veterans and service to our country,” Smith said.
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Previously, Pennsbury did host some events around Veterans Day, but Smith said more can be done with kids in schools.
Between 1965 and 1971, Pennsbury lost 15 recent graduates in the Vietnam War. He said many more former students have died serving the country over the years.
Initial word of the change in the calendar raised concerns from parents on social media about whether the district planned to recognize veterans.
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Pennsbury School Board President TR Kannan acknowledged at the recent meeting that there were worries raised by the public.
“Hopefully this will help calm those concerns,” Kannan said.
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A resident spoke up at public comment that they were initially upset upon hearing about the elimination of the Veterans Day holiday. However, once he heard the district plans more recognition, he said his worry dissipated.
“I look forward to hearing more about what will happen in the schools. I hope you can make it a good day for the students in school,” he said.
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