If you come from a religious or cultural view that does not celebrate Christmas, you likely have a heightened awareness of the holiday celebration problem that is present in many public schools. More employee appreciation supports your company culture and your business. Advantages of an extended school holidayThere are some obvious advantages to a vacation that lasts three weeks or longer. [27], Companies including Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Farmers Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, Patagonia, and Walmart have joined Make Time to Vote campaign, which encourages employers to provide paid time off, schedule no meetings on Election Day, and give information on mail-in ballots and early voting. Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. The Festival and Event Management program covers strategic planning, site management, budgeting and financial planning, marketing and sponsorship, human resource management and volunteer recruitment, and event evaluation. What is a Magnet School? Siegel acknowledges holidays year-round through stories, songs, and games, connecting them by their common themes. var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); In the last monthin examples that cross racial boundariesthe black actress and conservative commentator Stacey Dash called to eliminate Black History Month, labeling it a vestige of segregation, while Republicans in the Kansas legislature questioned if an entire month dedicated to honoring black history was too long.. They should support each argument with specific evidence from research. He believed the heritage and contributions of black Americans was excluded from history, and he saw this knowledge as essential to social change. Holiday celebrations build and strengthen connections between home and school, and among children who share the same holidays. The community launched the celebration, named after the Minnesota state flower, to showcase and promote understanding of the area's natural resources and Native American culture, as well as attract visitors to the byway. Cultural festivals are a great way to immerse yourself in a new cultural without needing to invest in a plane ticket, time off, visas, and pre-trip doctors appointments. As noted, hosting a festival is not without risks and costs. Pro/Con Arguments | Discussion Questions | Take Action | Sources | More Debates, Election Day in the United States has occurred on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November ever since President John Tyler signed an 1845 law establishing a specific voting day for the entire country. [15] Israel and South Korea make national elections a holiday to avoid economic hardship for voters. She also teaches them about other holidays from around the world, in order to expose them to cultures and beliefs outside of their own. [12], The idea that voting should be a celebration, not a chore is one argument for turning Election Day into a national holiday, according to Archon Fung, PhD, and Jane Mansbridge, PhD, professors at the Harvard Kennedy School. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. [18][19], Federal law doesnt require private employers to give employees paid federal holidays. Rather, it helps us have an understanding of the world and the people around us.. For most people, that lifestyle means spending time with your family and loved ones, so I want to enable, encourage and empower my employees to do that.". [1], Over time, voting rights expanded from only white, male landowners age 21 and older to include women and people of color, as well as citizens age 18 and up, resulting in a dramatic increase in the voting-eligible population and a shift in voter demographics. I was the elephant in the room, or rather the token Negro, who was supposed to represent the entire race when students had questions about black history, said Simons, who was often on the receiving end of questions and awkward stares as the only black child in predominately white classrooms. However, once the holiday is over, everyone gets to work as before. Paige highlights current achievements of Native people as a way to counter her students misconception that they are all gone and can be found only in the pages of textbooks. Overall, the study found less teaching of the civil-rights movement in states outside the South and those with fewer black residents. For example, by watching a traditional Da de Los Muertos dance and comparing it to Michael Jacksons Halloween-based Thriller, students learn how the dancers movements help tell a story. But the benefits last well beyond the event, as people bring their connections and collective knowledge and skills to improve the community. California School District to Monitor Social Media, Nearly Half of Nations Schools Falling Short of Federal Standards, Prayers in Public School? Should Schools Conduct Background Checks on Teachers? 2011 Classroom Size Update: Are Classes Still Growing Larger? We rarely learned about anyone new from year to year, and we also didnt get a context of different time periods. }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ When I answered, Cooking with my flatmate and going for Turkish! they longed to join us. [20][21][22] A part-time hourly worker is more likely to have multiple jobs, none of which are likely to offer time off for a national holiday. Raquel Willis, a writer and racial-justice activist in Atlanta, remembers annual Black History Month school displays in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia, as neither memorable nor notable. SHRM Employment Law & Compliance Conference, Weighing the Pros and Cons of In-Person Holiday Parties, New OSHA Guidance Clarifies Return-to-Work Expectations, Trump Suspends New H-1B Visas Through 2020, Faking COVID-19 Illness Can Have Serious Consequences, EEOC Lawsuit Highlights Cancer Discrimination in the Workplace, Recruiters Brace for a Challenging Year Ahead. According to Gallup, employee recognition can boost productivity by 14 percent, increase profit by 18 percent, and grow customer satisfaction by 10 percent. Paige has students read two articles to understand Indigenous peoples perspectives on Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving: a Native American View by Jacqueline Keeler, of the Dineh and Dakota nations, and The Suppressed Speech by Wamsutta (Frank) James, of the Wampanoag. Should Schools Perform Drug Tests on Students? 4. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The social benefits of festivals are less visible, but they are just as important. So It Redesigned Its Iconic Can. Children are asked to write essays on what I want for Christmas, or after the holidays, they are asked to explain what gifts they received. 1. [2] Sundays were for rest and worship, and on Wednesdays farmers typically sold their crops at the market, making Tuesdays the best day of the week. List two to three ways. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. company with hubs in San Francisco and Nashville, said the organization is planning a virtual holiday party with crafting and a Secret Santa gift exchange. Christine Hanks, employee experience lead at staffing agency Wonolo, a remote-first Pros. Siegel connects the themes he covers to other aspects of instruction, sharing lessons on geography and social studies that connect to different cultures around the world. } Discuss your plans with another seasoned preschool teacher or the preschool director. Sweden came second with 82.6%. According to History.com, in 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving . 12, 2019, Ceylan Pumphrey, "Do Businesses Have to Give Federal Holidays Like Presidents Day Off?, blogs.findlaw.com, Feb. 14, 2018, Department of Labor, "Holiday Pay, dol.gov (accessed Sep. 23, 2019), Peggy Emch, "Is Holiday Pay Required by Law?, timesheets.com, 2013, Fast Casual, "Study: Why Hourly Workers Forced to Work Multiple Jobs, fastcasual.com, Apr. - Proponents say the Electoral College ensures everyone selects the president. This is mainly because the month of December is one big holiday already -- no matter what holiday you celebrate. What are the Biggest Problems Facing the Public School System? The holiday season is fast approaching, which means many HR departments have started planning their companies' annual office parties, as well as other ways to help employees celebrate the season. "I love a celebration that revolves around a Czechoslovakian pastry," he says. Impossible to celebrate every culture. [8][15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. Should Election Day be a national holiday? 3. [31] Same-day registration boosts turnout by 5%, and universal implementation of it would have added as many as 4.8 million voters in the 2016 election, according to Danielle Root, JD, and Liz Kennedy, JD, from the Center for American Progress. The festival features log rolling, live Swedish music, a street dance, parades through the town, and more. The seed of what is now known as Black History Month was planted in the doctoral thesis of Carter G. Woodson, a noted scholar, author, and co-founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In addition to having students share their traditionsand using Nearpod, Teaching Tolerance, and Scholastic to offer more background knowledge about the holidaysOfferdahl pairs students who celebrate different holidays and has them write about and discuss their traditions and the commonalities between them. Not all employers are ready to abandon Zoom-based celebrations. A third social benefit of festival sponsorship is stronger relationships within a community. It may cause the child to wonder why their teacher never took the time to learn about something that is so important in their life. . Second, because the majority of public school teachers are white, it can be assumed that the vast majority knows little or nothing about Kwanzaa in practice, which was created in 1966 as a ritual for African Americans to welcome the first harvest home. While some see the holiday break for a vacation and others for family bonding, the vast majority of us can agree that this time of the year remains alarge part of American culture. "With the difficulties we have faced this year, we feel our team deserves a day to celebrate and enjoy themselves with their co-workers at our offices," she said. [4][5], The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. Please note that Statesman has the right to monitor comments and accepts comments at staff discretion. Having lived as an expat in the U.S. and England for more than a decade, Ive experienced both the pros and the cons of celebrating holidays abroad. A star performer might not show up, or the stage might collapse. The end of the year tends to throw this problem into sharp relief, but of course it extends well beyond December as religious and cultural holidays occur throughout the year. [8], Among registered voters in the 2016 US presidential election, being too busy or having a conflicting schedule was the third-highest reason cited for not voting, accounting for 14% of registered voters who did not cast a vote (about 2.7 million people). The son of former slaves, Woodson received a Ph.D. in 1912 from Harvard University, where he studied under renowned historians who minimized the importance and vitality of black history. On the contrary, most public school teachers genuinely wish to be sensitive to each childs individual needs. Explain your answers. [17] Countries such as France, Mexico, and India also observe federal holidays for elections. There remain many public schools in this country that engage in holiday celebrations that revolve around Christian ideas and principles as they pertain to Christmas. Students get the same amount of instructional time. Instead of hosting a party, he's giving his staff additional time off to spend with their families. The focus for students moves away from school and onto family and culture. Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, in 2014 graded all 50 states and the District of Columbia on how well their public schools taught the civil-rights era to students. That heritage is on display throughout the year in the form of statues, museums, historic sites, and shops selling Swedish-inspired products and foods. Possible options. Celebrating the Holidays and Diversity in the Workplace The winter holidays can also be a source of conflict for HR managers, who must ensure the season doesn't lead to hurt feelings,. We tend to only highlight contemporary celebrities and politicians, ignoring that we have activists and community organizers that are still making an impact on a daily basis.. But hosting festivals also poses challenges. Other popular year-round schedules are the 60-20 and 90-30 calendars, where students are in class for 60 or 90 days with vacations of 20 or 30 days respectively. On-site spending includes admission fees, parking fees, food, beverage and souvenir sales and more. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. Like Karl Oskar Days, Kolacky Days draws visitors from near and far. ", Virtual Celebrations and Party Alternatives. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Columbia Business School is proud to recognize #WomensHistoryMonth by celebrating the achievements of the incredible women students, alums, and faculty in the Court Offers Guidelines for Schools in Disciplining Students for Off-Campus, Online Speech. With all the presents we need to purchase for Chanukah and Christmas, the obsession for grabbing the best deals have been triggered by popularized shopping trends similar to Black Friday, notorious for its chaos and interference into Thanksgiving. As a result, my team deserves to be honored with a Christmas party, even though it'll be small.". The holiday season is here, and with Christmas music playing and stores decked out in festive decor, its hard not to tell. As public schools in the United States continue to increase in their racial, ethnic, economic, and religious diversity, some districts need to rethink their holiday celebrations in a manner that is inclusive and respectful of all people. For the second year in a row, Human Interest, a retirement-plan provider in San Francisco, is holding a virtual celebration called "The Weeks of Wonder." Can Public Schools Legally Charge for Fees and Uniforms? The holidays can be used to explore how people of diverse backgrounds practice similar values. A recent Macys advertisement prompted customers to hurry to their doorbuster sale, where doors opened as early as 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. Each year, educators face the December dilemma: How will they address religious holidays and be inclusive of families celebrations outside of Christmas? Festivals promote community pride by celebrating things that make a town special and evoke good feelings. And Siegel teaches students how winter holidayslike Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Chinese New Yearare connected by the theme of light. [8], In the 2016 presidential election, 55.7% of the American voting-age population cast a ballot. The University of Minnesota Tourism Center measured whether Lady Slipper Celebration sponsors had achieved their educational goals through a visitor profile conducted in 2011. While a successful event enhances a community's reputation, a less-than-successful effort (or outright failure) does just the opposite. Black history should be celebrated every day, because all history begins with black history. Margot Toppen, founder of a nonprofit called EduMotion, highlights commonalities and differences between different traditions through dance. In response to a questionnaire, 87 percent of celebration attendees indicated they had learned new information about lady slippers, while 47 percent said they were more knowledgeable about Native American culture after attending the event. We dont do that, she says of her classroom. 25, 2016, Chris Talgo, "Make Election Day a National Holiday? If Election Day were a national holiday, how would you ensure hourly and low-income workers would get a chance to vote? if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-china.aspx") > -1) { This video illustrates one way to teach children the importance of giving. Celebrate the season of giving, from human being to being. "The best thing about being involved with festivals and events is the opportunity to help build a community, foster a sense of pride within a community, and engage a community," says Chris Romano, a business consultant with Thrivent Financial Services. After all, material items are not worth nearly as much as human affection. Castos, an entirely remote podcast hosting company based in Winter Garden, Fla., is opting not to have any sort of celebration, said founder Craig Hewitt, who also manages HR. Find the latest news and members-only resources that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy. The holidays are times to embrace special moments with family, give thanks and celebrate traditions. Yet according to the NAACP, even the creator hoped the time would come when a black history week was unnecessary. [33], Henry Farber, PhD, Hughes-Rogers Professor of Economics at Princeton University, conducted an analysis of states that made Election Day a holiday for state employees. And visitors spend money, which boosts the local economy both on and off the festival site. With a large part of this being shopping and gift giving, Statesman discusses the gluttony and capitalism behind holidays, and whether these . Residents with community pride are more likely to speak positively about their town to others and to volunteer with organizations and activities that support the common good. Celebrating holidays in the classroom is fun and exciting, but it can also be very educational and culturally valuable for students. The pastry is kolacky (also spelled kolache), a concoction consisting of sweet bread and different fillings, especially fruit such as prune, apricot, and poppy seed. What does Minnesota celebrate? How did your child's school fare this year in celebrating the holidays? $("span.current-site").html("SHRM China "); SHRM's Employee Engagement Survey service focuses on more than 50 aspects of job satisfaction and engagement commonly linked to performance. In many locations, holiday parties involve decorating contests that include Christmas trees and ornaments. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? The seed of what is now known as Black History Month was planted in the doctoral thesis of Carter G. Woodson, a noted scholar, author, and co-founder of the Association for the . His view of Black History Month is more nuanced as an adult. Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and private companies might follow suit. New California Law Addresses Issue of School Fees Once Again. It would not be discussed as a side issue. He values a month when black authors and historical figures can be studied exclusively, but Hassan believes Black History Month as observed in many schools sends a troubling message to students that were allowed to grapple with [black issues] less in, say, March or April It is important to discuss issues of race in the context of current events throughout the year, no matter the unit topic., The classroom Hassan describes, however, is hardly the norm. Two examples from Minnesota illustrate the point. However, our consumeristic impulses and holiday customs are not mutually exclusive. The consumerism of holidays can be attributed to the growing amount of commercials and ads that we see in the media. With holidays becoming more commercial, Christmas and Chanukah have lost some of their value. CSCOPE: Innovative Curriculum or Threat to Americas Youth? $(document).ready(function () { To help community leaders achieve this balance, the University of Minnesota Tourism Center offers training in the essentials of festival and event management. But off-site spending related to festivals generates revenue for communities, too. First celebrated in 1976, Black History Month was the result of a growing racial pride and consciousness of black Americans and Woodsons association pushing to expand the weekly celebration. What is Race to the Top and How will it Benefit Public Schools? He concluded that having an election holiday, by itself, is not an effective strategy to increase voter turnout. [34], Automatic voter registration, by contrast, could register an additional 22 million people and create 7.9 million new voters nationwide within a year. Of course, education (including greater awareness and new knowledge) is another social benefit of festivals. Statesman Sound Station: March Part 2 Mar. Woodson was optimistic that America would willingly recognize the contributions of black Americans as a legitimate and integral part of the history of this country. But research shows this goal is far from complete. [24] Holidays usually mean more work hours for retail workers, because stores run promotions and sales. There are risks and costs related to the effort. Teacher materials produced for Februarys celebration of black history are often limited to the most-celebrated black AmericansMartin Luther King, Jr., George Washington Carver, Rosa Parkswith a smattering of black athletes and entertainers tossed in. var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); Rose Marcario, CEO, stated, demonstrating your companys commitment to voting will reinforce how essential it is that every eligible voter shows up. In fact, these voters may be more likely to have to work as a result of a federal election holiday, where they may have had time off previously on a random Tuesday in November. Minnesota Lawmakers Push Anti-Bullying Bill Forward. 10 Ways to Know, 4 Ways Parents Can Turn a Campus into a Top Public School. [9], Former Editor-in-Chief of the Northwestern University Law Review, Beau C. Tremitiere, JD, stated, The demands of school and work schedules keep millions of Americans, especially those with children or long commutes, from ever getting to their polling stations The ideal solution is simple: Congress should make Election Day a national holiday, or move Election Day to the weekend. [10] A holiday would allow more citizens volunteer at polling places or drive the elderly to vote, and make a difference in states where long lines at the polls keep voters waiting for hours. "We will at most have only 15 people in attendance, which makes everyone still feel comfortable concerning health and safety. However, to keep employees safe, some organizations are keeping their events completely virtual, while others are inventing new ways to mark the season. Pembertons work around teaching students about holidays they dont celebrate reflects the value that educators see in expanding their students perspectives. Is Your Child Safe Riding Riding the Public School Bus? Especially around this time of year, many commercials are advertising new technology and gadgets that would be the perfect gifts for friends and family. Or is it an optimistic idea that would exclude already disadvantaged voters while failing to increase turnout? Judie Offerdahl uses interactive holiday lessons on Nearpod with her second-grade students. Is Teach for America the Answer for Failing Schools? Accessed February 21, 2023. https://www.procon.org/headlines/election-day-national-holiday-top-3-pros-and-cons/, potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day, election day should not be a national holiday.
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