Do We Have School On Columbus Day

So, there I was, munching on my cereal, scrolling through the news on my phone, when I saw it. "Schools to remain open on Columbus Day." I did a double-take, my spoon pausing mid-air. "What? But... but it's Columbus Day!" I exclaimed to my dog, who just looked at me like I was crazy. I mean, isn't that like, the most sacred of all school holidays?

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Hey, isn't that guy a bit old for still caring about school holidays?" Well, yes, yes I am. But hear me out, because this isn't just about me and my love for a day off. This is about a question that's been bugging me for years. Do we really have school on Columbus Day? And if so, why?

Columbus Who Now?

Let's start at the beginning. Columbus Day, for those of you who've been living under a rock (or maybe just have a really bad memory), is a federal holiday in the United States celebrating Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492. It's usually observed on the second Monday of October. But here's the thing, folks. Columbus didn't actually discover America. He landed in the Bahamas, and there were already people living here. So, why do we celebrate him? That's a whole other can of worms, but let's just say it's a bit of a controversial topic these days.

Now, back to the main question. Why do we still have school on Columbus Day? I mean, it's a federal holiday, right? Shouldn't that mean we get the day off? Well, it turns out, it's not that simple. You see, while Columbus Day is a federal holiday, it's not observed in all states. Some states have replaced it with Indigenous Peoples' Day, or just ignore it altogether. And even in states that do observe it, schools might still be open. Why? Well, that's where it gets interesting.

Why the Mixed Signals?

Here's the deal. Schools are typically closed on federal holidays, but they're also closed on state holidays. Columbus Day is a federal holiday, but it's not a state holiday in every state. So, if your state doesn't observe Columbus Day, your school might still be open. It's all about the state's decision, not the federal one. Confusing, right?

But here's where it gets even more complicated. Even in states that do observe Columbus Day, schools might still be open. Why? Well, it could be because of scheduling issues. Schools have to fit a certain number of instructional days into the school year, and closing for a holiday can throw that off. Or it could be because the school district decides it's more important to have that day for instruction than to observe the holiday. Whatever the reason, it's clear that whether or not we have school on Columbus Day is a bit of a mixed bag.

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So, Should We Care?

Alright, so we've established that whether or not we have school on Columbus Day is a bit of a mess. But should we even care? I mean, it's just one day, right? Well, that's where things get interesting. You see, the debate over Columbus Day is part of a larger conversation about how we remember our history. Should we celebrate Columbus, who is responsible for the suffering of indigenous peoples? Or should we focus on the people who were already here, and their stories?

This isn't just about a day off school, folks. It's about how we tell our history, and who we choose to honor. And that's something worth caring about, whether you're a student, a teacher, or just a curious bystander like me.

So, the next time you're wondering why you have to go to school on Columbus Day, remember, it's not just about the holiday. It's about the history behind it, and the conversations we're having about how we remember our past. And who knows, maybe one day, we'll all get that day off. But until then, I guess we'll just have to make do with our long weekends.