A Connecticut school district has cut Veterans Day and Columbus Day from its holiday calendar following a controversial vote last week.
The school board - which over sees Stamford public schools - is facing backlash after voting 5-3 in favour of removing both holidays for the next two school years.
A motion was brought forward by board member Joshua Esses after arguing that the school year cuts too far into the summer — ending in mid-June.
The board member said that the two holidays would still be celebrated with lesson plans about the meaning of each.
A Connecticut school district cut Veterans Day and Columbus Day from its holiday calendar (Stock images)
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He said: "We should make it shorter because it’s better educationally for our students."
By state law, the school year is required to have at least 180 teaching days for pupils.
Esses was also said to have suggested axing religious holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and the second day of Rosh Hashanah from the list of official holidays with the same justification.
The motion reportedly received no support.
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The decision has sparked anger among veterans and Italian Americans.
Veteran Alfred Fusco, a founding member of the Stamford chapter of the Italian American service organisation UNICO, has slammed the ruling.
"It was a gut punch. It was terrible. It had no inclination,” he told ABC7.
The school district has defended its decision, stating: "Stamford Public Schools already hosts many events in recognition of our local veterans, and we look forward to continuing that tradition on Veterans’ Day in 2024 and 2025.
"In addition, our Teaching and Learning Department will be working to develop programming about Columbus Day that will be presented to students in recognition of that federal holiday."
A dispute has erupted across America after Columbus Day was renamed as Indigenous People's Day in 14 states
MERY GRANDOS HERRERA/AFP via Getty ImagesColumbus Day has received backlash over recent years with many favouring Indigenous People’s Day due to the sordid history surrounding Italian explorer Christopher Columbus’ treatment of native people.
Board member Versha Munshi-South said she observed a class lesson titled "Columbus: Hero or Villian?" at Dolan Middle School which made her question the holiday.
"The students were using primary sources to investigate the true history of Columbus and I can tell you that based on primary source research, no, they did not conclude that Columbus was a hero,” she told the Advocate.
"I don’t think it makes sense to teach students one thing in class and then have Columbus Day off. It’s a mixed message for students."
