A Holiday That Resonates: Some Area Schools Pause for Tribute

By Felicia Thomas-Lynn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Jan. 15–When Chris Fortson-Gaines moved to Wauwatosa from Atlanta — the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. — the Southerner was shocked to learn that the local school district didn’t observe the federal holiday that honors the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader. “In Atlanta, it was a big thing. Everything closed when it was King Day,” said Fortson-Gaines, a sophomore at Wauwatosa West High School. But Fortson-Gaines was happy to learn that he and his fellow classmates in the district will have the opportunity to observe the holiday, which will be celebrated today, for the first time this year. “This is a good thing,” he said. “It looks like we are going in a good direction.” The district joins only a handful of other public school districts in the state that observe the federal holiday 21 years after it was first enacted. Among the school districts observing the day are Milwaukee, Brown Deer, Mequon-Thiensville, Shorewood, Madison and Middleton-Cross Plains. Some other school districts give students a day off but schedule a work day for teachers. “Most teacher unions have not asked for a school holiday on Dr. King’s birthday,” said Barry Forbes, staff counsel for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, which represents 80 of the state’s school districts. “Adding a holiday to the school calendar would be difficult, given the constraints.” Forbes said schools are required by law to schedule no less than 180 days of classroom instruction, and state law prohibits school boards from scheduling the first day of pupil instruction prior to Sept. 1. “Teacher unions are very protective of the winter and spring breaks and generally will not agree to shorten those breaks,” he said. Dennis Oulahan, president of Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, said King’s birthday is an important holiday to many members of his union, which tried to bargain for the holiday for many years before it was successful several years ago. “Mr. Forbes seems to be jumping to conclusions that he shouldn’t be jumping to,” Oulahan said Sunday night after handing out student essay awards at a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration at Milwaukee’s Marcus Center. “I think it’s a big jump to say ‘Oh it’s because they don’t see it as important or they don’t value Dr. Martin Luther King’s contribution to society’ ” as a reason why many Wisconsin school districts do not observe the holiday. Stan Johnson, president of the 98,000-member Wisconsin Education Association Council, said that no matter how King’s birthday is observed, union members believe that every child deserves a great school, which is one of the principles touted by King. “There are always two schools of thought: Some people take the day off and observe the holiday in ways they choose and some choose to do that in school and make it a teaching moment,” Johnson said. Phillip Ertl, in his second year as Wauwatosa School District superintendent, said discussion of including King Day in the district’s list of holidays began soon after he arrived. “It is important to recognize it. King stands for a lot of great things,” said Ertl, who is asking students to spend a portion of the day today in service. “That is one of the main purposes of the holiday. The purpose is to get kids to understand it is a day of service.” Fortson-Gaines will do just that. He and other members of his junior varsity basketball team will volunteer at the Seedfolks 4-H and Youth Ministry, preparing and serving breakfast and lunch, as well as assisting with learning activities for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. “We will be doing what we believe Martin Luther King’s message stood for,” Fortson-Gaines said. “We are getting involved in the community.” The youth’s service project and 13 others are being arranged through the YMCA, said Antoinette Mensah, the YMCA’s AmeriCorps director. She said this year’s activities center around education as part of this year’s theme: “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. . . . Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” More than 100 people from about 15 different organizations, from schools to the corporate community, are volunteering their time, she said. “Hopefully this will continue a pattern of support,” she said. “We hope to get tutors and mentors that help expand education for children in the classroom beyond January 15.” Buy a link here

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Copyright (c) 2007, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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