The Curious Calendar
TCAPS 2024 - 2025 schedule has omitted holiday language. Look for yourself! Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Good Friday, and Memorial Day references have been omitted for the general term "No School". Below, you can look at the 2023 - 2024 school year and compare the subtle change. Good Friday is no longer a full day off anymore, it becomes a half day with this new calendar schedule.
Two holidays survived the no mention list! Student are given a half-day on Indigenous People's Day and Martin Luther King Day. On both of these days, student will receive special instruction related to these days in the morning. There is nothing wrong with teaching students about our history and people groups. However, the district has chosen two holidays to highlight at the exclusion of the rest. What about days in the calendar to celebrate Hispanics, Asians, and Jews? Where are our traditional American holidays? How about a celebration of the Bill or Rights to reinforce the protections allotted to all American citizens?
This was not just an oversight, there was intent with this change. In a communication exchange with TCAPS administration, TCAPS stated they made these changes to "acknowledge that our staff and students may participate in and observe a variety of holidays". In addition, the district shared that they took advice and guidance from their Legal Council and the US Department of Education.
Please read and consider the following resource from the Justice Leader's Collaborative. A group that has trained TCAPS employees and has provided Implicit Bias Training for staff. This blog entry will provide you with the current perspective surrounding celebrating holidays in our schools. In summary, the "dominant culture" is racist and non-inclusive. Therefore, past traditions have to be redefined and altered so that is becomes acceptable to those most offended by it. In other words, water down, change, or forget it.
These simple changes may appear to be a minor. However, given that TCAPS has fully embraced DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging) initiatives within the district, it indicates another growing, subtle shift from our norms, customs, values, traditions to something new and different.
Resources
Justice Leaders Collaborative Blog