Unlike last year when Stratford observed Veterans Day by closing schools, this year local students will be in the classroom on Monday, Nov. 12, a day after the public holiday that celebrates the country's military.
Charles Lindberg, vice chairman of the Stratford Board of Education, said it's his belief that when Veterans Day falls on the weekend, Stratford schools are in session the following Monday. From 2000 to 2011, Veterans Day arrived on a Saturday or Sunday four times.
In 2011, Veterans Day fell on a Friday, and Stratford joined Milford, Bridgeport and Fairfield as area municipalities that closed schools, making for a three-day weekend,
This year, those districts -- except for Stratford -- will once again observe Veterans Day with a day off from school, this time on Monday, according to school calendars.
Shelton and Trumbull are two local towns that will have school in session on Monday, like they did last year on Veterans Day when it landed on a Friday.
"Shelton always has school on Veterans Day," wrote a Stratford Patch reader on our Facebook page. "At first I thought it was disrespectful but once the mayor explained why they have school on Veterans Day, I agreed with him.
"He said most kids would spend the day playing video games or watching TV and never get anything out of the meaning of the day. So the schools spend time that day with visitors who are veterans or some who are still serving and learn what the day is really about."
In an article published on Stratford Patch last Veterans Day, Stratford resident Kip Steele commented that, regardless of what day the holiday falls on, it should be observed in the classroom.
"As a Marine I feel school should be open," he said.
What do you think? Should Stratford schools always be open, despite where Veterans Day lands on the calendar?
Superintendent Irene Cornish and Board of Education Chairman Gavin Forrester could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
