In a school year filled with 180 days of school, the idea of giving students an excused absence for Veterans Day and Memorial Day was broached by a couple of members of the legislature who feel students would get more out of the holidays were they to volunteer their services to veterans.

The two legislators, State Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak are proposing that students who take Veterans Day and Memorial Day off from school to participate in veterans activities be given excused absences.

This all comes about due to a recent case out of Upper Township where a fifth-grade student was given an unexcused absence on Veterans Day when she took off to volunteer serving veterans.

Senator Van Drew said the state shouldn’t penalize students who take time to volunteer serving vets.
And what better way to acknowledge the service veterans gave to this country than to give back by volunteering.

Seeing is how some school districts are in session for Veterans Day – this really isn’t a bad idea at all.
It would be a great idea to do in on Memorial Day as well – but last I checked, I think all districts have the day off on that day.

"We should be encouraging students to volunteer for veterans' organizations and to learn about the sacrifices made by these brave men and women," he said. "Any student who takes the initiative, especially at such a young age, to engage in these kinds of activities should be applauded."

"Speaking with a veteran is probably the best way for our young people to understand the work that service men and women do to support and defend our country," he said. "It not only will allow our students to better understand our military personnel and our nation's history, it shows veterans and their families that we care."

I agree with both of them. What would be a better educational experience than to learn first-hand the sacrifices veterans have made to allow these students to enjoy the liberties we all share.

Should students be given excused absences on Veterans and Memorial Day for serving veterans?

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