Presidents' Day: Different States, Different Rules

What does the third Monday of each February mean to you?  The intended effect of Presidents’ Day is to provide a chance for Americans to recognize the great Heads of State that this country has had the privilege to be led by.  Unfortunately, this message is sometimes lost in the swirl of other events

The nationally recognized name
 for 'Presidents' Day'
is legally 'Washington's Birthday'.
(Courtesy of Cool Dude Stuff)

surrounding the day.  Among the most popular of topics is whether or not employees and students are exempt from a day of work.

Though all federal employees are granted the day off, the same is not universally true for all students.  There tends to be anger and confusion from students that are forced to attend classes while others stay in and get a free day.  Rebekah Capeder, an Avila University student, displays this irritation, “I don’t really care about Presidents’ Day, I just wish we didn’t have school!”  

A look at the USA, Missouri, and Avila
flags at the front of the AU campus.

Max Mammele, another AU student, shares his feelings surrounding the holiday:  “I find Presidents’ Day to be frivolous because no one truly knows what the holiday is about or commemorating. I don’t either! But, I do feel that if it is a reason for some schools to get out because of it, all schools should receive that benefit, public or private.”  The reality of the matter is that K-12 and college students are all under different jurisdiction.  Whether or not students get out varies from state to state.  Different states have different official holidays.  For example, in Missouri, Washington’s Day (aka Presidents’ Day) is in fact an official state holiday; on the contrary, Presidents’ Day is not officially recognized in Kansas.  To use these two states as an example, generally children within K-12 education in Missouri would originally get the day off from school, whereas Kansas schoolchildren would not.  When it comes to college and university students, there are even more twists.  Public universities typically follow official state holidays, whereas private universities are open to do as they please.

 All in all, there are no all-inclusive rules; the administration of each school, college, or university is free to do as they see fit.  At the heart of the matter, however, is the fact that this is a controversy is taking away from the true meaning of Presidents’ Day.  As Olivia Black, an Avila freshman points out, “People just see Presidents’ Day as a day off, but they don’t actually respect what our past Presidents have done.”  (More from Olivia's interview can be viewed below)  People ought to worry less about whether or not they have class, and focus more on the true spirit of the holiday.  Our country would not be what it is today without fine leaders such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and these men deserve the recognition that this holiday calls for Americans to reflect upon.

While some get a day off in
observance of Presidents' Day,
others do not get a holiday.
(Courtesy of Pixmule)