While most families in the Dalat community will welcome the long weekend attached to the American holiday, Thanksgiving is honestly something that very few families (outside of a select few) chose to celebrate this weekend.
Esteemed classmate, and future valedictorian, Lee Yan Tan (12), had this to say, when referring to her own family's thanksgiving celebration: “I didn’t do much.” This no-care attitude that Lee Yan brings to the table reflects how most people who are not American will simply choose to do nothing, or at least very little instead of celebrating the holiday themselves.
Another extremely important member of our school, head librarian, and junior class sponsor, Ms. Smail had this to say when I officially interviewed her and asked what she did over Thanksgiving: “I worked.” Dalat School themselves had our own teachers working on the famed holiday! This only serves to give even less respect to Thanksgiving, as the American faculty members are forced to work on the fabled holiday. When pressed further she said, “I attended the ICEC conference during Thanksgiving.” This conference was PLANNED to be on Thanksgiving day, which leads many to wonder, “Why don’t we simply stop celebrating this holiday that most people don’t even celebrate?”
I think I have it figured out. Dalat International School is just that. International. They even boast a famous American curriculum which draws in people who want their kids to be educated with that type of schooling. In order to keep their title, they must bow to the traditions of Americans even though they only bow in name. Because, as soon as they are able, they book Thanksgiving day as a workday, not to mention, they give kids extra homework during this “Online Learning Day.”
This behavior, along with the average no-care attitude from the students themselves has led Thanksgiving to become a holiday only in name, but not in practice, so that Dalat can continue to be an “American” school only in name, but not in practice.
Comments
Post a Comment