Montgomery County is one of the most diverse counties in the nation, and much of that diversity comes from the large East Asian populations residing throughout the county. Of all the rich cultural practices brought by these families, one of the biggest and most notable is the celebration of Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year celebration usually lasts one month, but the main celebration takes place on the first day of the month. Due to the value associated with the holiday, Montgomery County Public Schools has made the decision to allow students to take the day off to spend with their families starting next year.
This is the result of persistent pressure put on the county by countless parents and students who believe in the right to practice their culture without having to sacrifice their education.
“If MCPS truly embraces its diverse student body and wishes to respect the value of immigrant families to this great community, they should branch out beyond Western culture and Abrahamic traditions to include holidays as widely celebrated as Lunar New Year,” an anonymous past student of Walter Johnson High School said. This year, the year of the rat begins on January 25th, a Saturday, so there will not be a day off for it. However, next year, on February 12th, Montgomery County has scheduled a professional day for teachers on Lunar New Year, meaning students will not be in school that day.
“This is an important step towards achieving the cultural acceptance and appreciation that we look for,” Richard Montgomery junior Danny Shao said. “We hope that this positive trend continues and that all kinds of cultures can have the time off to practice their traditions.”
Lunar New Year is not the only holiday to be scheduled on a student day off: Montgomery County has also prepared a professional development day for teachers on Eid al-Fitr, a major Muslim holiday. These steps are all intended to create a more culturally accepting learning space and to give students the opportunity to engage with their culture without having to compromise school. Luckily, the Board of Education is looking to be as inclusive and accepting as possible.
Article by Linsen Liu of Richard Montgomery High School
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons