Chicago Poles, Italians Angry About New CPS Calendar
By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 18, 2012 7:00PM
It looks as though parents of Chicago Public Schools students and the Chicago Teachers Union aren't the only groups criticizing the school system's 2012-13 calendar that adds 10 days to the school year. Polish and Italian civic groups aren't happy with the loss of Columbus and Pulaski days as school holidays. One would think they'd be more concerned with the vague plan to make the school day better or the lack of discussion on lengthening the school year with the teacher's union and parents.
Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans president emeritus Dominic DiFrisco said he found the loss of Columbus Day "disheartening."
"This is part of an ongoing campaign to diminish ethnic recognition in the city."
Oscar D'Angelo, the self-proclaimed "Mayor of Little Italy," called the move "reprehensible" and an affront to the efforts of the late Illinois Congressman Frank Annunzio to make Columbus Day a nationally recognized holiday.
Polish American Association executive director Gary Kenzer said the proposed loss of Pulaski Day is "a bit of a slap in the face."
“It’s shocking and disappointing considering that the mayor was elected to congress from a district with one of the largest Polish concentrations in the area."
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Congress made Columbus Day a holiday in April 1934. The Illinois Board of Education allows local school districts to mandate attendance on Columbus and Pulaski Days, Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Veteran's Day. CPS spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler said the other three holidays weren't eliminated because of Veteran's Day's feting national heroes and the close ties of Lincoln and King to Illinois.
Mayor Emanuel's spokeswoman Jenny Hoyle said the proposed schedule doesn't shortchange the contributions of Chicago's Polish and Italian communities. “The important thing about the schedule is it gives students the best opportunity to learn and achieve.”
CPS spokeswoman Becky Carroll said the school system plans on adding education of Columbus and Pulaski to the educational curriculum in lieu of having those days off. JCCIA's DiFrisco said his group won't take the possible loss of Columbus Day lying down. "We’re not marching in the street, yet. We may."