Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5723/-1/140/
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FOR REVISIT: School Holiday For Webster
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There has been much public discussion on the school holiday approved last year for Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader, Ronald Webster, by the House of Assembly and in observance of his birthday. The approval stopped short of providing for a full public holiday in view of the already established Anguilla Day celebrated annually on May 30. The matter has been a subject of heated debate with Mr. Webster’s birthday approaching on Sunday, March 2.
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Students greeting Mr. Webster - Anguilla Day 2007
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In accordance with the approval of the House of Assembly, Monday, March 3, is a holiday for all schools on the island, but unfortunately no activities have been organised for the children. This is even more disappointing when it is recalled that during the Anguilla Day celebrations last year Mr. Webster was accorded much acclaim and recognition as he walked across the park named in his honour to the cheers of hundreds of school children. Further, before then, on his 80th birthday, the occasion was celebrated on the park with many schoolchildren in attendance.
Such recognition is in fact regarded as being in order for a man who is called the “Father of the Nation” and therefore a symbol of honour and admiration for children.
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Teachers and other adults with children Anguilla Day 2007
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So what happens on the holiday on Monday, March 3, the day to celebrate his birthday? A top education official told The Anguillian on Tuesday this week: “As far as I know, it is a holiday that has been approved for schoolchildren to acknowledge the contribution made by Mr. Webster.” the official stated.
“It should have been decided for the day to be set aside for activities to commemorate Mr. Webster’s birthday. As long as it is a holiday, how can you ask the children to come to the park? When we have sports and other activities on the park, we don’t have them during holidays but during school time. Had it been a school day, we would have used the day to go to the park for any activities we were able to organise but it is now a holiday.”
Asked whether anything could be done at this late stage, the education official replied: “As we discussed at an officers’ meeting today (Tuesday), the children are already aware that they are home for the day on Monday and teachers are aware that the children are home for the day. It does not mean that things are not happening in the schools where they are talking about the Revolution and the actual day (May 30) as a holiday.
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Ronald Webster acknowledging cheering children
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“Our view has always been that the day (Webster’s birthday observance) could have been a time when the whole education system could have been focussing on Mr. Webster. All the activities in school could have been around the actual Revolution and that sort of thing. We will have to revisit the decision about the day being a holiday. If it is a holiday, it is a holiday. If children are given a holiday, you can’t enforce any requirement for them to come out to the park.”
Pressed whether the children had been asked to be on the park, the education official responded: “Nothing has been planned. The schools have been given a holiday and that is what a holiday means: that you are off. I am just as concerned as you are and it is something that needs to be looked at very carefully next year.”
Meanwhile, schoolchildren and teachers stayed at home on Thursday and Friday this week for the customary mid-term break.