Sept. 7: Empty halls fill the school, and it’s as quiet as can be. The reason? Labor Day: a federal holiday that most people get a free day off of school and work, though not many know why. Nor do they tend to care.
“I’m honestly somewhat ignorant to it,” said OH piano teacher Tyler White. “I know it’s part of those who work. I’m assuming that it was for the industrial workers who never really got a day off.”
Although the first unofficial Labor Day was celebrated in 1882, Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 with President Grover Cleveland signed legislation following a deadly Pullman Strike; in 1916, an unknown industrial worker fought to declare a national holiday for all, even students. And even 110 years later, this holiday brings people together.
Besides getting the day off, how do OH students celebrate?
“Labor Day is the last day that the Bristol Renaissance Fair is open,” said OH senior Yvette Lapudis. “So normally me and my family spend the day there.”
Like Lapudis’ family, this extra day off allows families to spend time together. And, though not every business gives their workers the day off, OH is one of many that gives their teachers a much needed break after work the first few weeks can bring.
“We get the day off, [and] it’s very nice,” White said. “Since most people have labor day off, we’ll try and get together with family and friends.”
But that’s not the only way people celebrate. Some Americans take their Labor Day celebration to the next level.
According to the US Department of Labor‘s Facebook page, “Many Americans celebrate Labor Day with parades and parties – festivities very similar to those outlined by the first proposal for a holiday.”
But this day isn’t always family, festivals and celebration. This day off can put teachers and workers into weird schedules, especially at the start of the academic year.
Some find themselves scrambling around to fit in any work they can during the short week. This can become inconvenient for OH staff, but it is an easy problem to work around.
“For some of my classes, like my AP classes, if I go on a strict schedule, I get thrown off a day,” White said. “It definitely changes how the curriculum has to run.”
This change doesn’t always impact students besides potentially shorter due dates cause of the short week. And like Lapudis, most students don’t have a reason to pay attention to the significance behind their day off in the first place.
“I understand its significance as a celebratory day for unions and the like, but [otherwise] I don’t really care,” Lapudis said. “I’m not working, so I’m not in a union yet.”” Lapidus said.”
But without this nation’s hard labor, American students wouldn’t have the privilege of good education and a fun day off.
You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication! I am a Senior at OHS, and a first year reporter.
