Quincy students, committee member are pushing for this holiday off of school

QUINCY − Angela Chen sees her extended family about once a year.

The North Quincy High junior spends a lot of time with those who live with her, but bonding with aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members tends to be reserved for celebrating the Lunar New Year. Unlike many of her peers, she has somewhere else to be on the holiday that brings them together: school.

"In Asian families, the value of working hard is really important, and most Asian American families, in the U.S. at least, are usually outside working on weekdays or even weekends," Chen said. "Lunar New Year is one of the only days many would really take a day off and spend valuable time with their families to eat and gather. At least for my family, it's the chance we have to spend time with our more distant relatives."

Chen went before the school committee in April to pitch the idea to the board at the urging of longtime member Frank Santoro, who said he proposed it two years ago and got no support from his fellow committee members. Adding the holiday would mean tacking on an extra school day to the end of the year.

"Half our population is Asian, more than half. When you live in a community, you should be in touch with who your community is," Santoro said. "The Asian population within our school deserves the school day off. The kids have to make a choice – do they come to school because they don't want to forfeit their perfect attendance, or should they be with their families? We are forcing them to make that choice."

Lunar New Year marks the start of the traditional Chinese calendar. The new year begins on the day of the new moon that appears between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. Celebrations are meant to usher out the old year and bring forth the luck and prosperity of the new one. Each year is also marked by the Chinese zodiac, which is based on a 12-year cycle of animal signs.

Chen was joined at the school committee meeting by fellow North Quincy students Nicole Chen and Jasmine Chen. Two parents spoke as well.

"It is unacceptable that we do not have a designated day to celebrate such a significant holiday with family and friends," Nicole Chen said. "This day of school is actively hurting the community. ... This official district holiday will serve as a time for others to learn and celebrate such a valuable holiday and allow the district to support their diversity and inclusion."

Sala by Fratelli's closing in Quincy: 'We hope this isn’t the end'

A culinary resurgence: 6 of the best Quincy Center meals, drinks and desserts

Chen, who is president of the Asian Culture Club at her school, started an online petition to support the cause, which has more than 500 signatures. She said she didn't realize how much so many people in her community were bothered by the issue until she started advocating.

"Adults came to me and said, 'I'm really happy you're doing this. We've been trying to get this passed for a long time and we want this for our children,'" she said. "It really made me realize how hurt Asian Americans were by this."

At a subcommittee meeting last week, members did not vote to support the amendment to add the holiday. Unless there is a serious change of heart by Wednesday and a motion is made by another member of the committee, Santoro said he doesn't expect the change will be made. Adding the holiday would require a "yes" vote from four of the seven members.

"I'm feeling like I'm not going to get any support, and it makes me feel bad for the community and the students," he said. "Angela and some parents have worked really hard. I feel very strongly that we should be more sensitive to the Asian culture in our community."

Coaching confidential: Where are the toughest places to win a high school baseball game?

Sports: Making an NFL Mock Draft using only South Shore high school football players

In the 2023-24 school calendar, the Lunar New Year will fall on Saturday, Feb. 10. Committee members would have to decide to give students either Friday, Feb. 9, off, or Monday, Feb. 12. On years when the holiday falls on a weekday, that day would be the taken holiday.

Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy students want Lunar New Year added to list of school days off