Requesting LAUSD to recognize Lunar New Year as school holiday


Target: 500
Signatories:
30
Start petition: 2022-09-27 19:05:12

#Requesting   #recognize   #school   #holiday   

We are a group of over 150 students, parents, educators, and community members who deeply care about AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) students in LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District). In the midst of rising hate against the AAPI community, we were excited to see more Lunar New Year celebrations at schools but concerned to find that LAUSD has yet to make it an official day off. Lunar New Year is widely celebrated in many Asian countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Philippines, and Indonesia. 12% population of Los Angeles are AAPI, 5.9% LAUSD students are AAPI, and 9.8% LAUSD teachers are AAPI. To make sure that AAPI children and teachers are not forced to choose between classes and culture, we respectfully request LAUSD recognize Lunar New Year Day as a school holiday. This decision will enable hundred thousands of families with AAPI teachers, parents, and students and all LAUSD families to build intergenerational, cross-cultural understanding crucial for the wellbeing of students and teachers at LAUSD.

Contrary to the model minority myth, Asian American youth experience mental health challenges and the highest rate of suicidal ideation, some of which are resulted from the rising hate against the AAPI community. The opposite of anti-Asian hate is AAPI love and joy. New York City declared Lunar New Year an official school holiday starting in 2016, Philadelphia declared it in 2022. LAUSD’s decision to recognize Lunar New Year Day as a school holiday would affirm our community the district’s commitment to cultural diversity and bring LAUSD on par with other diverse public school districts in the country cultivating acceptance. 

While SB892 was signed in California to encourage schools to participate in holiday traditions including Lunar New Year and AB2596 has passed the California Assembly that may allow state employees to receive 8 hours of holiday credit for Lunar New Year, neither unfortunately has yet made Lunar New Year Day an official school holiday to be off for students to effectively engage in cultural and family traditions.

The next Lunar New Year Day is January 22, 2023 which falls on a Sunday, meaning that the 2022-23 school calendar does not need to change this year. This provides administrative convenience to recognize this holiday this year in time of planning for future school calendars. Our AAPI community will appreciate you for taking timely, concrete action to cultivate an equitable, inclusive environment for our next generation. 

When signing, please share your personal stories and ideas about the importance of this holiday. We will add your signatures and share your voices in our formal request letter to LAUSD leaders to implement this change.

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Last Comments

Lorraine Karmonocky   ( 2022-10-04 11:38:47 )

This is very perceptive!
Brenda DiMauro   ( 2022-10-02 11:24:15 )

This is top-notch!
Sharon Burkhardt McGill Mischakoff   ( 2022-10-02 08:26:23 )

I love your attention to detail!
Fausta Ortiz Mendez   ( 2022-10-05 13:36:21 )

You really challenged yourself!

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