Italian-Americans urge Pittsfield School Committee to restore Columbus Day

May 25, 2018 746

BY: Amanda Drane

History is imperfect, but still, it should be honored. That's the message that about 30 members of various Italian-heritage groups sent to the School Committee during its meeting Wednesday. They urged committee members to restore Columbus Day in the school calendar. But committee members pushed back, prompting a neighborly exchange about ethnicity, history and compassion.

The debate stems from the committee's vote in January to rename the second Monday in October, a school holiday, as Indigenous Peoples Day. In doing so, they joined dozens of entities around the country, including several states, to replace the day because of Christopher Columbus' controversial human rights record.

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SOURCE: http://www.berkshireeagle.com

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