Is this being disrespectful to African Americans?

[MELSMICE]

My husband & I have been having a discussion about this & I would like some other opinions before I make a decision...........

I own a dance studio. We are not always closed when regular schools are closed, such as Columbus Day, President's Day, Veteran's Day, etc. We are closed for 2 weeks over the Christmas Holidays & some other dates that do coincide with our school calendar.

I have never been closed on Martin Luther King Day. My DH believes that I should close on that day as it has become a holiday of respect for African Americans & remaining open shows disrespect.

I charge a yearly tuition, that is divided & paid monthly by my clients. Tuition fees take in to consideration days off. If there is no class, there is no refund, however, they are welcome to take a make-up class. These are not specially scheduled classes, they are classes similar to their child's class at a different time of the week. They also take a make-up for classes missed due to illness, etc. They are not required to take the make-up, but it is offered to them should they choose to.

Am I being disrespectful by not closing or would I upset people by closing because of the tuition policy. BTW - this is the tuition policy of all dance studios, karate schools, etc. in our area & I'm sure other areas of the country as well.

Opinions?

 

[redlight]

If you were closed every holiday but King's birthday, that would be disrespectful. Because you are open during Columbus Day and Veteran's Day and other holidays, I would say no.

 

[My sister's princess]

My University doesn't close on Martin Luther King day. I don't see it as disrespectful.

 

[luvmy3]

No, not at all.

 

[Rora]

Not at all. There have been many times when I've had to go to school/work on religious holidays (Muslim, Jewish- I am neither but I have friends who are and who show up to work/school) and also many times when I've been required to be somewhere on Veteran's Day.

IMO- I would only close on National or Religious Holidays.

 

[N.Bailey]

I don't think you're being disrespectful for not closing. You don't close for so many other "type" of holidays, so I see nothing wrong with running a regular schedule for this holiday either.

As a matter of fact, I think it would be weird if you didn't officially celebrate the others, but did celebrate this one. As a white woman, I would probably be thinking you were trying too hard to be politically correct. Since I am white, I can only speculate about what the typical African American thought process might be, but I'd imagine, they too would view it as you trying too hard as well.

If however you are African American yourself, it could be viewed that it's a holiday that you personally wish to celebrate. If that's the case, I think you could go either way and it will be perfectly acceptable.

 

[clgwli]

I've never gotten that day off at work or at school. Neither has my husband so I would think it would be odd if you did get it off and not the other similar holidays like Columbus Day.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Our dance studio follows the school calendar...so the days off are the same...EXCEPT...

That they also balance it so that each class day has the same number of dance days for the year.

I.e. We did not have off on Columbus day---a Monday....And I believe Tuesday classes still have class on Veteran's Day.

Other than that, she follows the county schedule.

I say your schedule is totally fine as long as the days all have the same number of days. (i.e. M=T=W=H=F)--this is how all of our classes function (two dance studios and gymnastics). I personally would hate to be charged the same and then having to go on an alternate day if you are closed--I chose my day for a reason.

I think your DH is silly for his suggestion as it is illogical.

 

[minkydog]

I don't look at MLK day as a strictly A-A holiday. In fact, it really isn't a "holiday" at all. It's a day of remembrance for a man of peace. Here in the Atlanta all the schools are shut down on that day, as are many banks and government offices. A lot of the hospitals also honor this day. There are a lot of activities that families can participate in, church services, serving meals to the homeless,special music & dancing,home building and others. The day is meant to be observed as a day of hope & peace. I certainly think it is appropriate to celebrate the life & mission of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of reflection and family togetherness.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I'm African American..and no...it's not offensive at all.

 

[Jordans_Mommie]

I am African American and I do not find it disrespectful at all. I would be a little bit uncomfortable if the school was closed in observance of Dr. King day and open for Veteran's day that would seem disrespectful to Veterans IMO.

 

[redlight]

I don't look at MLK day as a strictly A-A holiday. In fact, it really isn't a "holiday" at all. It's a day of remembrance for a man of peace. Here in the Atlanta all the schools are shut down on that day, as are many banks and government offices. A lot of the hospitals also honor this day. There are a lot of activities that families can participate in, church services, serving meals to the homeless,special music & dancing,home building and others. The day is meant to be observed as a day of hope & peace. I certainly think it is appropriate to celebrate the life & mission of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of reflection and family togetherness.

I agree, and I like how you said it.

 

[MELSMICE]

Thanks for your opinions & support.

If however you are African American yourself, it could be viewed that it's a holiday that you personally wish to celebrate. If that's the case, I think you could go either way and it will be perfectly acceptable.

I am not African American - I'm white. The majority of my students also white, so I didn't want to do something that was going to be disrespectful to any race by still holding classes.

I will continue to disagree with my DH & hold classes on that day.

 

[MariDisney]

My DD's dance studio does the same thing. We are closed for a week at Christmas, Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving and then for Memorial Day. They are open for President's day, Veteren's Day, Martin Luther King day, etc.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I agree with everyone else. Heck- my university never closed down for MLK day even though the local schools did. It seems like one of those optional holidays.

 

[sunnyday123]

I wouldn't find it disresepectful at all-and I think on holidays such as MLK, Veterans, etc, schools -not that you could do this at a dance studio I don't beleive-should be open and devote that day to learning about whatever the holiday is. When my DD was in 3rd grade she asked about MLK day, and I got half way explaining it to her and she got so mad it wasn't even funny. She kept yelling, "My friend Alexis is beautiful and we sit together all the time!" I had to walk her into school and talk to the teacher, who went a little more in-depth about the whole thing.

 

[chisnpeke]

I don't look at MLK day as a strictly A-A holiday. In fact, it really isn't a "holiday" at all. It's a day of remembrance for a man of peace. Here in the Atlanta all the schools are shut down on that day, as are many banks and government offices. A lot of the hospitals also honor this day. There are a lot of activities that families can participate in, church services, serving meals to the homeless,special music & dancing,home building and others. The day is meant to be observed as a day of hope & peace. I certainly think it is appropriate to celebrate the life & mission of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of reflection and family togetherness.

Exactly how I feel about it! That is what these days are set aside for...to remember people who gave and spent their lives for a greater purpose. Same goes to Verterans Day. I'm white btw.

 

[MineMail]

I think you're fine given the other holidays that you stay open for each year.

Start keeping track of holiday attendance though. If your students aren't attending, it might be more cost-effective to close for a particular holiday if you have to pay an instructor for a handful of students.

 

[MELSMICE]

I think you're fine given the other holidays that you stay open for each year.

Start keeping track of holiday attendance though. If your students aren't attending, it might be more cost-effective to close for a particular holiday if you have to pay an instructor for a handful of students.

Paying the instructor is not an issue because the tuition is paid monthly. Missed lessons are still paid for. They can come in for a make-up if they would like.

 

[wdwfan16]

Many companies do not close on MLK Day.