School's Off

We received a letter from Lyra's school last week. The Ministry of Education has declared that the week of December 7 is a holiday and all schools are required to be closed. The reason for this is a Muslim holiday coming up, Eid al Adha. The school had already planned 2 days into the calendar for the Eid holiday, but in the last week, the Ministry has decided that the full week should be off. They did this at the beginning of the school year too, during Eid al Fitr.

So, now the school has had 2 unexpected week-long breaks in the calendar. At Lyra's age, this isn't any big deal. But for the high schoolers who are prepping for exams this is now interfering with the exam schedule. So, to make up for the days, the school now has 3 Saturdays scheduled as make up days. My first thought was "Wooo-hooo!" I'm already excited about having some days to goof off with Russell.

I was imagining how this would go down in the US. The schools write you a note that in two weeks, the school will be closed for a week. My dad was once on the school board and I can tell you that his phone would have been ringing non-stop for a week with complaints from parents. Here, you just have to go with the flow. No use getting up tight about it. If you called to complain, you'd have very little sympathy.

The call would go something like this:

Julie: I'm calling regarding the recent changes to the school calendar.
MoE: Yes, madam.
Julie: This is a huge inconvenience to our family.
Moe: Yes, madam.
Julie: Why would you have waited until the last minute to make this announcement?
MoE: No, madam.
Julie: No. WHY would you wait until the LAST minute to make this announcement?
MoE: No, madam.
Julie: How am I supposed to arrange for last minute child care?
MoE: Yes, madam.
Julie: No. HOW am I supposed to arrange for LAST MINUTE childe care?
MoE: Yes, madam.
Julie: AGGGGHHH - never mind.
MoE: Yes, madam.

I'd end up even more frustrated than when I started. Not that little old me is going to influence the Ministry anyway. And besides, I'm psyched about the days with Russell.