Columbus, the Man, the Myth, the Holiday Not Taken

by Bryan Eastwood on 06/11/09 at 3:20 pm

Remember the old days when everything learned in early grade school was deemed, without a doubt, actual fact?  Pluto was a planet, numbers weren’t supposed to be mixed with letters when solving equations, and Christopher Columbus was the man responsible for discovering America.  In acknowledging that last note, everyone who has grown up with the memory of learning the mnemonic rhyme, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”.  Subsequently, Christopher Columbus is among the first historical figures discussed in school.  Fast forward to present time, it appears the man distinguished with his own holiday, celebrated annually on the second Monday of October, is also one of the most controversial individuals in history.
With early class-time lessons being of cherished accounts, it’s understandable why the brutality and harshness of the true happening was kept out of the lesson plan for younger audiences.  Where conventionality has taught the” rated G” version of the monumental event, many schools are now deciding to give students a glimpse of what really happened during grade school.
James Kracht, executive associate dean for academic affairs in the Texas A&M College of Education and Human Development, discusses the new curriculum: “The whole terminology has changed.  You don’t hear people using the word ‘discovery’ anymore like they use to, ‘Columbus discovers America’. This is because how could he have “discovered” America if there were already people living here?”
As early as fourth and fifth grade, students are now engaged in learning what people of all ages have all now come to realize.  Whether Columbus is guilty of his actions, t on a mock trial sentencing him to jail time without parole for “misrepresenting the Spanish crown and thievery”, to this day he still comes across as an important character warranted to questioning.
The ways of viewing Columbus do not end here.  As many students groaned and endured the day at ECSU, other institutions had the day off because Columbus Day is indeed a national holiday. The reasons why Eastern remained in session can be attributed to the speculation of certain tall tales. Rumor goes, in exchange for not recognizing the European man’s most famous accomplishment, various people related to the Native Americans gave Eastern it’s cherished clock tower.  Again, that is the myth.  Executive Vice President Michael Pernal dispels this myth in his own words- “Every four or five years this myth is brought up and the speculation falls mostly with the clock tower’s completion date in 1999, in which the Pequot tribe was active right around the same time and a relationship might have appeared to be feasible.”  The clock tower was paid by tax payers and was purposed as an enhancement to the campus.
Student Chris Festa responds to the whole ordeal- “I didn’t really believe it, but that’s the rumor that’s been going around amongst many freshmen.”  Like many others, he too wanted to know why ECSU didn’t take Columbus Day off.
While there is no relation between the clock tower and Native Americans, Native Americans do have a considerable history on campus. Some of ECSU’s earlier students were honored on campus and in the community as distinguished individuals.  Some of the building names, such as Occum hall and the Johnson Room in the library are names of early students, who happen to be Native American decedents.  Public Relations Officer Dwight Bachman, whom is particularly fond of Eastern’s early history, encourages students to “know their history”.
Not to make matters confusing, but Eastern does take the holiday off, just not in October.  Like Veteran’s Day (also a holiday Eastern operates during), these two days are needed in order to meet Article 10 in the collective bargaining agreement that all CT state universities follow.  There are 75 days total of class time and two days were needed to accomplish this mandate.  The university made this choice in what would work best for students.  Certain faculty such as Michael Pernal himself get’ the day off. However, he still ensures that other representatives will be standing by to meet student’s needs.  While the end of the year recognizes the holiday season with both Christmas and the New Year approaching, students are expected to want to head back home for winter festivities.  The other trade off would have been to keep the holidays off yet have school start two days earlier.  Pernal again states that “students are the controlling factor”.  For those with summer jobs to attend to, scheduling would have been difficult for some students and therefore the latter option would be more appropriate.
With Columbus Day taken and no real harm done, students have Native American history month to look forward to.  Celebrated in November, special events commemorating Native Americans will be hosted throughout the weeks.

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