USA New York brings forward the Christmas vacations

In response to a petition by a twelve-year-old, the public schools in the metropolis of New York are bringing forward the Christmas vacations this year. Mayor Eric Adams announced that December 23rd will now also be a day off from school.

Actually, December 23 - a Monday - would have been a regular school day this year; only from December 24 would the approximately one million pupils in the city's public school system have been on vacation up to and including January 2.

Twelve-year-old Isaac Regnier started an online petition against this, which quickly attracted thousands of signatories.

The plan "makes no sense", Regnier wrote. "The attendance rate will be very low on the day. Children whose families have travel plans will have to change them or be absent from school. Kids and teachers will be annoyed and kids won't learn anything."

The proposal found its way to Mayor Adams, who called the student personally and later presented the change to the vacation schedule at a press conference with him: December 23 will be a day off from school, with another school day added at the end of the school year in its place. "Great idea, Isaac!" wrote Adams on X.

SDA