why do we have school on columbus day

Schools have classes on Columbus Day because it is a federal holiday that applies mainly to federal employees, but there is no law requiring state or local governments, including public schools, to close. Whether schools are open or closed on Columbus Day varies significantly by location, as school districts and states decide independently based on local policies. Some states and cities even do not recognize Columbus Day or have replaced it with Indigenous Peoples' Day, but many schools continue to hold regular classes on this day since they are not mandated to observe the federal holiday. Thus, the presence of school on Columbus Day depends heavily on local school district decisions and regional observances rather than a uniform national mandate.