New York Knicks has won their first NBA championship since 1973, and in celebration, the New York City government announced a ticker-tape parade to be held on June 18th (Thursday). However, the parade date coincides with a school day for public schools and the Regents Exams for science subjects in New York State, sparking dissatisfaction among some parents and students questioning the fairness of the scheduling.
According to the city’s plan, the Knicks championship ticker-tape parade will start at 10 a.m. on that day from Battery Park in Manhattan, heading north on Broadway through the “Canyon of Heroes,” and finally arriving at City Hall for a celebratory ceremony. Mayor Mamdani will award the team with the “Key to the City,” the highest honor of New York City.
The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs last weekend to claim their first NBA championship in 53 years, thrilling fans across the city. However, the celebration parade on June 18 falls on the same day as the Regents Exams. In the morning, the Biology and Living Environment exams will be held, followed by the Earth and Space Science and Physical Setting/Earth Science exams in the afternoon. High school students who do not have exams scheduled for that day do not need to attend school.
According to the New York Post, some parents believe that students preparing for or taking the exams will not be able to participate in the historic celebration like other citizens. Jael Rosado, a freshman at Manhattan LaGuardia High School, was looking forward to participating in the activities but found it difficult to do so due to the conflicting schedule with school. Another student, Savannah Feurvil, feels that the event is scheduled at a time when students are busy with their studies, putting many in a dilemma. They both believe that conflicting important events and school schedules are not ideal for students.
In response, Mayor Mamdani expressed his helplessness. “I know a lot of New Yorkers have dedicated their lives to this team, not just in recent weeks, months, or years, frankly, it’s been decades, and also for our students,” Mamdani said on Monday. “I will still encourage them to prepare for the New York State high school graduation exams.”
Two weeks ago, Mamdani issued a symbolic “executive order” due to the Knicks’ outstanding performance during the finals, jokingly declaring a temporary “cancellation of sleep time” to encourage students to watch the games live.