DCPS and Jewish holidays

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the whole system should be closed for every religious holiday - even if only 1 student practices a particular religion?

I think all or none is the best way to go.

^^ this is me but I know there would be a practical issue with having subs, etc. on Christian holidays.

[Anonymous]

Christmas is a national holiday, the high holidays are not. Eid is not. That's why businesses are closed for Christmas and not for Eid. I'm a Jew - but that is just a fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok. We also need to have holidays for Eid and the other major Muslim holidays, because there are as many Muslims as Jews in DCPS. We can dismiss for the year in July. Easy peasy.

+ 1. Why stopping at Muslims? What about major Indu celebrations, or even non religious celebrations? My kid's school has tons of Chinese kids , children of employees of the Chinese embassy. Maybe the school should close for the Chinese New Year. As far as I am concerned I would be happy to give up Easter Monday,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the whole system should be closed for every religious holiday - even if only 1 student practices a particular religion?

I think all or none is the best way to go.

^^ this is me but I know there would be a practical issue with having subs, etc. on Christian holidays.

Plus school is not just closed on Christmas Day, it's closed for almost two weeks, it's winter break with time off almost in the middle of the year. If it was just the holiday the schools would be closed only on Christmas Day and January 1, like most employers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the whole system should be closed for every religious holiday - even if only 1 student practices a particular religion?

There obviously has to be a balance. But Jew and Muslims (students and teachers) have reached enough of a critical mass in DCPS that it makes sense to be closed at least for some holidays - where there is also a balance. Many Jews celebrate two days of Rosh Hashanah, not to mention many other holidays where Jewish schools would be closed. But it seems reasonable to only close one day for RH and not the other (somewhat) more minor holidays as a balance since they are a minority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Christmas is a national holiday, the high holidays are not. Eid is not. That's why businesses are closed for Christmas and not for Eid. I'm a Jew - but that is just a fact.

Christmas is a Christian holiday. Most schools and businesses are closed in recognition that the majority of the population is Christian. It is not a national holiday and many non-Christians don't celebrate anything on that day other than enjoying the day off, just as they would on a weekend or a secular holiday like President's Day.

[Anonymous]

As I understand it, Montgomery County's original position (although it might have changed since I was a child) was that it gave off RH and YK because so many of its teachers were Jewish and it was impractical to obtain substitutes. DCPS, historically, hasn't had this situation. Plus, when you look across the school district, the percentage of Jewish children is really quite low.

As a practical matter, although DCPS doesn't have the day off, the teachers are aware and either don't assign homework or excuse the child from homework. My kids have never suffered from missing school on the HHDs.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would also caution you from extrapolating anything about the diversity of kids across DCPS from your school's population, especially if you're trying to make an argument for change.

Easter Monday in DCPS, for example, has a different cultural history than just as a day associated with a Christian/religious holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As I understand it, Montgomery County's original position (although it might have changed since I was a child) was that it gave off RH and YK because so many of its teachers were Jewish and it was impractical to obtain substitutes. DCPS, historically, hasn't had this situation. Plus, when you look across the school district, the percentage of Jewish children is really quite low.

As a practical matter, although DCPS doesn't have the day off, the teachers are aware and either don't assign homework or excuse the child from homework. My kids have never suffered from missing school on the HHDs.

That was MCPs' rationale. Muslim parents organized and have been fighting for holidays there. What MCPS did starting last year was schedule some PD on those days -- Muslim teachers are excused and it is a day off for the students.

[Anonymous]

No religious holidays off period. No Christian, Judaism, or Muslim. problem solved!

[Anonymous]

Since when is Easter Monday a day off for DCPS? Not in the past few years that we've had kids in the system.

[Anonymous]

Jewish person here. I think whether the schools close should depend on the % of Jewish students and teachers and how disruptive it would be. If DCPS doesn't have a critical mass, then it shouldn't close. Considering that many low income families in DC (who are, for the most part, not Jewish) rely on DCPS being open for child care, free lunch, etc. I would not be in favor of adding 2 more days off to the calendar.
In MoCo, since they close for Jewish holidays, they should close for major Muslim holidays as well, if the % of students and teachers is similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jewish person here. I think whether the schools close should depend on the % of Jewish students and teachers and how disruptive it would be. If DCPS doesn't have a critical mass, then it shouldn't close. Considering that many low income families in DC (who are, for the most part, not Jewish) rely on DCPS being open for child care, free lunch, etc. I would not be in favor of adding 2 more days off to the calendar.
In MoCo, since they close for Jewish holidays, they should close for major Muslim holidays as well, if the % of students and teachers is similar.

So what % = critical mass?

See a PP re Mont Co -- they are doing teacher professional development days on the major Muslim holidays now. Muslim teachers are excused and the students have the day off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christmas is a national holiday, the high holidays are not. Eid is not. That's why businesses are closed for Christmas and not for Eid. I'm a Jew - but that is just a fact.

Christmas is a Christian holiday. Most schools and businesses are closed in recognition that the majority of the population is Christian. It is not a national holiday and many non-Christians don't celebrate anything on that day other than enjoying the day off, just as they would on a weekend or a secular holiday like President's Day.

NP but Christmas has turned into a secular, consumer holiday. Also, "Easter Monday" is not a holiday or a thing and Easter is tied to a Sunday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jewish person here. I think whether the schools close should depend on the % of Jewish students and teachers and how disruptive it would be. If DCPS doesn't have a critical mass, then it shouldn't close. Considering that many low income families in DC (who are, for the most part, not Jewish) rely on DCPS being open for child care, free lunch, etc. I would not be in favor of adding 2 more days off to the calendar.
In MoCo, since they close for Jewish holidays, they should close for major Muslim holidays as well, if the % of students and teachers is similar.

Another Jewish person here and I agree with this. I grew up in Fairfax county, and always just took two excused absences for the high holidays. It was fine. I doubt the overall percentage of Jews in DCPS is high enough to warrant a school holiday.