Jewish holiday in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Because the decision to have the Jewish holidays off are not based on the fact that they are JEWISH holidays. They are based on TEACHER AVAILABILITY. There are not enough teachers available on those days, therefore the County must cancel class. No teachers, no school. The decision has nothing to do with giving favoritism to one religion over another. To imply otherwise is anti-semetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because the decision to have the Jewish holidays off are not based on the fact that they are JEWISH holidays. They are based on TEACHER AVAILABILITY. There are not enough teachers available on those days, therefore the County must cancel class. No teachers, no school. The decision has nothing to do with giving favoritism to one religion over another. To imply otherwise is anti-semetic.

I will assuming the "teach availablity" therory is true - or can you back that with any hard facts? To say I think that there favoritism in MCPS to accomodate Jewish people is not anti-semetic it is stating an opinion that still does not say anything against the faith or the people.

The fact is schools are governed by local authorities for the basic fact that each community is different. We have Jewish holidays off because we have a lot of Jewish people in the community. Hawaii has surfing as a sport because they like to surf.

What is the reason for no homework on those days - my neighbor's daughter was told - no homework because it was a day of repentence.

Teacher avilabilty, renting schools, whatever the reason - MCPS has Jewish holidays off because a lot of Jewish people live here - though <10% of the Montgomery County population is Jewish - hardly a majority

BTW - many people work on Christmas and Easter.

[Anonymous]

This is a related case from 1999, in the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals - actually about Easter vacation, but addresses other holiday vacations as well.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&case=/data2/circs/4th/971935p.html

Under Maryland law, public schools must create their annual school calendar in accordance with Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 7-103 (1996). Subsection (c) of § 7-103 provides for public school holidays on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve through January 1, the Friday before Easter through the Monday after, Memorial Day, and primary and general election days.

As authorized, the Board adds additional holidays to those listed in § 7-103(c), including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah. The Board decided to include Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah to the list of holidays because high absenteeism among both teachers and students on those days resulted in low instructional productivity and increased costs for substitute teachers. The Board also builds into the calendar an annual spring vacation by adding four more vacation days to the beginning of or at the end of the statutory four-day break over Easter weekend mandated by § 7-103(c)(1)(iii). In creating the annual calendar, the Board attempts to schedule the ten-day spring vacation so that it coincides with Passover to lower absenteeism, but that is not always possible. The official school calendar indicates that from the Friday before Easter to the Monday after Maryland public schools are closed for "Easter."

[Anonymous]

Accommodation and favoritism are two different things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Accommodation and favoritism are two different things.

Accommodation: something supplied for convenience or to satisfy a need

Favoritism: The practice of giving preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another

I guess either could be argued. It definitely cost others to take off of work and I think Jewish holidays are for 1 group. it does satisfy a need. it may be convenient for some people and not for others. it may save money but that has not been quantified.

Maybe neither word fits completely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a related case from 1999, in the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals - actually about Easter vacation, but addresses other holiday vacations as well.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&case=/data2/circs/4th/971935p.html

Under Maryland law, public schools must create their annual school calendar in accordance with Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 7-103 (1996). Subsection (c) of § 7-103 provides for public school holidays on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve through January 1, the Friday before Easter through the Monday after, Memorial Day, and primary and general election days.

As authorized, the Board adds additional holidays to those listed in § 7-103(c), including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah. The Board decided to include Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah to the list of holidays because high absenteeism among both teachers and students on those days resulted in low instructional productivity and increased costs for substitute teachers. The Board also builds into the calendar an annual spring vacation by adding four more vacation days to the beginning of or at the end of the statutory four-day break over Easter weekend mandated by § 7-103(c)(1)(iii). In creating the annual calendar, the Board attempts to schedule the ten-day spring vacation so that it coincides with Passover to lower absenteeism, but that is not always possible. The official school calendar indicates that from the Friday before Easter to the Monday after Maryland public schools are closed for "Easter."

Does anybody else think it is funny that Jewish holidays were written into law while the court was defending the Easter days off.

[Anonymous]

There has been no antisemitism in the discussion. But some people find it easier to defend their views by demonizing those that do not agree with them. Shameful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public school should not stop because of Jewish holidays.

The Xmas and Easter breaks are there for tradition only.

There will always be Xmas trees in December, Santa on shopping malls, and egg hunt on Xmas. Get over it.

And yes, the US was founded on Christian values. This is way Xmas and easter are traditions.

Lighten up people.

The important thing is that we still haven't gotten an answer on the origins of the Christmas egg hunt. Are they colored red and green? Does Santa bring them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if anyone is aware, but a number of Jewish institutions RENT the public high school auditoriums for their services (at least for the first day of Rosh Hashanah and for Yom Kippur when it falls on a weekday). The county must make decent money doing this, so maybe that is an added incentive in addition to not having to find and pay a fairly large number of subs for the total of 3 days (2 days of Rosh Hashanah and 1 day of Yom Kippur).

Either way, I'm aware it exists, but I am offended that there is this type of attitude in the county (and I know it has existed, although it's gotten more subtle, since my own mother was in school in moco). And yes, I do feel that if there are any other extremely large religious populations in the county that their major religious holiday(s) should be taken into consideration as well.

Why are you offended?

B/C I'm Jewish. Even if the day was not a school holiday I would take it off. I've lived here my entire life and gone to the public schools. As I have witnessed as a kid and even now, antisemitism is alive and well in moco (it's much more subtle now). Blame the jews b/c we have to take a day off. I do not care if ppl agree with me or not and I assume on DCUM I will be bashed. I simply do not care. I have no more tolerance left for this!!!!

go, bash away.

I'm not going to bash. I just don't understand how renting public schools for Jewish holidays offends you. I'm not seeing the link. To me that post made it seem like you were offended that Jews somehow get special treatment from the school system. ? But then you say you are Jewish. ? Confusing.

I'm offended b/c someone out there is ticked off that school is closed for a Jewish holiday. I've lived my entire life (as we all have) with school closed for Christian holidays. Why are mine any different or less important--esp b/c of the large number of Jewish ppl who live in the DC metro area? When I was a kid the issue came to a HUGE head and that is when the days off really began (back in the 70's). Prior to that my own mother had to stand in line in school and take an unexcused absence that went on her permanent record and got 2x the amount of homework and a talking to by the principal (in moco).

So, I'm not upset that the schools make $$ for rentals for those days. I would assume that is one piece of the incentive to close (other than getting out of finding and paying a huge number of subs).

[Anonymous]

PP: why are Muslim holidays any different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP: why are Muslim holidays any different?

Will never happen in this climate -- all the whackos are afraid it would mean the arrival of Shariah law.

[Anonymous]

Muslim Holidays are no different..just a smaller percentage of the population in the area. I grew up in a hispanic area and we had 3 Kings Day off..and no Jewish Holidays...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if anyone is aware, but a number of Jewish institutions RENT the public high school auditoriums for their services (at least for the first day of Rosh Hashanah and for Yom Kippur when it falls on a weekday). The county must make decent money doing this, so maybe that is an added incentive in addition to not having to find and pay a fairly large number of subs for the total of 3 days (2 days of Rosh Hashanah and 1 day of Yom Kippur).

Either way, I'm aware it exists, but I am offended that there is this type of attitude in the county (and I know it has existed, although it's gotten more subtle, since my own mother was in school in moco). And yes, I do feel that if there are any other extremely large religious populations in the county that their major religious holiday(s) should be taken into consideration as well.

Why are you offended?

B/C I'm Jewish. Even if the day was not a school holiday I would take it off. I've lived here my entire life and gone to the public schools. As I have witnessed as a kid and even now, antisemitism is alive and well in moco (it's much more subtle now). Blame the jews b/c we have to take a day off. I do not care if ppl agree with me or not and I assume on DCUM I will be bashed. I simply do not care. I have no more tolerance left for this!!!!

go, bash away.

I'm not going to bash. I just don't understand how renting public schools for Jewish holidays offends you. I'm not seeing the link. To me that post made it seem like you were offended that Jews somehow get special treatment from the school system. ? But then you say you are Jewish. ? Confusing.

I'm offended b/c someone out there is ticked off that school is closed for a Jewish holiday. I've lived my entire life (as we all have) with school closed for Christian holidays. Why are mine any different or less important--esp b/c of the large number of Jewish ppl who live in the DC metro area? When I was a kid the issue came to a HUGE head and that is when the days off really began (back in the 70's). Prior to that my own mother had to stand in line in school and take an unexcused absence that went on her permanent record and got 2x the amount of homework and a talking to by the principal (in moco).

So, I'm not upset that the schools make $$ for rentals for those days. I would assume that is one piece of the incentive to close (other than getting out of finding and paying a huge number of subs).

Every practicing Cathlic kid has to take an unexcused absense for holy days of obligation - we just do it - we don't cry about it. I am not against these days off - I am just against you making this a racial issue.

[Anonymous]

I think public schools in which Catholics are a large proportion of students should allow for a Santa Claus visit in December.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if anyone is aware, but a number of Jewish institutions RENT the public high school auditoriums for their services (at least for the first day of Rosh Hashanah and for Yom Kippur when it falls on a weekday). The county must make decent money doing this, so maybe that is an added incentive in addition to not having to find and pay a fairly large number of subs for the total of 3 days (2 days of Rosh Hashanah and 1 day of Yom Kippur).

Either way, I'm aware it exists, but I am offended that there is this type of attitude in the county (and I know it has existed, although it's gotten more subtle, since my own mother was in school in moco). And yes, I do feel that if there are any other extremely large religious populations in the county that their major religious holiday(s) should be taken into consideration as well.

Why are you offended?

B/C I'm Jewish. Even if the day was not a school holiday I would take it off. I've lived here my entire life and gone to the public schools. As I have witnessed as a kid and even now, antisemitism is alive and well in moco (it's much more subtle now). Blame the jews b/c we have to take a day off. I do not care if ppl agree with me or not and I assume on DCUM I will be bashed. I simply do not care. I have no more tolerance left for this!!!!

go, bash away.

I'm not going to bash. I just don't understand how renting public schools for Jewish holidays offends you. I'm not seeing the link. To me that post made it seem like you were offended that Jews somehow get special treatment from the school system. ? But then you say you are Jewish. ? Confusing.

I'm offended b/c someone out there is ticked off that school is closed for a Jewish holiday. I've lived my entire life (as we all have) with school closed for Christian holidays. Why are mine any different or less important--esp b/c of the large number of Jewish ppl who live in the DC metro area? When I was a kid the issue came to a HUGE head and that is when the days off really began (back in the 70's). Prior to that my own mother had to stand in line in school and take an unexcused absence that went on her permanent record and got 2x the amount of homework and a talking to by the principal (in moco).

So, I'm not upset that the schools make $$ for rentals for those days. I would assume that is one piece of the incentive to close (other than getting out of finding and paying a huge number of subs).

Every practicing Cathlic kid has to take an unexcused absense for holy days of obligation - we just do it - we don't cry about it. I am not against these days off - I am just against you making this a racial issue.

and there are plenty of Jewish holidays that the schools are not closed for, and kids take unexcused absences and don't cry about it. It sounds like you are the one upset about the schools being closed in this case. by the way, Judaism is not a race.