Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 15:10     Subject: Re:Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:
What's your threshold? How many people have to celebrate a religious holiday for MCPS to close for it?


Certainly not for a few thousand kids. That isn't even close. You are talking maybe 2-4% at most of the entire MCPS population. Less than 2% of teachers/staff. Absences on non holidays are 2.5%. So there is absolutely no reason to close on these holidays. Yesterday my child's class had 2 kids absent for Lunar New Year. Again, not even close enough to close the entire district down for a day. The fact that you think you deserve it is the problem here.


The question is not, what shouldn't be the threshold? The question is, what should be the threshold?

Also, nobody is talking about "deserve". MCPS closes for some religious holidays but not for others. Which religious holidays should MCPS close for, and why?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 15:05     Subject: Re:Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh God

Just put it on a calendar already and let people who celebrate it take the day off as a "religious excused absence." No tests or introduction of new material on the day. Done.


No they want the entire county to take off of work to watch their kids or pay for daycare so a few thousand of them can celebrate their holiday.


What's your threshold? How many people have to celebrate a religious holiday for MCPS to close for it?


Certainly not for a few thousand kids. That isn't even close. You are talking maybe 2-4% at most of the entire MCPS population. Less than 2% of teachers/staff. Absences on non holidays are 2.5%. So there is absolutely no reason to close on these holidays. Yesterday my child's class had 2 kids absent for Lunar New Year. Again, not even close enough to close the entire district down for a day. The fact that you think you deserve it is the problem here.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 14:51     Subject: Re:Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:

I just told you I don't have a threshold. Probably something that impacts a good part of the school to make it almost impossible to have classes for the non-participant students? Something like a good part of teachers or bus drivers or whatever celebrate said holiday and they can't find enough subs?


So you don't have a threshold, but you think that there should be one.

Which of the current religious holidays that MCPS will close for this year will exceed the threshold?

Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 14:48     Subject: Re:Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh God

Just put it on a calendar already and let people who celebrate it take the day off as a "religious excused absence." No tests or introduction of new material on the day. Done.


No they want the entire county to take off of work to watch their kids or pay for daycare so a few thousand of them can celebrate their holiday.


What's your threshold? How many people have to celebrate a religious holiday for MCPS to close for it?


No threshold but it is the only fair solution I see. Otherwise, since I come from Brazil and we celebrate carnaval there with 3 days off, I will want that too. Otherwise it would be insensitive to my culture....



OK, what should the threshold be for closing for religious holidays (including carnaval/carnival/Mardi Gras etc.)?


I just told you I don't have a threshold. Probably something that impacts a good part of the school to make it almost impossible to have classes for the non-participant students? Something like a good part of teachers or bus drivers or whatever celebrate said holiday and they can't find enough subs?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 14:43     Subject: Re:Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh God

Just put it on a calendar already and let people who celebrate it take the day off as a "religious excused absence." No tests or introduction of new material on the day. Done.


No they want the entire county to take off of work to watch their kids or pay for daycare so a few thousand of them can celebrate their holiday.


What's your threshold? How many people have to celebrate a religious holiday for MCPS to close for it?


No threshold but it is the only fair solution I see. Otherwise, since I come from Brazil and we celebrate carnaval there with 3 days off, I will want that too. Otherwise it would be insensitive to my culture....



OK, what should the threshold be for closing for religious holidays (including carnaval/carnival/Mardi Gras etc.)?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 14:29     Subject: Re:Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh God

Just put it on a calendar already and let people who celebrate it take the day off as a "religious excused absence." No tests or introduction of new material on the day. Done.


No they want the entire county to take off of work to watch their kids or pay for daycare so a few thousand of them can celebrate their holiday.


What's your threshold? How many people have to celebrate a religious holiday for MCPS to close for it?


No threshold but it is the only fair solution I see. Otherwise, since I come from Brazil and we celebrate carnaval there with 3 days off, I will want that too. Otherwise it would be insensitive to my culture....

Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 14:19     Subject: Re:Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh God

Just put it on a calendar already and let people who celebrate it take the day off as a "religious excused absence." No tests or introduction of new material on the day. Done.


No they want the entire county to take off of work to watch their kids or pay for daycare so a few thousand of them can celebrate their holiday.


What's your threshold? How many people have to celebrate a religious holiday for MCPS to close for it?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 14:14     Subject: Re:Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:Oh God

Just put it on a calendar already and let people who celebrate it take the day off as a "religious excused absence." No tests or introduction of new material on the day. Done.


No they want the entire county to take off of work to watch their kids or pay for daycare so a few thousand of them can celebrate their holiday.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 13:44     Subject: Re:Diwali peition
Oh God

Just put it on a calendar already and let people who celebrate it take the day off as a "religious excused absence." No tests or introduction of new material on the day. Done.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 12:45     Subject: Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:

Wow, you really don't want to answer the question while the PP has answered everyone of yours. It is obvious this is a far stretch for you.

Anyway, the PP didn't mention this but it has always been about how/if the school district can operate, not if a small group of kids celebrate a holiday. Ask some of your Indian Americans to be teachers or substitutes. That should be the only way the schools are off. Otherwise it is an excused absence. The best course of action should be making sure high schools are aware of the holiday and be an advocated to the principal that there shouldn't be any tests the day of or day after. Asking everyone to stay home is such a reach, it really is.


MCPS closes on Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. What operational data is that closure based on, and when are the data from?

Also, what operational reasons does MCPS have for closing on Good Friday and Easter Monday?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 12:37     Subject: Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Now onto the slippery slope. So you are saying you don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close but you expect an entire school district to close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? I am honestly asking you why? If you are requesting a day off at work instead of asking the whole office to close and missing said work to celebrate a holiday, why can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off? I am honestly curious.


Slippery slope: a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences


Yet you can't answer the question. Nice retort.


Why are schools closed for Good Friday or Easter Monday? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?

Why are schools closed for Rosh ha Shanah and Yom Kippur? You don't expect your employer to close or the federal government to close, do you? So why does an entire school district close down, while all their parents are still at work that day? Why? Can't your kids just get an excused absence and miss the day of school to celebrate, same as you? Why force 95+% of the other kids to have a day off?


Actually Good Friday and Easter Monday are state holidays - all Maryland school districts are mandated to have them off whether MCPS wanted to or not. They wrap Spring Break around them.

The Jewish holidays started getting off in 1976 after multiple problems with filling Jewish teacher positions with substitutes that celebrated.

Also there are more than 5% of Christians and more than 5% Jewish people in MCPS so your comments do not make any sense whatsoever.

You still haven't answered the PP's question.


The 2014 census had MoCo at 15% Asian American. They don't break that down into East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, etc. Some percentage of the 15% are either Hindu, Sikh, Muslim or Jain.

There are plenty of kids in MoCo schools that celebrate Diwali, so let me ask you where the dividing line should be? What's the magic number that makes it okay to recognize another faith?






Wow, you really don't want to answer the question while the PP has answered everyone of yours. It is obvious this is a far stretch for you.

Anyway, the PP didn't mention this but it has always been about how/if the school district can operate, not if a small group of kids celebrate a holiday. Ask some of your Indian Americans to be teachers or substitutes. That should be the only way the schools are off. Otherwise it is an excused absence. The best course of action should be making sure high schools are aware of the holiday and be an advocated to the principal that there shouldn't be any tests the day of or day after. Asking everyone to stay home is such a reach, it really is.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 12:30     Subject: Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:I just saw the BOE testimony on TV. She mentions Passover as a comparison. Guess what? MCPS gives zero days off for that holiday.


She did her homework - not. I would have sent her away and told her to come back prepared!
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 10:48     Subject: Diwali peition
Verizon channel 36. On tv now.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 10:46     Subject: Diwali peition
Anonymous wrote:I just saw the BOE testimony on TV. She mentions Passover as a comparison. Guess what? MCPS gives zero days off for that holiday.


She who?

Also, how many days off does MCPS give for religious holidays other than Passover?
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2016 10:43     Subject: Diwali peition
I just saw the BOE testimony on TV. She mentions Passover as a comparison. Guess what? MCPS gives zero days off for that holiday.