| Author |
Message |
    
Cfa
| | Posted on Thursday, March 8, 2001 - 5:39 am: |     |
Good Friday is not a Federal holiday....I'm not sure about the state. |
Njjoseph
| | Posted on Thursday, March 8, 2001 - 8:55 am: | |
Cfa -- Good Friday is not a Federal Holiday? Are you sure? I know it's not a bank holiday, however, the stock market is closed. What about mail that day?
Nonetheless, Good Friday (as well as Yom Kippur and others) are religious holidays that all students should be able to observe without question. |
Ashear
| | Posted on Thursday, March 8, 2001 - 9:18 am: | |
The only federal holiday that is religious is Christmas day. See 5 USC 6103 |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Thursday, March 8, 2001 - 10:44 am: | |
Everyone and anyone is free to observe religious holidays (or not, since religious freedom also means freedom FROM religion.) Does that mean that the public schools should close for all that might be celebrated? I don't think so, even if there is a "dominant" religious group. If a family feels strongly about celebrating a religious holiday, then the family should stay home and celebrate together. Do the Muslims in town ask that we close for the beginning of Ramadan? That is a very high holy day as I understand it. And the end of Ramadan (like Easter, as in the end of Lent) is a major celebration.
Having public schools remain open does not prohibit anyone from observing their religious faith. I wouldn't schedule a major exam on Good Friday, or Yom Kippur, or Lunar New Year (catch the flack about the SATs or was it Regents in NY this year?) or any major religious holiday but I wouldn't close the schools, either. Closing the schools sends the message that this religious holiday is more honored (ie. more legitimate) than others. And what is the message to non-religious families?
I understand that there are pragmatic issues about how many teachers are also observant (of Christian and Jewish holidays in particular in our neck of the woods) and might stay home, but I think that is a separate issue. Schedule all-school activities on those days where there will have to be lots of substitutes, if necessary. For example, use a religious holiday to teach about religious freedom and its historical importance in the U.S. Have high school history and drama classes put together programs they can take to the elementary schools on the subject.
Just some ideas and opinions on the subject.
Bacata |
Spw784
| | Posted on Thursday, March 8, 2001 - 12:23 pm: | |
Pnp -
My calendar/handbook (the red and white one) for 2000-2001 shows Yom Kippur as a day off (it fell on a Monday in 2000).
Where did you get a school calendar for 2001-2002?
Good points, Bacata. The state publishes a list each year of approved religious holidays for which students may take time off. We have students that do take off for Ramadan and other holidays. I think the reason we close for the Christian and Jewish holidays is that they are the two major religious groups represented by the faculty and students in the district. |
Pnp
| | Posted on Thursday, March 8, 2001 - 1:53 pm: | |
My mistake on Yom Kippur. |
Dacar
| | Posted on Thursday, March 8, 2001 - 10:32 pm: | |
How many kids do you think go to church on Good Friday? And why can't teachers get developed on thier own time - my job training is all done on the weekends |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Friday, March 9, 2001 - 2:39 am: | |
Different jobs are different that way, Dacar. In my field the professional development is built in and required to maintain licensure.
Bacata |
Spw784
| | Posted on Friday, March 9, 2001 - 7:06 am: | |
Dacar,
Are you compensated for those training weekends? Or is it written into your contract that there will be "x" number of unpaid training sessions which you will be required to attend? |
Njjoseph
| | Posted on Friday, March 9, 2001 - 8:30 am: | |
Dacar, how many children stay home and observe Good Friday? When I was a child, my mother turned off all TVs and radios, took away our books and then suggested we spend the time in reflection and prayer. I don't think it's your place to judge someone's observance by their time spent in the church. |
Dacar
| | Posted on Friday, March 9, 2001 - 7:58 pm: | |
spw784
actually the training was just part of working hard to get ahead - no compensation |
Dacar
| | Posted on Friday, March 9, 2001 - 8:23 pm: | |
njjoe
the point was the priorty should be education not days off. Those who want to learn will - but do we really need to close schools during the year for teacher development? |
Njjoseph
| | Posted on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 8:34 am: | |
Dacar, I understand your point about teacher development, but I was responding to the first sentence in that posting. |
Spw784
| | Posted on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 11:23 am: | |
Staff development used to be held in the afternoons and students would be in school for a four hour day. Parents complained about too many four hour days, so Staff Development was changed to two fully closed (i.e. no students) days. |
Sac
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 9:01 am: | |
As a working parent, whose children attend the After School Program, I prefer the 4-hour days when the ASP continues to be in session. When there is a whole day off, it is also an ASP day off, and then the backup scramble begins ... I recognize that this is just one perspective, however. |
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