DeeJayH
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Schools may drop religious holidays
Rather than add a day off around Ramadan, days off around Easter and Yom Kippur may be eliminated.
By MELANIE AVE, Times Staff Writer
Published October 7, 2005
TAMPA - There may be no day off next school year for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Also on the chopping block are vacation days for the Christian faith's Good Friday and the Monday after Easter.
After considering a request to recognize a Muslim school holiday, the Hillsborough County School Board next week will discuss ending student days off on all religious holidays, whether they be Christian, Jewish or Muslim.
The only religious holiday not affected will be Christmas, which occurs during the school district's winter break.
Yeah you have to give equal treatment, but, if I understand this correctly, what seemed to happen is that other religions requested to have a day off of school. So, instead of giving days off for every holiday in every religion, the school decided to just get rid of most of the usual holidays. So, that way, they wouldn't have to give holidays off for every single religion.OdgenTugbyGlub said:Query: Who gives a ****?
Theres nothing wrong with this, you either give equal treatment or you don't do anything. Its not like Islam is some marginal religion, they are a large established body. Seems to me like the kids almost got more school days off, but the plan backfired.
galenrox said:Also raises the question, why don't they just acknowledge the muslim holiday? Why would they be so quick to get rid of all other religious holidays rather than acknowledge a muslim one?
Yeah you have to give equal treatment, but, if I understand this correctly, what seemed to happen is that other religions requested to have a day off of school. So, instead of giving days off for every holiday in every religion, the school decided to just get rid of most of the usual holidays. So, that way, they wouldn't have to give holidays off for every single religion.
And if that is really the case, I do think there is something wrong with that.
JKD COBRA said:The separation of church and state means that the gov. or the state cannot build a church and say "this will be the official church of Florida" or "We declare this church the official church of the United States of America." That would be against the separation of church and state. But there is NOTHING wrong with a public school holding true to the traditions of this country. Now, you may notice that most of our traditions have some religion in them. That is perfectly ok. Because that is what this country was founded on. There is nothing wrong with mentioning God in a public school if you are honoring a tradition of this country. There would be something wrong with it if you tried to make people believe in God. A lot of people do not understand this. They think the separation of church and state means you can't mention God at all in Public schools or the gov. That is not true at all.
QUOTE]
I agree. So many people misinterpret that statement, especially those who wish to ban any kind of religious reference in America. The holidays that we celebrate (i.e. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving) are all holidays that have become tradition, not acceptance in the belief of God. How many kids around the country actually care about the religious implications of Christmas? They don't because it has become more of a tradition than religious practice. Both secular and religious people celebrate these holidays. Just because that's where they originated doesn't mean it means the same today.
So having days off for our holidays is NOT a violation of the separation of church and state. We are honoring the traditions this country was founded on. Thats all. Nothing wrong with that.
OdgenTugbyGlub said:Separation of church and state provides that the state will not officially endorse any one faith.
so which religion does the government endorse
seems to me the schools have had Christian and Jewish holidays
which is it?
OdgenTugbyGlub said:tecoyah
Sorry, but paganism isn't one of the major religions.
OdgenTugbyGlub said:Notice I say major religion because, as you say, we cannot provide for every religion that comes along, but if you give ONE of the major ones holidays, you have to give ALL the major ones holidays. Call it what you will, but unequal treatment is unequal treatment no matter the mask it wears.
Befuddled_Stoner said:The problem with giving only the 'major' religions days off is that people start to quibble about what counts as major and minor religions. Seems much easier to just cut out all religious holidays and simply let kids take a few days off per year
OdgenTugbyGlub said:Considering the fact that no Jewish holiday are OFFICIALLY recognized as holidays for ALL students, I would say Christianity. I don't have a problem with this as long as ALL major religions get the same treatment.
tecoyah
Sorry, but paganism isn't one of the major religions.
Rather than add a day off around Ramadan, days off around Easter and Yom Kippur may be eliminated.
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