Vote Medford 2007

Full Text: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

Many communities over the past few years have openly reconsidered whether they should be canceling school on Good Friday. What do you think Medford should do? Can a school system recognize religious holidays that reflect the diversity of students in the schools, but without promoting or favoring any religion?

Attenazio: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

These religious holidays are typically driven by the teacher’s union, not the SC. But if one religion is honored, the same should be extended to others. If this cannot be done, the practice should be eliminated. Some towns give Good Friday off, but also Yom Kippur, for example.

Brady: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

Religion is to be respected, but no one group has the right to establish a preference over another. All students who need to observe a religious holiday are excused from their obligations on that day. Reasonable work needs to be made Up/ School is scheduled based upon the projected enrollment. If many students and faculty will be out on a particular holiday then school should be cancelled. It is a very practical decision rather than a religious one. Religion is an important topic in our world, but no religion should be established by the public schools as having a preference.

Cugno: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

One of the factors which determine the decision making of whether or not to hold school for a particular holiday such as Good Friday is based on the population of our students. We need to recognize certain days of what our attendance will be and how poorly it will be attended. With that said however, teachers in all schools have been informed not to cover important material such as tests or projects on religious holidays that are not observed by the closing of school. I believe that we can and have recognized religious holidays that reflect the diversity of students in our schools without favoring any religion. Educating our students in different religions is part of our culture and history and is not taught in anyway as a belief.

D'aveta: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

I am a very strong believer in the separation of religion and government. Religious holidays should be recognized to the extent feasible for a given school year calendar. New Jersey has a list of recognized holidays that number near eighty days per school year. Given that MA law mandates a 180 school day calendar, one could easily see the potential conundrum. Granted, not every student would be able to claim all holidays, but the situation could arise where students have parents of multiple religious backgrounds, thereby meaning multiple days absent from school. I support a student's right to choose to celebrate their religious holidays with family and friends, but limiting the number of holidays from which a student could be absent from school may be the solution.

DiGiantommaso: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

Religious Holidays are respected for all students and faculty and we will treat religion as an important part of our school program.

Kulik: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

Religious instruction rightly belongs with the families and not with the schools. As such, care must be taken that no particular religion be recognized above any other. Yet, it is reasonable for religious discussion to take place to understand the diversity of different cultures and families.

Staff and students with a bonfire need to be absent for religious reasons should be allowed to do so without penalty. However, that should be applied equally and reasonably to all religions, whether mainstream or not. This could be a difficult call, but it seems that most principals should be able to make that determination without prejudice when a family or staff member requests accommodation.

With such a policy in place, it would not be necessary to cancel school on Good Friday, as those who wish to attend mid-day services could simply request accommodation like any other religious holiday.

O'Keefe: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

Religion is part of history and should be embraced with the same educational opportunity as English, math, or science. As a school committee member, one of the biggest expenditures for Medford is Substitute Teachers. Close to 300K is spent on substitute teachers annually across our school system. My fiduciary duty is to the taxpayers of this city. So if a religious vs. business decision needs to be made or negotiated, my priority is on the financial impact to the taxpayers of this city.

Pompeo: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

I feel that Medford’s religious holiday policy, based on the criterion of attendance is appropriate. Not scheduling tests or similar work on such days makes good sense.

Skerry: (Q13) Recognizing Religious Holidays Fairly

Yes. Religious holidays are respected for all students and faculty. The decision of which to hold school is based upon the numbers of students affected by the holiday.

In our community most students would take off Good Friday and then attendance would be poor. Therefore we schedule it as a day off. Very few students will take Passover off therefore it in not a day off for all. However, faculty has been instructed not to give tests of other major assessments on such days where students taking the day will be affected. No one is to be penalized for taking an appropriate religious holiday.

As our community grows more diverse there will be many different religious affiliations. The schools system will respect al religious and not favor one over the other. Decisions on the school calendar will be made for practical reasons.

The role of religion in the history of the world is significant. We will treat religion as an important part of the human experience but the various observances will be viewed from a cultural rather than a religious holiday.