November 10, 2014
Mariah Timms
News Writer
Maryland
Montgomery County Public Schools may be looking at a differently-labelled school calendar next year. When high absenteeism on Jewish holidays, particularly Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, started affecting the ability of schools to operate in the 1970s, the schools began closing on those holidays. Next year, however, the calendar, which will still include the days off, may not call them by name. Superintendent Joshua Starr states the idea is in the spirit of clarifying that the closing is based on the ability of schools to operate, not on religious favoritism, reports WTOP. Schools remain open on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, although school officials say they just don’t have enough students or teachers out on those days to justify a closing. Absences on religious holidays are always considered excused with no penalties in the district.
