
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 15, 1995                   TAG: 9506150030
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: HAMPTON                                LENGTH: Short

EXAM POLICY UNFAIR, JEWISH STUDENTS SAY

Some Jewish students say the school system is making them choose between practicing their religion and taking advantage of a final exam exemption policy.

The policy allows students with strong attendance and grades to skip exams at the end of each semester. But Jewish students say they may not meet the attendance criteria next fall because several Jewish holidays fall on weekdays.

Under Hampton's attendance policy, students with an A average in a class are exempt from taking the semester-end exam as long as they miss no more than four classes during a semester. Students with B averages are exempt if they miss no more than two classes.

The problem, Jewish families say, is that Jewish children must miss several days of school each year to observe major holidays such as Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah and Passover.

- Associated Press

by CNB