DATE: Wednesday, June 11, 1997              TAG: 9706110003

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Opinion

SOURCE: BY NATALIE KEYSER 

                                            LENGTH:   43 lines

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS DISREGARD NON-CHRISTIAN CHILDREN

The First Amendment supposedly guarantees us the right to freedom of religion. Why, then, are Jewish students in our community forced to choose between their valued education and observing the single most important holiday of the year? This year, for example, students in Virginia Beach returned from their summer break on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Only one week into the semester, Jewish students were forced to miss school on Friday, Sept. 13, to attend synagogue. The more observant ones missed two days.

The religious bias of the Virginia Beach School Board's members is clear. This year, spring break started on March 29, yet Passover does not begin until Monday, April 21. Once again, the Jewish minority will be left to choose between their school's attendance policy and the family that awaits them at home. Attending school on religious holidays caters only to a single religion. The School Board should not forget that students of all religions deserve an equal opportunity to practice their religion. A Jewish student should not have to worry that her teacher will give the class a test on the day Yom Kippur is observed.

The most blatant example of religious discrimination is how the School Board chose to plan the city schools' winter break. Coincidentally, the break began on Tuesday, Dec. 23. We all know when Christmas falls, but how many realize that perhaps the third most important Jewish holiday, Channukah, celebrated over eight nights, lasted from Dec. 5-13 this year. Is there really time to attend religious services when one's English research paper is due the next day?

We must do what is right for the children of tomorrow and this should not conflict with their freedom of religion. One realistic approach is to add only five extra days to the school year. This would avoid any religious discrimination by allowing non-Christians to also observe their sacred holidays. The school year would be pushed into mid-June. If it is not done, the School Board will be at risk of denying our children the very precious rights they deserve.

We must ensure that every child be allowed to exercise his/her religious freedom. To do otherwise would be committing philosophical suicide. MEMO: Natalie Keyser is a Cox High School senior.

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