The School Committee in Winchester, MA has voted to remove all religious holidays from the school calendar, and they’re starting with Good Friday.
I do understand the logic behind the decision. I disagree, but I understand. My concern is one that was voiced in the article:
In response to a question of whether school staff would take Good Friday as a religious holiday in the event that it was changed to an early release day, 41 percent said yes (81 people out of 201 respondents).
Legally, they can’t stop you from taking a religious holiday. It just seems so much easier to make it an actual vacation day than to cross your fingers and hope everyone shows up that day. If I were still in school, <i>I’d</i> take it as a religious holiday. And though it pains me to admit this, it wouldn’t be because I observe Good Friday. It would be because as a Christian I could get a day off school/work. And most people would think the same way.
It’s true: Constitutionally, a public entity (such as a school) cannot prevent an American of any religion from worshipping on certain days.