Absence of Jewish Children from School on Holidays Analyzed

A unique conference of school officials of Cheltenham township and leaders of the Jewish community of the area was hailed here as resulting in increased awareness and understanding of mutual problems.

Among the problems discussed was that of absence of Jewish children from school on Jewish holidays. It was pointed out that there were excused absences, and excuses signed by parents did not have to state that the child attended religious services. It was agreed that attendance at services was the responsibility of the synagogues which also had the responsibility of discouraging Jewish children from congregating near schools on holidays after religious services.

The two groups also agreed that schools and teachers could explain the nature of Jewish holidays on which Jewish pupils were absent without involving any violation of the separation of church and state. Jewish calendars and other information were offered to the schools if desired. The Jewish representatives stressed, however, that they had no desire to act as censors of school schedules, plans or programs.

WANT SCHOOL EVENTS NOT TO CONFLICT WITH RELIGIOUS SERVICES

The school leaders were asked to give consideration to the scheduling of major night school events on nights not conflicting with religious services. A distinction was made between major events which are school-sponsored and school-promoted and comparatively incidental activities on Friday nights which involve minimal problems for the Jewish community. Sports and similar activities on Saturday afternoons were not regarded as posing problems for the Jewish community.

The Jewish leaders recommended that no changes be made by schools unless Christian and Jewish parents and teachers agreed that, to the extent it was possible to do so, school events should not be held at times that posed problems for religiously concerned Christians or Jews. It was admitted that it would take several years for such understanding and agreement to be reached and that immediate steps would be unwise and premature.