We, the undersigned, are asking that Homecoming at Portage Northern High School be rescheduled to a different weekend. It is currently scheduled for Sept. 29-30, which conflicts with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. In the spirit of religious tolerance and out of respect for the Jewish students at Portage Northern, we request that the leaders of the Portage Public School District please make this scheduling change.
Updates
August 31, 2017
The school district has been silent so far. I am working on a formal letter to the administration to explain why this shift is necessary.
August 31, 2017
The momentum behind this request is incredible. Thank you for showing that inclusivity at our school matters to so many of us.
Reached 100 supporters
August 31, 2017
51 Comments
Ignoring such an obvious conflict sends an exclusionary message to all minority students, not just our Jewish kids. In this day and age, knowing when these holidays fall is easily found online. I hope that PPS will do the right thing by its students, and let them know that they are all welcome and valued at all activities.
60 students really does warrant some consideration. Not only on general principles of of respect and fairness, but more importantly because it is unproductive to create tensions between institutions which should rightly be held in equal regard. The schools and the community have a symbiotic relationship, it should never be a contest. In this country, it should never have to be a choice.
The public school system I attended in Ohio shut down on the two Jewish High Holidays. They would never have ever thought to create this kind of conflict for its observant students. Given that Portage would not schedule a ball game on Christmas or Easter or even Good Friday, why not extend the same courtesy to its Jewish students.
I'm assuming that Portage parents would be in an outrage if an important event was scheduled on Christmas or Easter. Yom Kippur is equally important to Jewish students. Please respect that and reschedule your homecoming weekend.
As an alum of PNHS ('94), I strongly support this request to reschedule Homecoming festivities and honor these important religious observances for your students, staff, alumni, and their families.
Why was this date chosen?
What kind of school would do something like this?
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We, the undersigned, are asking that Homecoming at Portage Northern High School be rescheduled to a different weekend. It is currently scheduled for Sept. 29-30, which conflicts with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. In the spirit of religious tolerance and out of respect for the Jewish students at Portage Northern, we request that the leaders of the Portage Public School District please make this scheduling change.
Updates
August 31, 2017
The school district has been silent so far. I am working on a formal letter to the administration to explain why this shift is necessary.
August 31, 2017
The momentum behind this request is incredible. Thank you for showing that inclusivity at our school matters to so many of us.
Reached 100 supporters
August 31, 2017
51 Comments
As a Jewish community member of Kalamazoo County, I continue to find it very disturbing that schools and other institutions plan major events on the holiest of days in the Jewish calendar. Please consider changing the date of this event to show respect for the diversity of this area.
Ignoring such an obvious conflict sends an exclusionary message to all minority students, not just our Jewish kids. In this day and age, knowing when these holidays fall is easily found online. I hope that PPS will do the right thing by its students, and let them know that they are all welcome and valued at all activities.
60 students really does warrant some consideration. Not only on general principles of of respect and fairness, but more importantly because it is unproductive to create tensions between institutions which should rightly be held in equal regard. The schools and the community have a symbiotic relationship, it should never be a contest. In this country, it should never have to be a choice.
The public school system I attended in Ohio shut down on the two Jewish High Holidays. They would never have ever thought to create this kind of conflict for its observant students. Given that Portage would not schedule a ball game on Christmas or Easter or even Good Friday, why not extend the same courtesy to its Jewish students.
I'm assuming that Portage parents would be in an outrage if an important event was scheduled on Christmas or Easter. Yom Kippur is equally important to Jewish students. Please respect that and reschedule your homecoming weekend.
As an alum of PNHS ('94), I strongly support this request to reschedule Homecoming festivities and honor these important religious observances for your students, staff, alumni, and their families.
Why was this date chosen?
What kind of school would do something like this?
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As a Jewish community member of Kalamazoo County, I continue to find it very disturbing that schools and other institutions plan major events on the holiest of days in the Jewish calendar. Please consider changing the date of this event to show respect for the diversity of this area.