Sunday, August 27, 2017
Parkway students say graduation date conflicts with Jewish holiday
Parkway students are calling on their district to change next year's high school graduation date because it conflicts with one of the holiest Jewish holidays.
Hannah Maurer, a 17-year-old senior at Parkway Central High School, started a petition Thursday to change the date. The petition has garnered more than 1,000 signatures from students and community members as of Friday afternoon.
Maurer, who is Jewish, said she will refuse to attend graduation if the date doesn't change. She said she knows of at least 80 classmates who are also Jewish.
"I have friends who I knew would be hurt and targeted by this, so I decided to step in and try and make a change," Maurer said. "It's just shocking to me, especially since Parkway is all about being inclusive to everyone and wanting to have that diversity, yet they don’t take into consideration all their students."
On Wednesday, the Parkway School Board voted to set Saturday, May 19 as the graduation date for all four of its high schools. May 19 is the first day of Shavuot, which commemorates the day God gave the Torah to the Jewish people more than 3,300 years ago. On Saturdays, Jews also observe Shabbat, a day of rest.
Parkway officials chose May 19 because they say it was the only day available to reserve the St. Charles Family Arena. For the past several years, the district has used Queeny Park as a graduation venue, but the Family Arena has more seating and restrooms, better acoustics and closer and safer parking. The district also saves money with the Family Arena because it can hold all four graduations on the same day, unlike with Queeny Park.
"We have received a number of concerns from parents over the years and believe the Family Arena will provide a much improved and safer graduation experience for students and families," said Superintendent Keith Marty in an email to families Thursday.
District spokeswoman Cathy Kelly said school officials are aware of concerns about the graduation date and are currently discussing them.
A Facebook post that published Friday and was signed by four rabbis and the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis also condemned the graduation date decision.
"This move is hurtful to us as a community, regardless of individual Shabbat practices," the note states. "At a time when we are witnessing an increase in divisions in our country and in fear and anxiety within marginalized populations, this decision, even if unintended, is needlessly insensitive to our Jewish community."
According to the note, the Jewish leaders are speaking with the district to forge a solution.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/parkway-students-say-graduation-date-conflicts-with-jewish-holiday/article_c9cd7e69-1107-5fd4-9ba9-6c09f01add20.html
Hannah Maurer, a 17-year-old senior at Parkway Central High School, started a petition Thursday to change the date. The petition has garnered more than 1,000 signatures from students and community members as of Friday afternoon.
Maurer, who is Jewish, said she will refuse to attend graduation if the date doesn't change. She said she knows of at least 80 classmates who are also Jewish.
"I have friends who I knew would be hurt and targeted by this, so I decided to step in and try and make a change," Maurer said. "It's just shocking to me, especially since Parkway is all about being inclusive to everyone and wanting to have that diversity, yet they don’t take into consideration all their students."
On Wednesday, the Parkway School Board voted to set Saturday, May 19 as the graduation date for all four of its high schools. May 19 is the first day of Shavuot, which commemorates the day God gave the Torah to the Jewish people more than 3,300 years ago. On Saturdays, Jews also observe Shabbat, a day of rest.
Parkway officials chose May 19 because they say it was the only day available to reserve the St. Charles Family Arena. For the past several years, the district has used Queeny Park as a graduation venue, but the Family Arena has more seating and restrooms, better acoustics and closer and safer parking. The district also saves money with the Family Arena because it can hold all four graduations on the same day, unlike with Queeny Park.
"We have received a number of concerns from parents over the years and believe the Family Arena will provide a much improved and safer graduation experience for students and families," said Superintendent Keith Marty in an email to families Thursday.
District spokeswoman Cathy Kelly said school officials are aware of concerns about the graduation date and are currently discussing them.
A Facebook post that published Friday and was signed by four rabbis and the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis also condemned the graduation date decision.
"This move is hurtful to us as a community, regardless of individual Shabbat practices," the note states. "At a time when we are witnessing an increase in divisions in our country and in fear and anxiety within marginalized populations, this decision, even if unintended, is needlessly insensitive to our Jewish community."
According to the note, the Jewish leaders are speaking with the district to forge a solution.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/parkway-students-say-graduation-date-conflicts-with-jewish-holiday/article_c9cd7e69-1107-5fd4-9ba9-6c09f01add20.html
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