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Why is this test different from all other tests?
By adamg on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 12:20pm
Wicked Local Newton reports the state is refusing to give Newton a one-day extension on an upcoming MCAS exam even though it's the day after the first night of Passover. Newton could give the test in the afternoon so that Jewish students can recover from the exhaustion of finding the afikomen the night before, but the city says students don't do as well on tests after lunch.
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Comments
Religious Jews would take that day off from school entirely
so doesn't the state have to accommodate them in any event?
Yes
They have make up days the next week but only for kids who aren't in school. Most kids stay up late but go to school then next day.
Im actually surprised that
Im actually surprised that the state did not check the full religious calendar to make sure they were not placing the test on a very bad day for any one major religion.
Yeah, I think they might
Yeah, I think they might need to re-consult with their legal advisors, as to the inadvisability of this.
I hope this doesnt come off
I hope this doesnt come off the wrong way but here it goes...
Are they meaning to tell me the State Department of Education did not have a single Jewish person working anywhere near the setting of this date? Someone who would say "um hey guys, Passover."
Im a Catholic and due to that I can not think of a similar situation for Catholic kids as the system seems to be based around the Christian religious calendar anyway. The day after Easter would be a bit of a big deal, but even then by the time evening comes around Easter has pretty much already moved on, even in the most religious of households. Still I do not see anyone rushing to post a test on the Monday after Easter for anything. Then we have Christmas which is such a big deal nobody does anything school wise weeks before or after this event.
Jews and the Muslims have holidays at "off times" and entities like the State Department of Education either need to work around those schedules or make exceptions. I feel bad for the kids and parents who are Jewish and do not live in a place like Newton that is very Jewish, the state should have thought of them too.
Huh?
April 9 is Holy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, which at least some public schools in heavily Catholic areas have off. I think the chances of the state ever scheduling an MCAS test for Good Friday is about nil.
-Cosmo
http://cosmocatalano.com
World's Toughest Writer
True, and I reread the
True, and I reread the article with that in mind and noticed that Newton wants, and is pushing these things back to Good Friday and the day after Easter. So the question then becomes, what of the Christian kids?
I guess whoever is the dominant religion is the one who makes the rules and wants others to follow. Although this wouldnt be such a mess if it wasnt tossed in the middle of such a busy religious week.
That being said April 9th wouldnt be a problem for most Christians test wise, Holy Thursday doesnt rank all that high in the religious hierachy.
If they change the date, the
If they change the date, the JCC should let all the gentiles in. Next thing you know, they'll make a Harvard's gym muslin women only!
Stupid comment deserves stupid answer
They really care what fabric the swimsuits are made of?
[In case someone genuinely doesn't know this: JCCs, like YMCAs, are open to people of any or no religion]
Muslin Women?
Is a Muslin Woman the gendered rhetorical equivalent for a Straw Man?
One thing's for sure
She's a Material Girl.
Need to weave this fabric into the conversation somehow
"Damask Dam tell" just doesn't quite make it.
woof
You guys are warped.
Bobbin in the water
Did I meet you on the shuttle?
It's my understanding that
It's my understanding that the state *does* post to its website the schedule for MCAS testing windows well in advance (two years? the '09-'10 schedule is there now, along with this year's) and schools are responsible for determining the specific dates on which they'll conduct the tests within the given window.
According to the Dept. website, schools have anywhere from March 30 to April 14 to give their students the grade 8 test, so it's unclear to me why this article makes it sound like the state is requiring Newton to test on the first day of Passover.