Hopkinton: Report provides no consensus on religious holidays

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http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20150806/NEWS/150807593

Hopkinton: Report provides no consensus on religious holidays
By Jonathan Phelps/Daily News Staff
Posted Aug. 6, 2015 at 11:33 PM

HOPKINTON — A group of 26 people tasked with looking at the school calendar were unable to come to a consensus on what religious holidays should be observed by not holding classes.

Some wanted the traditional holidays to stay the same, others wanted additional holidays added and some thought the schools shouldn't be deciding which holidays to observe because "it implies that some religions are more important than others," according to the report.

The Calendar Advisory Committee began meeting on May 20. Its charge was to develop and recommend considerations for the school calendar, such as the start of school, vacation weeks and religious observations. The group was made of up of faculty, administrators, parents, students and local clergy.

The committee was formed by the School Committee after significant discussions on the 2015-2016 calendar, "particularly as it related to religious observances," according to the report.