I am a member of the United Church of God, took those days off when I was in school, and thought I might provide a little background information to the discussion. First it is a religious observance. Religious services are held each of the 8 days. The link that was provided earlier to the literature from the United Church of God clearly explains the religious nature of the observance. Every year I missed those days from school and never once had any significant problem with teachers or school administrators. The parents understand the importance of the classwork and are encouraged to get assignments from the instructors for their children to do while away. Usually some people even volunteer their time as tutors to help the students at the various locations. Whether one understands the church teaching or the need to travel to the observance is not relevant. The fact is that it is a clear and consistent doctrine of the United Church of God and numerous other churches, which also observe the same days in essentially the same manner. As such it requires the same accommodation as Jewish, Muslim and other religions receive. Mainstream Christianity's holy time has already been accommodated by the very nature of the school calendar with the breaks for Christmas and Easter. There is no undue burden put on the school district by this. It does not disrupt the order of the school. If the student fails to do the assignments then that is on the student and the student deserves the consequences. It is hard for me to believe that in today's social climate it is possible for a public school to discipline a student over this issue. I guess the love of diversity hasn't reached that part of Indiana yet.
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