Private US universities do not have to observe religious holidays. We have class on Easter, Jewish holidays, Martin Luther King Day, Labor day, etc. etc. We are asked to make accommodations for religious holidays as needed (students are not excused from the work only not penalized for the absence). Marie
**************************************************** Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. Department Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology Kaufman 168, Dickinson College Carlisle, PA 17013 Office: (717) 245-1562, Fax: (717) 245-1971 Office Hours: Tues and Thur 9:30-10:30, Wed 10:30-11:45 http://alpha.dickinson.edu/departments/psych/helwegm **************************************************** From: Christopher D. Green [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 3:08 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] Is there a Judaism bias? The situation at York was complicated, and is now about to change. York was founded as a university at which Jewish students would not have to compete for limited quota spaces (as they did at U. Toronto, McGill and most other Canadian -- and American -- universities at the time). Partly as a result of that history, classes were canceled on Jewish holidays (as well as on major Christian holidays, which is mandated by legal statute, as it is in most places in North America). Over the years, the proportion of Jewish students at York has fallen to a point where it is smaller than the proportions represented by several other religious groups, so the class cancellation policy has gradually become a matter of historical precedent. In fact, however, there is a long list of holidays from every conceivable religion (around 200, as I recall) which York professors are supposed to allow students to observe (by giving them "reasonable alternative access" to the materials covered and by not holding tests on those days): http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/importantdates/religiousdates.htm Although it would cause chaos if every class had to observe every such holiday, in practice it does not come up very often (the last day of Ramadam, Eid ul-Fitr, is the only one that has ever been brought to my attention by a student in my classes). As it turns out, the school was sued by one of its professors last year for canceling classes on Jewish holidays but not on the the holidays of every other religion, and his discrimination claim was upheld by the courts. Starting next year, York will not no longer cancel classes on Jewish holidays (though we will be probably expected to give students "reasonable alternative access" on these days, as with other holidays.) Regards, Chris -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ phone: 416-736-2100 ext. 66164 fax: 416-736-5814 ============================== Michael Smith wrote: I would say yes, though those who disagree can point to Christmas as a Christian holiday (but I think if they are to be consistent, then they would have to rule that out since it isn't granted as a religious holiday but a secular one more in line with Coke than Jesus). At York I do remember the 'special arrangements' for Jewish students but not for any other. Again, some may say that if you have a special religious need you may also be able to be accommodated, but it does seem that the recognized system level one is Jewish. --Mike --- On Tue, 9/30/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]><mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]><mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [tips] Is there a Judaism bias? To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 10:50 AM It seems that Deans and other administrative officials are always sending memos to faculty to be cognizant of Jewish holidays and allow Jewish students to be excused from classes and make provisions for make-up for those students. I am not aware of ever receiving a memo re Islamic students (Ramadan),or Haitian students(Voodoo),Afro-Cubans (Santeria) and Brazilians (Condomble). Send me something. Michael Sylvester,PhD Daytona Beach,Florida --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
