The observance of less-prominent religions within Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) is a long-standing and complicated issue. It is specifically relevant to Jewish students, since the Jewish population of the Baltimore metropolitan area is approximately double that of America as a whole.
Many school districts in this area, including Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County, are closed for the Jewish high holy days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). BCPS, despite its notable Jewish population, has not followed that example in the past.
This year, for the first time since 2017, City Schools closed for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year—no Jewish students in class, no teachers in professional development, and no administrators at the district office.
Although many see this as a step in the right direction towards broader inclusivity, many Jewish students and teachers within the community still feel underrepresented and disadvantaged. Young scholars believe that the days missed to observe religious occasions often negatively impact their academic standing.
While observing the high holy days of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year) and Yom Kippur (the day of amends), Jewish people are often expected to attend religious services at synagogue (a Jewish temple) which can sometimes last most of the day, or multiple days. On Yom Kippur, Jewish adults are expected to fast (refrain from eating) until sundown. These obligations, along with others, make it impossible for students who are observant to attend school during this timeframe.
Gerad Bandos, the chemistry teacher and Jewish Student Group (JSG) advisor at Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA), said, “Students were saying, ‘yeah, it’s really bad for us too,’ and a lot of these kids in these demographics are in AP and honors courses. They’re saying, ‘you’re expecting us to miss two days of an AP course and saying “Oh, hey, just make it up?”’ That’s just not practical.”
The expectation for these students to devote extra time that they don’t have to make up work is simply implausible.
Within BCPS, although religious absences have a specific excused absence coding, they are nevertheless marked on a student’s attendance record.
“I don’t think we were excused. We would just have to take the absence,” said Esther Robfogel, student co-leader of the JSG at BSA.
Additionally, at BSA specifically, there’s an added element of the numerous workshops and rehearsals many students are expected to attend. “During the high holidays [Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur], as a dancer, it’s Nutcracker season, so I’ve had to miss rehearsal,” recalls Orla Shiller, the second student head of the JSG.
When asked about plausible solutions, Bandos refers to the Howard County policy of scheduling all professional development days on dates of religious observance, including some Jewish holidays, and also those belonging to other cultures prominent in the community, such as the Lunar New Year and Eid al-Fitr.
When asked the same question, some students are inclined to agree that the current system is not ideal. “I’m not asking for every holiday to be given off, but people from different religions shouldn’t have to struggle in school or be set back because of their religion, even if it’s not the biggest one,” says Robfogel. Shiller adds, “We should probably get off how the County does. They get off for tons of holidays so that no one falls behind because of their religion.”
Even in the face of inequitable treatment, students and teachers hold strong to their faith during the holiest time of the year. “Judaism is the most fulfilling part of my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Bandos said.
While challenges remain, the district’s recent steps mark progress toward genuine inclusivity — a hopeful sign for the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Baltimore City Public Schools.
To contact this writer, email Muse Newspaper at musebsa@bsfa.org.
This story was written in partnership with The Banner Youth News Lab.
Featured photo by J Gohl for The Muse.
