The Mecca of Education is anti-Catholic

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 12:17am

On December 8th, I took off the day for religious observance. It was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It's a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church and commemorates how the Virgin Mary was spared the stain of original sin at the time of her conception in her mother's womb. By contract we are allowed to take days off for religious observance and my Jewish friends have no difficulty taking off time for even the most minor Jewish holidays. I filed the required paperwork in advance of the day.

I observed the Feast not only by attending mass, but by giving a talk about Lourdes and the Immaculate Conception at a neighboring parish. That evening I joined other members of my own parish, which is named for Mary Immaculate, for a cocktail party in celebration of the Day.

A few days ago I learned that my my request to take this time as an "RO" day was not approved by our principal. A Jewish co-worker reported to me that she was present when the principal learned that several Catholic teachers had taken off the day and he had no idea what the day was about. She explained to him and he responded "Oh, that's not an important day". She was aghast.

Of course I'm grieving this through the teacher's union.

I hate my job.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 12:19am

...bringing some happiness to this obnoxious thread.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 12:24am

Is the principal Jewish? That might explain a lot.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 12:25am

The principal is black. I assume he belongs to some Christian denomination.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 12:27am

Do you teach at a religious school? No? Didn't think so. Take your whining to Self-haters Anonymous and leave your religion out of your school.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 12:32am

Perhaps he's a member of the Nation of Islam. Do they believe in Christ?

Updated On: 12/23/06 at 12:32 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 1:40am

The principal is black. I assume he belongs to some Christian denomination.

Sometimes I am amazed at how ignorant some teachers can be. Did you really mean what you just typed?
And you are criticizing him for being insensitive to YOUR religion? Your bigotry is getting worse every day. When can you retire? Not soon enough for the school system.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 1:46am

I have to say I have never heard of commemorating Our Lady's Immaculate Conception with a cocktail party. Bloody Marys all around?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 1:48am

LOL@Namo!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 1:48am

That would hardly be immaculate. Rather a messy conception, no?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 2:36am

May I ask what "minor" Jewish holidays you are referring to?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 2:41am

Rosh Hashanah I would think.

Updated On: 12/23/06 at 02:41 AM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 2:54am

Rosh Hashana is far from a minor holiday, as it is one of the big three in Judaism (along with Yom Kippur and Passover), so I am curious as to which holidays Dolly refers to as "even the most minor."

[DG]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 3:08am

I would have mentioned the whole 'cocktail party' thing, but I see it was already brought up. Do you REALLY not see what you just typed?

And people wonder why I'm a RECOVERING Catholic . . .

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 3:24am

I think believing you're in the mecca of education may have been where you went wrong.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 3:48am

Perhaps he found the discrepancy between pompous religiosity and loathing for large portions of humankind a little too much to swallow.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 11:12am

The issue here is a contractual one. Most teacher's contracts allow days off for Religious Observance, so that one can participate in any days that you do not get off by the school district calendar.

Remember that teachers do not have "vacation days" that they can use. Most have one or two "personal days" a year.

Also, I question why your Jewish co-worker was the one to explain the Feast of the Immaculate Conception to your principal. I would have thought that if he didn't understand the festival, he should have come and asked you about it.

I think you have a very good greivence Dolly, especially if other teachers in the district were granted that day for the same reason. Plus, you actively participated in the religious observance...(even if part of it was a cocktail party )

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 11:19am

I agree with Wendy. I think you definitely have a leg to stand on. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation, and as a practicing Catholic you are obligated to worship. This exactly why the days off for Religious Observance exists. Just because the principal doesn't understand the significance of the day within the Catholic church does not give him grounds to deny you that day of Religious Observance. That is a really intolerant stance. If you get a hold of the right people within the Union, they could have a field day.

"Do you teach at a religious school? No? Didn't think so. Take your whining to Self-haters Anonymous and leave your religion out of your school."

This is 100% irrelevant. All employees have a right to observe their respective religious holidays. He is not bringing religion into his school, but actually attempting to keep it out by getting the day off to worship. If this day off is not granted then he would then be forced to bring his religion INTO school and worship at school during school hours. This is a Holy Day of Obligation, not an optional day of worship for the devout, so he is going to worship no matter what. Better he be granted the Holy Day so he is able to worship outside of school.

Updated On: 12/23/06 at 11:19 AM

[D2]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 11:25am

I also agree with Wendy. It is a contractual issue, and Dollypop had every right to take that day for religious reasons, whether or not a cocktail party was involved (which took place in the evening, btw, and not during the day). And Dollypop DID participate in religious observances during the day, unlike so many other (not all) people who take days for religious observance and worship at the mall...

Sue their asses, DP!

[blueroses]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 11:36am

Well, I'd be mighty pissed, too, if I were you. All your principal has to do is look at December 8 on any calendar, and The Feast is usually listed right there underneath my birthday . Seriously, though, who is he to declare that your holiday is of no significance? I find that to be very disrespectful.

"All employees have a right to observe their respective religious holidays. He is not bringing religion into his school, but actually attempting to keep it out by getting the day off to worship."

Exactly. Good luck, Dolly.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 5:05pm

It gladdens my heart to find that this thread has become a venue for those with anti-Catholic sentiments to vent their feelings.

I hope everyone feels better now.

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 5:20pm

Wow, hostile.

Seriously, Dollypop isn't asking anyone who doesn't believe in Catholicism to convert or anything along those lines. He's simply stating his frustration over being denied something that is rightfully his. Dolly, I think you have a case and should pursue it to the fullest extent with your local union chapter.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 5:33pm

Sounds more ignorant than deliberately anti-Catholic to me, but it also sounds like a legitimate contractual grievance. (And I sure as hell don't get to stay home from class for any of the High Holy Days, including Yom Kippur, when I'm fasting, so saying education is tilted towards Judaism is painting it a bit broadly.)

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 5:54pm

Dollypop, you must belong to a union, where this grievance can be submitted, right?

[Elphaba]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 6:07pm

I guess my only comment/question would be: If you hate your job so much, why are you teaching? You certainly aren't doing you, or your students any good.....