Agrees with parent who opposes Rosh Hashana rule

I agree with Mr. Scherr's objection to the Simi Valley school board's two-year-old rule that no student-athlete in the district can practice or play any sporting event on Rosh Hashana.

This edict also applies to every player and coach on every team, including non-Jewish students.

I believe that the school board was trying to be considerate of Jewish athletes by trying to alleviate the need to choose between their athletic obligations and their religious obligations.

Our family has, in the past, chosen to have our child attend Mass instead of participating in his team's Little League tournament game that was scheduled on a Sunday morning.

People of many faiths have probably been forced to make hard choices for their religious practices. A Seventh-Day Adventist mom once asked the coach of a Little League team if her son could miss games on Saturday.

What the school board does not seem to realize is that the establishment of this policy that favors one religion violates the religious rights of students of other faiths.

Why is this consideration extended only to Jewish students? I sincerely hope that all practices and games were canceled on Sept. 13 since this was the Islamic Ramadan and Oct. 13 is Eid Al-Fitr.

Roman Catholics must observe All Saints Day, Nov. 1, as a holy day of obligation, which requires Catholics to attend Mass and observe the day in the same manner as they would a Sunday. Surely the cancellation of practices and games on this day would accommodate many people of non-Jewish faith.

Discrimination is not allowed whether the board favors only Buddhist holidays, only Catholic holy days, or only Islamic holidays.

For many years Simi Valley students have had no school on the Jewish holidays because the teachers union claims these holidays for their members. It seems that this new policy extends the teachers union's favoritism even further.

Doesn't the school board have a legal department that reviews their new policies? Simi Valley schools cannot afford punitive damages due to blatant discrimination enforced by the school board. Tara McBride Simi Valley