HS Band Yanked from Competition; Parents Angered by Last-Minute Decision
by Jim Brown
October 4, 2004
(AgapePress) - A Delaware school district is under fire for recently withdrawing a high school marching band from a competition because of a Jewish holiday.Officials in the Brandywine School District told the Mount Pleasant High School "Green Knights" marching band that it could not participate in the competition since it took place during Yom Kippur. The decision angered some parents who say the district's decision violated the separation of Church and State by forcing non-Jewish students to observe Yom Kippur late last month.
Angie Creppon, who has two children in the band, says the district employed a double-standard because it does not recognize Christian holidays. "I don't have a problem with people celebrating different religions because there are many different religions, and I respect that," she says. "But I also expect people, especially the school district, to respect my religion and my child's choice."
The band's participation in the Pennsylvania competition was planned months ago. Parents like Creppon argue the district, by its action, is crossing over the line between religion and government.
"I wouldn't expect a Jewish person to recognize my holiday, if that makes sense," she says. "I celebrate Christmas, so I wouldn't expect them to recognize Christmas just like I wouldn't think they would expect me to recognize Hanukkah or Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah. That's just ludicrous -- it doesn't make any sense at all."
Two years ago at Mount Pleasant High School, students who erected a Christmas tree were ordered by the school to take it down.
Brandywine superintendent Dr. Bruce Harter would not comment for this story.
