Tam District apology doesn’t go far enough

I am a parent of a Tamalpais High School senior, as well of two graduates from the school. I attended a Tamalpais Union High School District Board of Trustees meeting on May 20 and asked the district to apologize not only for an antisemitic comment made by a Redwood High School teacher during class in October, but also for the way the district failed to properly investigate this antisemitic bias incident, as per the California Department of Education.

Some seven months on from the incident, Superintendent Tara Taupier finally extended “sincerest apologies” on behalf of TUHSD to the Jewish community for the “harm that was caused” (“Marin education official apologizes for handling of antisemitism inquiry,” May 22). While I am grateful for this first and necessary step, I find the apology flaccid.

First, it lacks a fundamental “We are sorry.” Additionally, I was disappointed that the statement was followed by what I consider canned assurances to “do better” by “redoubling” efforts to expand awareness about antisemitism by implementing professional learning opportunities for staff.

Far more pressing than implementing vaguely defined professional learning opportunities for staff is the need for administrators to take specific action and, in their words, to do better — by responding to antisemitic bias in real time. They should do so swiftly, seriously and by the book, with no further learning opportunities required.

— Kris Malone Grossman, Mill Valley

Public schools should not observe religious holidays

I wanted to comment regarding the Tamalpais Union High School District apology and the observance of religious holidays. While I am glad sensitivity training is being implemented, I was very surprised to learn that a public school gives a day off to observe a religious holiday.

I always had to take my children out of school for the Catholic Good Friday observance, as did many in our school district. I did not and do not expect my religious holidays to be observed in a public school.

In one report about the incident (“Marin school district botched antisemitism probe, state says,” May 14), the teacher is quoted as saying “Isn’t it weird that we have a day off for a Jewish holiday and not for Indigenous Peoples Day?” The teacher seems to have raised a question about why a religious holiday would be celebrated in lieu of celebrating another holiday in a disrespectful way. Therefore sensitivity training and an apology is warranted.

But the question remains, why is a religious holiday being given a day off in a public school?

Without including every possible religious and ethnic holiday, which would lengthen the school year, there are bound to be those left out. It should not be determined by a “majority” of students belonging to a certain religion or ethnicity. What method does one determine that number? How could it possibly be fair?

Ignoring even one in favor of another is discriminating. Therefore, I believe that national and state holidays should be observed in public schools, while religious holidays are not. This is the only fair and inclusive way.

— Carolyn Shadan, Tiburon

Some DOGE cuts have been mindless and cruel

What a valuable public service the IJ does in publishing civic dialogue through letters, such as the ones in response to the April 5 demonstrations opposing the current administration’s actions. In his letter after the event, Francis Drouillard characterized the demonstrations as destructive, even illegal; many citizens disagreed and some wrote in to say so.

Drouillard asserts that my letter of April 30 (which states the Department of Government Efficiency was mindlessly slashing valuable programs) is wrong, and that DOGE is “evaluating” those programs. I beg to differ.

I think closing down an organization such as the U.S. Agency for International Development without any review of what is useful (and what is not) amounts to mindlessness, even cruelty, considering the populations affected by the cuts. Who came up with the phrase “waste, fraud and abuse?” The current administration and its operatives have used it repeatedly, but without any evidence at all of what forms the waste or fraud or abuse take.

Until I see clear, solid evidence, I will say President Donald Trump’s administration should keep its hands off the programs that have contributed so much to so many, and truly made our country great.

— Elaine C. Johnson, Greenbrae