Christian Privilege: Do Jewish students feel marginalized in U.S. public schools?

Abstract

This research sought to illustrate instances of Jewish students feeling marginalized in public schools. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 Jewish students attending public schools in a medium sized Midwestern city and a small Midwestern town. The results indicated the public school students felt marginalized when absent from school to observe Jewish holidays and during the Christian holiday season. These same students also felt pressured by teachers to be a spokesperson for their religion, and believed that because they are a minority, do not deserve equal rights and privileges. Students attending the Jewish day school never felt marginalized. All of their school breaks corresponded to the Jewish holidays and never with the Christian holidays.