It should not be like that, we all have the right to show our faith

Wearing a Kippah is a commandmant that all Jewish males are required to forfill. I wear my Kippah from the moment I wake up to the time I go to sleep. I have never in my 65 years on earth have ever seen a non Jew wear a Kippah although there is always a first time. The school authority was wrong in this case. I commend the young man for wearing his kippah.
Michael Bernstein

It seems obvious that Silver Springs is simply too small of a town, population 76,000+, for there to be enough religious diversity to allow Mr. Johnson to see any type of religious clothing or headwear.
As there are only 2 Synagogues, a Jewish Center and the Young Israel organization, as well as 2 Buddhist temples, it is very doubtful that Mr. Johnson would see any religious appareal other than the usual Christian type.
It would also seem that Silver Springs is cut off from the rest of the world with regard to media access. I would assume Mr. Johnson is, as the Principal of an educational institution, does try to keep up with current world events and has seen images of people from various religious backgrounds and countries. Only the lack of such media access could explain the complete ignorance of a man charged with supervising the education of our youth.
I am thankful that I grew up in a major metropolitan area and was able to know what a kippah was by the age of ten. Though I did not know it's significance at that age due to my being Christian and not Jewish. Even so I knew it was inherent to the Jewish faith and a symbol of that religion.

Wearing the Kippah and his word of itself should have been adequate. If I do not participate in the traditions of being associated with a particular Church group, wearing a cross in honor of my inner Christian devotion should be more than adequate. Asking for proof is absurd and discriminatory. If the school questioned what a Kippah was, they should have asked in good faith or..being a school...certainly they have the access and (hopefully) knowledge how to use reference materials to educate themselves. I would worry about my child's education, discrimination in this school.

Silver Spring is a part of the Washington Metro Area and Montgomery County, MD, with a huge Jewish population. Silver Spring is not an isolated town but an integral part of the county. In fact, at one time that area was majority Jewish. That stupid principal should have known better.

In the area of Northwood High School, there are several synagogues including Congregation Har Tzeon (conservative to orthodox), Young Israel Shomrei Emunah (orthodox), Silver Spring Jewish Center (orthodox) and a little further away are another three synagogues.

Where did this principal grow up, on the Moon? This is similar to a yarmulke (sp?). It's a traditional headcovering for Jewish males. What an idiot.

It would appear to me that the principal of a high school in a major metropolitan area such as Silver Spring and in fact in any high school in the nation should have an education encompassing at least basic information about the world's major religions. How did a person with a low level of education such as this principal has displayed get to be a principal? What college did he attend that gave him a degree without proof of knowledge? Maybe the principal is anti-semetic and has just let it show.

At first, I thought, "Kippah? I've never heard of a kippah, either." But then, when I read farther down that a kippah is another term for yarmulke, I thought, "What kind of a yutz doesn't know by now what a yarmulke is ?!" Dumb shgatzim like him give the rest of us goyim a bad name.

The principal needs proof of his religion? He was born in Israel and his name is Caleb Tanenbaum!

Really? Who among you missed the point that the boy suddenly started wearing his yarmulke? These are different days than the days of my youth. To ask for confirmation under the circumstances described in the article is perfectly reasonable. The school had a no headdress policy , the Boy had not been wearing a headdress and suddenly he is? What's the fuss? If he were an angry young man with vilent intent who suddenly identified with a religious cause, suddenly started wearing a headdress, then committed violent acts, the community would be asking why he had not been asked to prove his faith?

Outrageous! I thought I was reading about someplace down south, maybe Arkansas. Totally shocked to see that it's right here in Montgomery County. Northwood HS is right in the middle of a huge Jewish community. This principal needs some serious sensitivity training or an administrative job where he can't do any harm. Unbelieveable!!

Thank you G Blake! Why everyone has to blow it so out of proportion is crazy. It's not that the principal didn't know what it was, nor that he was against it, he was simply covering the bases since it was something that was going against the rules of the school. If another kid walked into the school with some head gear on that just happened to be of some kind of gang symbol, but he stated it was for his religion, should the principal also just accept it at the kids word. If everyone would be agreeable to getting documentation as a privilage to bend the rules, it would be done and over with. You should be lucky that the principal is on top of situations... it may save the Jewish boys life some day.

A parallel situation... my sons school had the policy that kids weren't allowed to have medications at school unless they had a doctors letter showing it was a valid medication for their ailment. I can understand that... so I got the doctor to write a letter and it was over... everyone was happy and taken care of... and I didn't consider my son discriminated against because of his illness!

All the priciple did was follow the rules. Should the student not be expected to do the same?

The letter from parents should be sufficient, since these are minors. No other documentation is necessary, since no other faith requires such documentation. On the flip side, you can see the photo. It's not a simple white cloth as the rabbi describes. There are plaid and different tectures and bold patterns. To someone else, that's a hat.

If you ask me, the fact that he suddenly wanted to start covering his head, when he never did before (reform jews do not usually wear kippahs), tells me more of what's going on socially at the school. For example, if a young man walks in a room where 70 percent of students are wearing religous gear, such as muslim veils and scarves, jamaican rasta headcoverings, then he would in fact feel lesser for not wearing something. Not just for the reason of attire, but also because of an elevated religious environment, where his muslim classmates "represent" their beliefs visually, and even nowdays christians are displaying as never before, wearing prominant crosses, marks on skin, tatoos of jesus, religious clothing and tebowing in the hallway.....it may make a young jewish boy feel, frankly, defensive. I expect this will continue and rachet up in the coming years. Religion is generally oppressive and can be quite aggressive, and there is no "non-religious" response to that. By nature, the social response would be religious, in that the individual would embrace and strengthen the beliefs they were born into.

Well at least his pants weren't down around his ankles with his boxers exposed. I don't see the big deal it's a cap, better then most of the baseball caps you see out there today with the crude on them.

HMMmm, Jewish? Principle denying his religious freedom? I hope the school has a very, very, good lawyer.

This trend of not allowing a person to show any religious signs in clothings has been codified into law in many -so called civilized- Western European Countries. Muslim women who are required to cover their hair are not allowed in public buildings and schools in several countries such as France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Several other countries are also drafting similar laws to prohibit Muslim women from wearing head scarves. These trends are not a sign of civilization. They are indicative of fear from what is not considered the norm. I think this should stop and all people should be allowed to practice what their religion asks from them without interference as long as they do not harm others. Kippa, Head Scarves, Hijab, and so on should be allowed. In order to eliminate abuse of the freedoms we have, I see no harm in a letter from the congregation, whether a Jewish, Muslim, etc. stating that such accessory is required by religion.

Why the reference to "down south, maybe Arkansas ??

The school chose to make out of a molehill. This is how the school teaches tolerance and diversity? What does it bother anyone if he keeps the kippah unobtrusively on his head. I bet you couldn't even see it unless you stared because you wanted to see it. My roommate in college wore a kippah. So what? The administration was helpful. Only a few instructors made a big deal out of nothing. They brought their diapers with them to school.

No one should be demanded to prove any personal belief. This is a freedom issue..the notion of "Yes we will allow you the freedom to believe what you want, yet we require a qualifier from someone else." Unacceptable, and frankly I hope they sue the pants off that school. Hit them where it hurts and make it painful.

The principal at Northwood High School, Mr. Henry Johnson has much more on "his plate" that he seems to be unable to deal with. This child's kippah and proof of religion is an evasive move; perhaps to avoid other serious issues like "bullying," and massive texting abuse. The national experts, Focus Adolescent Services, www.Focusas.com report the deadly serious nature or potential nature of these acts. I would suggest to all high paying property tax citizens of Montgomery County that they seek help and counsel from Focusas. I also suggest that each of you donate the price of a cup of coffee to them as they refuse to take any money from the government/tax-payers. These people work hard, on a national level, to save families and children.

The fuss is, G. Blake: why did the principal reject the parents' explanation? Essentially he is saying the parents are liars when he demands a rabbi provide a note.
Sounds like the nitwit principal is on a power trip. He needs to reminded that his school and parents are a partnership, not adversaries.

I really detest stereotypes, but this principal is a total yutz. For one thing, there is a huge Jewish population in his area. For another, the name Tannenbaum might actually be a clue that makes proof of religion rather superfluous. This man is too stupid to be responsible for educating several hundred adolescents.

I am not Jewish, and I am not perticularly religious... But I do feel that this school Principal is totally wrong...

The rule is no head gear. Proving his religion well questionable. He was born in Isreal and that in itself could have been enough. No hear gear is what should be looked at. A child that starts to wear head gear when he didn't before. The principal probably had principles of his own. Following the rules could have been one of them.
Julia Elaine Bledose

I wonder an "African-American" wore his tribal head covering would he have to prove he was of African descent and it was his religion. I do not think so.

I think that, issues of religious freedom aside, those in charge of schools are often prone to be too controlling and overstep their authority. In a somewhat different matter (involving free speech), the Supreme Court stated, "Students do not abandon their First Amendment rights at the doorstep of the school."

“All students are allowed to wear head wear according to their designated religion,” Principal Henry Johnson wrote in an email to Patch. “Because our students are not allowed to wear hats and other head gear at school, students are asked for verification when their religious headwear is not traditional headwear that we are accustomed to seeing.”
THIS WHOLE STATEMENT IS CONFUSING AS HELL. First sentence by the principal says they are allowed to wear headwear according to their designated religion. Then in his next sentence he says that students are not allowed to wear hats and other headgear at school.??????? uhmmmmmm WHICH IS IT\????? are they or aren't they???? This guy needs to go into politics. He has NO IDEA what he is saying obviously.

Is my religion invalid if I am the only one who practices my religion?
What is the required number to make a religious sect with its own practices?

OK....if this boy should have to prove that he is Jewish by getting a note from his Rabbi, so that he can wear his Kippah; maybe the principal and his entire staff should have to prove that they are not child molesters. There seems to be more and more of that going on.

very interesting subject to discuss. why is it at some schools christmas decorations can't be put up and you can't say "merry christmas" without offending people and then i see this big hoopla about religious headwear. what's right and what's wrong?

What if a religion or a cultural norm requires a woman to go topless (some African tribes), would she be allowed in a school? or this will be considered very foreign to our culture and therefore forbidden. The principal requested a formal letter from the leader of the congregation and there is nothing wrong with that. If he allowed every student to just wear whatever they want on their head, then gangsters and everybody else would wear whatever they want and all they need to claim is my religion requires it.

This all being said. I assume the school has a uniform. If teh school has no uniform, then the principal has no rights to ask why are you wearing this.

Why don't you go back to Isreal wear people who wear kippah spite and call little kids names because they want freedom of religion. What would happen to this boy if he lived there and did not wear the accepted head gear. If you chose to live in America live by are laws. School hands out papers every year on dress codes, didn't these parents care about there son to read it. Why didn't they speak up before, or was it they didn't care when they approved of it, as a way protect thier son aginst other religions they dldn't like. If you don't like rule don't get lawyer, go to parent - school board meeting.

What's next? will he insist the boys show that they are circumcized to prove a belief also???? With the rate of teachers and school administrators molesting students skyrocketting, that wouldn't surprise me either !!!

Folks, the issue here is not whether Johnson has a right to verify--school policy clearly gives him this authority. The controversy comes from his refusal to accept the parents verbal verification of their son's religion. That is what is upsetting the parents--not that he asked, but that he ignored them. Parents and schools are equal partners in education--one does not lord it over the other. Johnson is doing just that by equating the student with the parent--neither are to be trusted and he is the decider and no one else.

Bet if it were a muslim girl wearing a burka there wouldn't be a problem. Could you imagine if she were asked to prove her religion? OMG we'd have lawsuits filed from CAIR, ACLU, AFCL, and probably obama's justice department!

Seriously, a boy named Caleb Tanenbaum has to prove he is Jewish? I mean his name is not O'malley or Leminski it is Tanenbaum, not that a name is proof of religion he could have been raised a Christian or Muslim or Hindu but if a Greenberg, Goldstien or Tanenbaum is claiming to be Jewish odds are he is.

What? What is the difference if he is yet 'practicing'? Even if he were starting today only with his yarmulka, great! Yasher Koach!

Why do I have to be Jewish to wear a hat. What if for religious reasons I believe that I should wear one, because I accept the theological reasoning, but i am not Jewish. If I have the very same religious reason to wear the hat, can I?

The Supreme Court of the United states said that a person's religion is his or her own. This decision stated that a person does not need to belong to a formal religion in order to be a conscious objector to war. This student need not prove himself to wear a kippah, nor would a female Muslim need to prove herself in order to wear a veil.

a simple word for this is respect... even though we have different beliefs and traditions, one must respect and obey others. And according to them "cover your head in order that the fear of heaven may be upon you."

A concluding word--This whole fiasco is yet another reason why my daughter never attended public school. At her parochial school all the parents were treated by the administrators as co-partners in the children's education. All of our dialogue was open, respectful, and in our daughter's best interest. Any problems or issues were worked through and solved by mutual agreement and action, not by the dictatorial command of some principal with a Napoleon complex and possibly with an axe to grind, as we have here with Mr. Johnson.

Everyone defending him here, especially Leisa, can have him. Hope you enjoy being ordered about this tinpot bureaucrat and having your sincerity as a parent questioned by someone who certainly should know better but is only trying to cover his butt with all this verification hoohaa.

Let's be extremely clear... This story is completely inaccurate and misleading! Dr. Johnson asked the student to remove a Tam o' Shanter NOT a Kippah because he was wearing it as a cultural expression associated with growing dreadlocks! As a matter of fact, I am absolutely disappointed that this article was even printed with such biase. We have a large Jewish population of students as well as students who practice Islam...both requiring headgear that is allowed. Students at our school can tell you that this doesn't make sense. Please don't be quick to judge this principal or any other who are required to follow school protocol...FOR ALL STUDENTS. As a matter of fact, this student just switched from wearing a Tam to a Kippah to make this argument compatible to this article. This school is very accepting of religious and ethnic diversity. Lets us be more educated and discerning regarding how information is presented to us!

Trust me....this is not news worthy. There are plenty of cases of discrimination in Montgomery County...but this is not one.

As Caleb's father, I see the issues as being very pertinent, and much deeper than what appears on the surface. The MCPS policy allows for principles to discriminate without having any due process in place. There should be one county policy with specific remedies that applies equally to all. Weather its the wearing of a Redskins hat, or any other clothing a child chooses, To deny him or her their due rights, or to have no written policy with proper due process in place is unconstitutional and can only promote discrimination. Its time to have a new policy enacted.

What gets me about this is how ignorant school teachers and administrators are towards the First Amendment. This student clearly had a First Amendment right to wear this kippah

Another First Amendment right the schools fail to recognize is the refusal to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegience as was detailed in another Montgomery County school in 2010.

When I was 13, Vietnam was the issue of the day and I refused to say the pledge. Sure I was sent down to the counselor's office but 10 minutes later, I was told to go back to my class with no explanation.

Recently I came upon a website http://historyofthepledge.com and other sites. The pledge was actually a scam to sell flags to the entire country's schools. The perpetrator of this scam got the government to make it into law that all school children must recite (written by his nephew).the pledge without even a clue what they are pledging. Unfortunately, this implied contract cannot be enforced because children are not old enough to enter into a contract.

The original salute (Belamy salute) resembled more of a NAZI salute. .

In 1944 the Supreme Court ruled that a student had a First Amendment right not to stand and recite the Pledge. In 1954, they added the phrase "under god" to it and during the late 1960s, Montgomery County removed the 'under god' as I remember an issue about it. When I went to a Mont County HS, It wasn't recited. If it is now, maybe the students here should refuse to as protest this policy

Here's the article from the Post about this situation: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/maryland-schools-insider/post/montgomery-student-needed-a-rabbis-note-to-wear-yarmulke-to-school/2012/02/03/gIQAg4YKnQ_blog.html

Please read the article from the Jewish Weekly in which Dr. Johnson explains more thoroughly....and truthfully I might add.
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/breaking_news/updated_maryland_teen_must_convince_high_school_he_needs_kippa

@dataslave...it was my comment and I deleted it. I felt I was getting to personal in my remarks and decided to just be bigger then the folks in this story making stuff up. I did post a more truthful article above.

The early debate was the federal government would not have a religion due to some states would not join the union if their states' religion like Pennsylvania would be in conflict with the federal religion. The second objection and in the newspapers at the time was Europe was at war at various times over religion. After the civil war states became the lower authority therefor minions of the federal government and they too could no longer establish a religion.

If the Pope was visiting Northwood ..would the principle demand he take that rediculoul hat off? Or maybe the Pope better go get a letter from God ..giving him permission to wear that abomination? That principle better watch his step ..nedding with the "chosen people" he may get the smack down jusus!

scuse my grammer ..I was kicked out of Northwood for smoking weed with the janitor back in 78 .. its okay because my IQ was 240 ... and I went on to start a fortune 500 company in Calfornia ...and now I have so much money I cant even spend it fasy enough.. mazel tov!!!!!!!!!!

data slave dude you missed the point, a student or a religous leader?
who cares? in the vast scheme of things ...(all our real problems of the world) you would think a principle would have more important things to do than worry about a little cap ... what a fuktard. end of story

How do you prove your religion if it is a new religion? I am of the make love not war religion. Can I wear my symbols?

I think the principal was wrong for asking that and im jewish and I wear my kippah everywhere I go and it's not a requirement to wear your kippah it's optional and all denominations of judaism has different views on that so Not all Jews wear their kippahs it's an opition and I bet if a Muslim girl went to that school with her HiJab they would t have a problem with it. We all have rights we can practice whatever religion we want.