Jerry Seinfeld recently voiced sharp criticism of Ethical Culture Fieldston School, an elite private school in New York, for its decision to offer students the option to take a day off after the upcoming election if they feel emotionally distressed. With annual tuition fees reaching $65,540, the school’s initiative, outlined in an email by upper school principal Stacey Bobo, was intended to help students cope during what was described as a “high-stakes and emotional time.”
The email explained that the school would provide a “supportive space” for students, offering accommodations like excused absences and a break from homework and assessments on Election Day. Additionally, students struggling to “fully engage in classes” due to election-related anxiety could request further flexibility. A reading from the Child Mind Institute, intended to help manage students’ anxieties surrounding the election, was also included.
However, Seinfeld, a well-known alum of the school and parent of a former student, strongly disapproved of what he saw as an overly permissive approach. Speaking with “The New York Times.” he commented on why he took his kids out of the school. “This is why the kids hated it. What kind of lives have these people led that makes them think that this is the right way to handle young people? To encourage them to buckle. This is the lesson they are providing, for ungodly sums of money.”
Not all parents at Fieldston feel the same as Seinfeld. John Couchman, who has two daughters enrolled, expressed support for the school’s decision. He argued that the choice to support students’ emotional needs during election season is wise, especially given the political implications some students may feel. “These students are very astute,” he said. “I think their rights are on the line… and they know it.”
Fieldston has been the focus of several controversies, with parental concerns about the school’s handling of political issues extending beyond Election Day policies. Earlier this year, the school was the center of a divisive debate around pro-Palestine activism. Tensions escalated to the point where former head of school Joe Algrant resigned in August, a departure attributed to “personal and professional goals” but occurring amid accusations of an anti-Semitic environment from some parents. Dr. Logan Levkoff, for example, reported that her son experienced hostility due to his Jewish heritage, describing incidents where he was called an “ethnic cleanser” and “colonizer.” Additionally, she claimed students attempted to “cancel” a Holocaust survivor event organized by her son.
Folks, whatever happens after the election, the sun will come up tomorrow, and you just move one. The fact that people would need a day off is just insane.
