Jerry Seinfeld criticized the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, which his sons had attended, after reports said the New York City school would excuse upper-school students who felt emotionally distressed from class on November 6, 2024, or when the election results were announced. The school reportedly made counselors available as well. Seinfeld argued that the option encouraged young people to “buckle.”
What Fieldston reportedly offered students
In a message to its community ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Fieldston reportedly said upper-school students who felt too emotionally distressed could be excused from class on Wednesday, November 6, or on the day results were announced. News accounts also said counselors or psychologists would be available during the election period and characterized the message as offering support regardless of who won. The reports describe an accommodation for students who felt distressed, not a schoolwide day off. Contemporaneous coverage also summarized the plan.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Seinfeld: Complete Series Box Set (Repackage) ? DVD | $85.86 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Seinfeld: The Complete Series | $89.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Seinfeld : First and Second Seasons | $12.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Seinfeld - Season 9 | $16.70 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Seinfeld: Season 4 | $10.68 | Buy on Amazon |
What Seinfeld said
In remarks attributed to an interview with The New York Times, Seinfeld criticized the school’s approach. The Daily Beast and Yahoo reproduced his comments, including: “This is why the kids hated it.” He also asked, “What kind of lives have these people led that makes them think that this is the right way to handle young people?” and objected to the school encouraging students “to buckle.” The Daily Beast’s report and Yahoo’s coverage attribute the remarks to the interview; the original interview is needed to confirm exact punctuation and fuller context.
Why the school and Seinfeld took different positions
The school’s reported offer paired an excused absence for students who felt unable to engage with access to counseling. Seinfeld saw allowing students to miss class as teaching them to give in to distress. Those are the two positions established in the coverage; the reports do not establish how students or staff experienced the arrangement.
#1 Best Overall
Why the story calls Fieldston his sons’ school
Fieldston was a former school for Seinfeld’s sons, not a school they were reported to be attending when he made the comments. One account says his younger son transferred in eighth grade. Describing it as his sons’ former school avoids implying they were still enrolled at the time. Yahoo’s account includes this detail.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is not known about the policy’s outcome
The contemporaneous reports establish what the school was said to have announced and Seinfeld’s reaction. They do not establish whether Fieldston later changed its policy, how many students used the accommodation, or whether students accessed counseling. The original school message was not included in the reports summarized here, so the policy details should be understood as reported accounts rather than a direct quotation from the school.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Seinfeld: Season 9 is a four-disc boxed set including all 24 episodes from the ninth and final season of the long-running series, including the finale and hours of exclusive, never-before-seen bonus footage. The wealth of bonus features for Seinfeld: Season 9 include scenes from "The Roundtable" (excerpts from the one-hour table discussion), deleted scenes, bloopers, trivia, interviews, stand-up c
Rank #3
- Condition: New
- Format: DVD
- Box set; Closed-captioned; Color; Dolby; Dubbed; DVD; Full Screen; Subtitled; NTSC
Rank #2
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
