August 27, 2009
Schools consider Muslim Holidays as fairness issue
By Oregon Faith Report,
Should schools across the nation have two additional holidays? The debate over whether the two holiest days of the Muslim calendar should be reserved in New York City schools heated up this summer. Currently, ten percent of the 1.1 million students are Muslim, according to a study published last year by the Teachers College at Columbia University.
Mesuka Akter, a Muslim senior at Long Island City High School in New York City, struggles to find balance between her studies and religion. Luckily for Akt, she will not have to choose between missing school and the two holiest days on the Islamic calendar this year because they will likely fall during Thanksgiving. “It feels great to know that I’ll be home, hopefully, with my family,” said Akter told Omar Sacirbey of the Religion News Service, “But you also have to keep working to change things, because this will be a problem again next year.”
New York City officials say they already accommodate students by excusing them from school for religious holidays without being penalized or having the absence appear on their record. “Students are allowed to take an excused day whenever they want,” said Margie Feinberg, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Education. “It’s not as if a student who wants to take those days off will be impacted.” Yet, Akter argues that when she missed school last year for Eid al-Fitr, the absence was on her record.
After three years of lobbying, the City Council passed a resolution in July to close schools for the two Muslim holidays. New York’s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, responded negatively toward the resolution stating, “One of the problems you have with a diverse city is that if you close the schools for every singly holiday, there won’t be any school.”
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August 27, 2009
There are also Jewish holidays, as well as other religions, that have the same considerations. They are considered excused absences. Since schools are considered public places and aren’t suppose to recognize religion, isn’t this fair?
August 27, 2009
Why do they give the Jewish holidays off, when the number of Muslims in the United States is greater than the number of Jews?
August 27, 2009
Two thoughts… the school system is set up for the Christen holidays… How is that right?
How to resolve the issue?
Have year around school. Holidays religious or other wise would be less distruptive then. Also, there could be a percentage at where if the student population reaches a certain level that that holiday is recogized. Because the reality of it, if you excuse 10% of your class for a holidy, you are going to be spending the day after the holiday catching some students up. And if you don’t, how do you justif that Christen students are not penalized but others are?
August 27, 2009
this is a Christian country founded by Christians on Christian principals. That being said, allowing ‘floating’ holidays for students solves the issue for non-Christians. End of issue.
August 27, 2009
What is a floating holiday?
August 28, 2009
A floating holiday for schools would be the same as a floating holiday in business–individuals get one for their birthday, but it can be taken on any day, not necessarily the exact birthdate.
August 29, 2009
David,
Yes America was founded by Christians on Christian principals, but it is not, nor has it ever been a “Christian Nation”. That is why it WAS founded. So there would be NO state religion. Didn’t you read history in school?
I like your idea of a floating holiday for religious observances. Since we have National Holidays, it would be nice to have personal holidays in schools, just as they do in many businesses. A child missing a day or two each year isn’t going to make a great deal of difference to his academic progress.
I’m inclined to agree with Mayor Bloomberg.