This article a teenage Muslim girl in Germantown, Maryland named Hannah Shraim, whose concerns over the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice". This holiday falls on this Tuesday, which also happens to be the day before the PSAT test for high school students. Shraim's discrepancy with this unfavorable scheduling of tests is that other holidays such as Christmas are fully recognized, and tests such as the PSAT would never be scheduled on Christmas or any time conflicting with the days near it. In Maryland's Montgomery County, schools close for Jewish holidays in addition to Christian ones, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. With school closures for other religious holidays, Shraim feels that her wish for school closure on Muslim holidays is completely valid. Having to miss school for such holidays greatly hinders her learning, she argues, and says that it isn't fair to the fairly large Muslim community in her city. The school boards have allowed Muslim students to count these holidays as excused absenses, but have yet to pass any policies on school closures due to the holidays. They claim that they cannot close school based on religious needs, but can only do so on the terms of a large number of absences on the particular holiday, which likely would not be substantial enough to close schools given that the Muslim population is still a minority.
I'm a little conflicted on this controversy. To me, missing one day of school for a religious holiday wouldn't be a big deal, given that most schools are generally tolerant when it comes to religious duties and holidays. However, with the great importance of Christmas and other such holidays in my life, I can understand why she would want a worry-free period to enjoy a holiday that is obviously very dear to her heart, so that she can focus on making family memories rather than worrying about when to study for a test or finish homework. Because the Muslim population is still a minority, my stance on the subject is complicated I could honestly see the reasoning behind both sides.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/14/islamic-school-holidays/2984257/
I don't see any reason why the public school systems should take holidays for specific religious holidays. I firmly agree with the current policy of counting absences on those holidays as excused"
ReplyDeleteAs a practicing Muslim, I naturally feel the need that the school systems should recognize the Muslim population as well, but then again, I don't agree that we should take off of school for ANY religious holiday. It isn't fair to the hundreds of religions around the world that we should favor any few of them
ReplyDeleteWe seem to sidestep controversy by calling it a "Winter Break," but it's purpose of presence is pretty clear. If Judaism and Christianity are recognized by schools (and should they be? Aren't schools meant to be secular?) then Islam should be as well.
ReplyDeleteWhile I understand her viewpoint, I don't agree with closing the school for any holiday that only lasts a day. There are simply too many holidays. Religious holidays are very important to many people, but it's not necessarily internationally recognized. However, if the national test were scheduled on the same day as the holiday, I would have to say that more consideration would need to be taken. -Nana Johnson 2nd Period
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