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“One in every eight school kids in the City of New York observes the Muslim faith,” New York City Comptroller John Liu said in a statement issued yesterday by the Coalition for Muslim School Holidays. “Yet these students are forced to choose between their education and their faith, and it’s a situation that needs to be rectified.” In addition all the presidents of New York’s five boroughs have sent letters of support to our coalition, while Public Advocate Bill de Blasio support the City Council resolution recognizing Muslim holidays. “About 12 percent of New York City students are Muslim,” says de Blasio, “and consequently thousands of students miss exams and important activities because they are scheduled on Muslim holidays. The Department of Education should treat these students equally and include the two main Islamic holidays in the school calendar, just as it does with other major religions.” It was a beautiful thing to stand amongst a diverse group of people yesterday in support of a cause that really goes beyond a holiday. I’m looking forward to the day that it’s celebration—not contention—that brings us together. Who knows? Maybe it’ll even be on Eid.

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ORIGINAL: jlf1961

Has anyone noticed that Christian Holidays are recognized by school districts and the government, Muslim holidays are not?

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“One in every eight school kids in the City of New York observes the Muslim faith,” New York City Comptroller John Liu said in a statement issued yesterday by the Coalition for Muslim School Holidays. “Yet these students are forced to choose between their education and their faith, and it’s a situation that needs to be rectified.” In addition all the presidents of New York’s five boroughs have sent letters of support to our coalition, while Public Advocate Bill de Blasio support the City Council resolution recognizing Muslim holidays. “About 12 percent of New York City students are Muslim,” says de Blasio, “and consequently thousands of students miss exams and important activities because they are scheduled on Muslim holidays. The Department of Education should treat these students equally and include the two main Islamic holidays in the school calendar, just as it does with other major religions.” It was a beautiful thing to stand amongst a diverse group of people yesterday in support of a cause that really goes beyond a holiday. I’m looking forward to the day that it’s celebration—not contention—that brings us together. Who knows? Maybe it’ll even be on Eid.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/01/my-take-new-yorks-schools-should-observe-muslim-holidays/

Recently the New York City Council voted for the schools to recognize Muslim holidays, and yet Mayor Bloomberg decided against it.

The same is true for Jewish Holidays, I know of no school district in America where Jewish holidays are recognized.

The question, If the holidays of one religion is recognized by schools and government should not all religious holidays be recognized?

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

They have renamed easter and christmas vacation to spring and winter recess... true they do plan these vacations around religious holidays, but Jews celebrate Hanukkah and Passover during these times. In fact there are many other religions that celebrate the spring equinox and the winter solstice, which was partly the reason why christians adopted these holidays in the first place. I believe christmas pageants, etc have been discontinued in public schools, also..

In addition to the above, Muslim students can take time from school for religious celebrations, these are considered excused absences

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ORIGINAL: Vendaval

Over the years what was called "Christmas" break has become "Winter Break" and so on. Either have the breaks not be specific to a particular religion or allow all of them.

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ORIGINAL: jlf1961

The same is true for Jewish Holidays, I know of no school district in America where Jewish holidays are recognized.

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ORIGINAL: Plasticine

No religious holiday should be recognized by the government.  The whole thing is a joke.  Jefferson would be sick to his stomach.

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ORIGINAL: Marini

<---- Shout out to all the teachers off for the summer!!!

 
Ask most teachers how they feel about year round school, their answer will be:  NO WAY!!!!!

I do think that FREE summer school should be an available for all students in public school.
 
Students should be able to take academic and non-academic classes FREE for about 4 weeks during the summer.
 
Classes like:  English, Math, Science, Physical Education, Music, and Foreign Languages.
 
These classes would be taught by teachers that want to teach summer school.
Believe me there are plenty of people that would LOVE to teach summer school, and allow the teachers that do not want to work, to enjoy their summer.
 
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee