Cambridge schools observing one Muslim holiday a year

[alp227]

I haven't seen this story posted on DU yet but have read about it on blogs so I'd like to share it with y'all right now.

(NECN: Scot Yount) - With the city of Cambridge's Muslim population on the rise, the school district is implementing a new holiday policy. They're observing one Muslim holiday per year.

A new and somewhat controversial policy is in place for next year in Cambridge Public Schools. They will close on the first day of Ramadan to honor the Muslim holiday, a first.

"I have to say we as a society have to at some point make a decision about what holidays to honor," said school committee member Patti Nolan. She says the committee felt it was important to reflect the community.

"There are a number of very important Jewish holidays through the year, there are a number of important Muslim holidays through the year," she said. "We are not honoring all of them."

[FSogol]

1. Good for them, of course, Frankfort, Texas did that and now it NEVER EXISTED.

according to Sharon Angle. :scared:

[Democrats_win]

3. Those poor frankfurtors--just a bunch of hot dogs and now they're gone. RIP.

[SheilaT]

2. Good for them.

The observation of religious holidays by secular schools is tricky at best, even assuming the best of good will on all sides.

And since not everyone, even if nominally of the same religion, finds it necessary to take all the same days off to observe particular holidays (for instance, observant Jews want two days off for certain of the High Holidays, while less observant Jews find that one day -- or maybe even no day -- is quite sufficient) there needs to be a way to accommodate everyone. It's harder at schools with diverse populations, since some students may be off while others are attending, necessarily impacting instruction. In the workplace, it might be easier as only some workers might need or desire a day off that others are quite content to work.