Videocrux - US schools ponder Muslim holidays

#Videocrux - US schools ponder Muslim holidays US schools ponder Muslim holidays
School may be out for summer in New York, but the Muslim community is studiously focused on the next academic year, when it hopes to see its own religious holidays added to the calendar.
Students to take Muslim holidays off without penalty
Amina Asad sends her children to the same New York City school she attended as a child. But if the Palestinian-American mother has her way, her kids will have a perk she never had growing up: the opportunity to take Muslim holidays off without penalty. Amina Asad, Muslim parent and supporter of Muslim holidays, I understand how they feel when they're absent from school that day and then they come back to school and they're kind of lost. They're missing an important lesson plan. They're missing an exam."
Muslims pushing city to incorporate holiday in calendar
Muslims have been pushing the city to incorporate two of their holidays into the academic calendar: Eid al-Fitr, which falls at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, about two months later. New York is the country's largest school system. Supporters estimate that Muslims students make up 12 percent of it - and ought to be taken into account. Parent at Podium at Rally, Stop the double standard and send the message of acceptance they so rightfully deserve. Their cause is backed by the City Council, which unanimously passed a resolution supporting the idea last year. But it's been rejected by New York's Mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Councilman Robert Jackson a Muslim has led the Council's effort.
Muslim holidays are now part of the school calendar
Robert Jackson, New York City Councilman and supporter of Muslim holidays No action's been taken by the administration. So in celebrating one year, we're not happy obviously. Campaigners have had better luck elsewhere in cities in Michigan and New Jersey, where Muslim holidays are now part of the school calendar. In New York, though, some parent Muslim holidays are now part of the school calendar. In New York, though, some parents who oppose the move say what bothers them isn't Islam itself. It's their kids having even more days off than thes who oppose the move say what bothers them isn't Islam itself. It's their kids having even more days off than they already do.
Muslim parents hopeful to win public holidays
Hillary Stackpole, As a working parent, I have to try to schedule alternate arrangements for my children when school's closed. The debate comes nine years after 9/11, and amid another controversy involving New York's Muslim community: plans to build three mosques in town, including one just a stone's throw from the site of the World Trade Center attacks. Despite the delicate relations, Muslim parents like Amina Asad remain hopeful that their children will win the public recognition of their faith *they didn't have growing up.

Flash player