NYC Public Schools to Close on 2 Muslim Holidays

[BurnItDwn]

We give Christian and Jewish Holidays in many school districts, if there is a sizable Muslim population attending the schools, then either they should also get days off, or, we should rethink giving Jewish and christian holidays. It is absolutely not fair to pick and choose different rules to observe for different religions. Part of showing the world that the USA is in fact not at war with Muslims as a people, is giving true equality.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Where's my pastafarian holiday observances?????

Every Friday is a Pastafarian holiday, there is no school on Saturday or Sunday, because of holy friday. Every weekend is a pastafarian holiday observance.

 

[feralkid]

Everything else is forced on Americans. Israel represents itself by over 40% on American TV while they are just under 3% of USA population.

I wish TVland would better represent actual race system in America.

Why? Do you think fat stupid wasps are amusing?

 

[maddogchen]

They need to add Lunar New Year holiday for all the Asian students.

 

[Bitek]

You missed the point. He just listed some days, I have no idea if those are the "right" days for each of those religions (you probably would have arguments about that anyway), and there's no real definition of which religions you'd need to include. So basically a mess, easily avoided by not including any specifically religious holidays. Include federal holidays only.

That's one option. Or, we can just not be dicks about it and let people have their holidays.

I'm guessing you don't live in a very diverse area. Conservatives tend not to anyway.

Around me people celebrate Christian holidays, including the Catholic oriented ones, as well as Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur, Ramadan, Diwali and Chinese new year. Eid? Maybe. I notice Ramadan more as people are fasting.

Is it something to get upset over? No. Why should anyone? It's just silly.

You can enjoy the holidays yourself too. I'll happily go out with friends, enjoy the special food, and have a good time.

I'm atheist and I don't care. I don't buy into the voodoo, but it's a nice holiday anyway and it makes people happy.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Everything else is forced on Americans. Israel represents itself by over 40% on American TV while they are just under 3% of USA population.
I wish TVland would better represent actual race system in America

awwwwww

 

[alcoholbob]

Odd, when Christmas was originally added it was to suit one particular religion.

The religion of humans who live in the northern hemisphere known as the winter solstice.

 

[Zorkorist]

Pretty fucked up to be religious, and to teach your children God and Government.

-John

 

[Oric]

The good part of Islamic holidays is that they are based on the lunar calendar and move 13 days every year, so sometimes they hit the weekends, sometimes summer, sometimes Christmas. Never gets boring

 

[VirtualLarry]

Where's my pastafarian holiday observances?????

Festivus!

 

[nyker96]

I don't think it's practical to observe religious holidays for all students, if you go that route, then you have to observe every single religion's holidays out there. this is just too man. I'd say just let people take off on their own holidays without penalty, but no more than 4-5 days/school year. This should solve most problems. call it person days.

 

[fskimospy]

I don't think it's practical to observe religious holidays for all students, if you go that route, then you have to observe every single religion's holidays out there. this is just too man. I'd say just let people take off on their own holidays without penalty, but no more than 4-5 days/school year. This should solve most problems. call it person days.

That creates a bunch of problems of it's own, as now major parts of your class are absent on various days, which means teachers shouldn't schedule major lessons for them, which in turn makes it like additional class days missed for everyone else.

 

[PokerGuy]

That's one option. Or, we can just not be dicks about it and let people have their holidays.

Who said people can't have their holidays?

I'm guessing you don't live in a very diverse area. Conservatives tend not to anyway.

You're guessing wrong.

Around me people celebrate Christian holidays, including the Catholic oriented ones, as well as Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur, Ramadan, Diwali and Chinese new year. Eid? Maybe. I notice Ramadan more as people are fasting.

Is it something to get upset over? No. Why should anyone? It's just silly.

You can enjoy the holidays yourself too. I'll happily go out with friends, enjoy the special food, and have a good time.

I'm atheist and I don't care. I don't buy into the voodoo, but it's a nice holiday anyway and it makes people happy.

Hey, that's great, celebrate whatever you like. I have zero problems with anyone celebrating or observing whatever days they want, for whatever reason they want (religious or otherwise).

The problem is they are not content to have their own observation or celebration, they want the public schools to also do the same. That's inherently a problem because not everyone has the same beliefs or celebrates the same things. If you 'observe' days for one religion and not another, you're sending the message that one is more important or worthy than the other. That's simply not appropriate for a public school. The only logical way to handle it is for schools to stick to federal holidays or whatever secular holidays the community wants, but stay away from specifically singling out days for one religion or another.

 

[PokerGuy]

That creates a bunch of problems of it's own, as now major parts of your class are absent on various days, which means teachers shouldn't schedule major lessons for them, which in turn makes it like additional class days missed for everyone else.

Uh, why shouldn't teachers schedule major lessons on those days? The bottom line is that school is open, and teachers should teach it like any other day. If someone has a problem with that, they have the option of going to a school that better caters to their personal beliefs. Any lessons or teaching (or exams) students miss because of their choice to not attend is their problem.

 

[fskimospy]

Uh, why shouldn't teachers schedule major lessons on those days? The bottom line is that school is open, and teachers should teach it like any other day. If someone has a problem with that, they have the option of going to a school that better caters to their personal beliefs. Any lessons or teaching (or exams) students miss because of their choice to not attend is their problem.

Because the point of schools is to teach children. If you have a day of school where a lot of them aren't going to be there it's not a good idea to teach major concepts on those days. This is why days off for religious observances can make sense.

You're teaching the same number of days regardless of whether the kids get that day off on this holiday or in June. Why not make the schedule to work this way?

 

[PokerGuy]

Because the point of schools is to teach children. If you have a day of school where a lot of them aren't going to be there it's not a good idea to teach major concepts on those days. This is why days off for religious observances can make sense.

You're teaching the same number of days regardless of whether the kids get that day off on this holiday or in June. Why not make the schedule to work this way?

Because once you go down that road you end up inevitably 'endorsing' one religion's days and not others, which is not the role of public (government) schools. How does that student who's religious day is not observed feel? That student can also miss critical lessons and teaching time if they miss a day to 'observe' a religious holiday, but that's not important because that student is not part of the bigger 'endorsed' religions. That's not acceptable IMO. Treat everyone the same.

 

[fskimospy]

Because once you go down that road you end up inevitably 'endorsing' one religion's days and not others, which is not the role of public (government) schools. How does that student who's religious day is not observed feel? That student can also miss critical lessons and teaching time if they miss a day to 'observe' a religious holiday, but that's not important because that student is not part of the bigger 'endorsed' religions. That's not acceptable IMO. Treat everyone the same.

Right, but that's not going to happen any time in our lifetimes. Since it won't, seems like doing it for all religions is the next best thing.

Hell, let's do it for even more, I don't care. In my perfect world summer vacation would be about 2 weeks long. 3 at the most. There's a lot of evidence that kids regress significantly during summer break and year round school is a good answer. Let's do it! Religious holidays for all!

 

[raildogg]

This is ridiculous, just like everything else humans do. Do you really think these kids or parents actually care about any of these holidays? It's just a distraction and an opportunity to take a break. These holidays mean nothing in this modern world.

By the way, if your a truly religious person, why do you even need holidays? Shouldn't every day be a holiday because you are actually LIVING your religion?

 

[werepossum]

Ironically, in the New York City School system Christmas break has been renamed "Winter recess". http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres...C116F9F3/0/201415SYCalendarFamilyFriendly.pdf

Gotta be sensitive to everyone, you know. Well, everyone else. Not those bitter people clinging to their guns and religion.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Ironically, in the New York City School system Christmas break has been renamed "Winter recess". http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres...C116F9F3/0/201415SYCalendarFamilyFriendly.pdf

Gotta be sensitive to everyone, you know. Well, everyone else. Not those bitter people clinging to their guns and religion.

Apparently the school board heard the wailing and lamentations of those sadly persecuted Christians:

December 24, Thursday - January 1, Friday
Winter Recess (including Christmas and New Year's Day) (schools closed)

http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres...C616BE/0/201516SchoolYearCalendarOfficial.pdf

 

[davmat787]

Everything else is forced on Americans. Israel represents itself by over 40% on American TV while they are just under 3% of USA population.

I wish TVland would better represent actual race system in America.

I know right?!? Those damn joos, its like joo shows should have a small yellow star of Dave graphic next to all the other crappy logos that are plastered around the screen these days.

Of course that would lead to a hell of a lot of burn in on some tv sets, which could be used to troll your nazi neighbors next time they go away on vacation for a couple weeks.

 

[fskimospy]

Apparently the school board heard the wailing and lamentations of those sadly persecuted Christians:

December 24, Thursday - January 1, Friday
Winter Recess (including Christmas and New Year's Day) (schools closed)

http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres...C616BE/0/201516SchoolYearCalendarOfficial.pdf

Not only that, but Christmas is the only religious holiday that their central offices are closed for too.

Werepossum was right though. When Christians only get their actual holidays off and mentioned but don't get to name a two week period around them that includes another holiday after their religious observance they are truly persecuted.

 

[gryphus]

oh, God! They're paving the way for SHARIA LAW! Stock up on ammo & buy more guns! Run for the Jesus bunker!

haha nice idea. damn! Obama is going to ban ammo! gay marxist muslim!

 

[Victorian Gray]

Not only that, but Christmas is the only religious holiday that their central offices are closed for too.

Werepossum was right though. When Christians only get their actual holidays off and mentioned but don't get to name a two week period around them that includes another holiday after their religious observance they are truly persecuted.

Happy Holidays!

 

[piasabird]

There are lots of religions that have special commemorative days that are not observed holidays. Some locations observe Pulaski day celebrating a polish general. Mormons have a couple of days they celebrate, but maybe they don't really need to be national holidays.