(Bloomberg) -- New York will become the largest U.S. school district to close in observance of the Muslim holy days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

 

The mayor announced the policy Wednesday at a Brooklyn public school where 36 percent of its students were absent the last time Eid al-Adha occurred on an instructional day. The program will begin in the school year that starts in September.

 

“This is about respect for one of the great faiths of this Earth,” said de Blasio, a 53-year-old Democrat. In past years, “either the child went and pursued his education and missed his religious observance or the other way around. That is the kind of choice that was wrong to have to make for these families.

 

 

New York City Will Close Schools to Observe Muslim Holidays - Bloomberg Business

I was going to ask if they have a large percentage of muslims in the school system but they answered that question. I get it. Makes sense.

I am sure they are closed for major Christian holidays, as almost all schools already are. I wonder if they are closed for Jewish holidays? I'm sure that there is a large percentage of the NYC population that is Jewish.

This is what every school district needs; more holidays (sarcasm intended). Do you really think NYC schools take any Jewish holidays off? The only Christian holiday would be Christmas and that is really a secular holiday any more as much as a Christian one.

This is what every school district needs; more holidays (sarcasm intended). Do you really think NYC schools take any Jewish holidays off? The only Christian holiday would be Christmas and that is really a secular holiday any more as much as a Christian one.

 

The Christians I know consider Christmas to be a very religious holiday. Schools are also off for Christmas Eve.

 

I don't understand the disdain for taking holidays off. Schools have to be in session a certain number of days. Why does it matter if they take off major religious holidays?

From the article:

 

In the past, the city has closed schools on Jewish holidays including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover.

The Christians I know consider Christmas to be a very religious holiday. Schools are also off for Christmas Eve.

 

I don't understand the disdain for taking holidays off. Schools have to be in session a certain number of days. Why does it matter if they take off major religious holidays?

 

They are also off for about a week before and a week after Christmas, so I'm not really sure how much that is for religious reasons at this point. Especially since in some schools systems you cannot refere to the holiday as Christmas any longer. It has to be winter holiday or something of that nature.

This is what every school district needs; more holidays (sarcasm intended). Do you really think NYC schools take any Jewish holidays off? The only Christian holiday would be Christmas and that is really a secular holiday any more as much as a Christian one.

 

Yes, they take Jewish holidays off. I used to work for a large family, owned sporting goods company based in New York. The owners were Jewish, and there were also a large number of Muslims that worked for the company. Even in the early 90's that company recognized and allowed time off for Jewish AND Muslim Holidays. The point being, that New York is so diverse, and with many businesses already recognizing these holidays, this is really a non issue.

If the folks in NYC are OK with it, I don't really care. When I was in school, we had Christmas (or winter) break. Close to two weeks from just before Christmas until after New Years Day. No real religious holidays unless you say Christmas since it was part of the break. We had no other Christian or Jewish holidays off. I assume taking off these religious holidays will just push later into the spring the kids having to go to school.

If it's a large enough population then it makes sense. No big deal. I doubt any kid of any faith is going to complain about a day off.

They are also off for about a week before and a week after Christmas, so I'm not really sure how much that is for religious reasons at this point. Especially since in some schools systems you cannot refere to the holiday as Christmas any longer. It has to be winter holiday or something of that nature.

 

Several times, my school ends the semester after Christmas break. We sometimes go up to the 23rd and then have two or three days after break left in the semester. If it weren't for Christmas and you just wanted a winter break, you wouldn't take Christmas and Christmas Eve into account and just go ahead and finish the semester before starting your break.

I don't see an issue here.

By the way the fact they said NYC school district would be the largest to do this is kind of funny isn't it ? Wouldn't they be the largest to do anything ?

By the way the fact they said NYC school district would be the largest to do this is kind of funny isn't it ? Wouldn't they be the largest to do anything ?

 

True.. sort of a rhetorical statement.

True.. sort of a rhetorical statement.

 

I always like it when we agree.