Should Schools Close On Muslim Holidays?

TW: This is the kind of story that can get folks riled. Then again perhaps fundamentalists would like the idea of more religious holidays. Christian traditions are deeply embedded within our schedules even within our theoretically secular schools. Obviously in most geographies Christians remain and will remain the strong majority population. However, in certain districts Jewish children represent a substantial minority, if not majority. With the growth of Muslim (and perhaps other religious orientations), certain local populations are starting to attain sufficient size to request their own accommodations.

Places like NYC given its melting pot status are somewhat unique in that they have significant minorities across several faiths unlike say Dearborn, MI, which is majority Muslim at this point.

To me the Hillsbourough, FL solution outlined below would be my preference. I have a simple metric for religious integration into the secular world. If it works and reconciles for all faiths, it is probably fine. If it does not, then perhaps it is a problem.

From Wall Street Journal:
"Muslims groups here are pressing city officials to close public schools on two of the faith's holiest days, just as schools do for major Jewish and Christian holidays...Muslim groups have asked the city to cancel classes on Eid Ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid Ul-Adha, which marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

New York is one of many public-school systems now struggling with appropriate ways to recognize religious holidays for a diverse population. An estimated 100,000 Muslim children are enrolled in New York City schools, about 10% of the enrollment.

The matter has taken on a political aspect as Mr. Bloomberg, seeking a third term as mayor, has steadily courted the endorsement of a slew of ethnic groups. One city councilman said Muslims might withhold their votes if the mayor doesn't heed their wishes...

The mayor often says children need to be in school more, not less, and that establishing more holidays would encourage every religious group to demand that their holy days be recognized...

Other states have found a workable approach. Dearborn, Mich., where nearly half of the 18,000 students are Muslim, is believed to be the first city to close school on Muslim holy days, a spokesman said. Several cities in New Jersey now close school on the holy days.

After Muslims asked for school closings in Hillsborough County, Fla., the school board in 2007 approved a secular calendar that doesn't commemorate any religious holidays for the 189,000 students. Schools remain open on Good Friday, a Christian holiday, even though many students are absent, said Linda Cobbe, a spokeswoman. "There are so many religions we don't want to single out one or two," she said.

...New York City schools close on major federal holidays, as well as the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. School recesses are scheduled during Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Passover. City schools permit children to stay home on days when they are celebrating a religious holiday..."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125297372149610431.html