February 14-2014
. . . backs Muslims
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last week that he will close schools for the two major Islamic holidays each year.
In a radio interview, he said he planned to move forward with closing schools for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, as well as for the Lunar New Year.
“It is complicated in terms of logistics and school calendar and budget. But it’s something I want to get done in a reasonable time frame,” he said, according to the New York Daily News.
Muslims in many communities with large Muslim minorities have been pressing in recent years for the two eids to be school holidays. Many communities have done so. But there has also been resistance in many communities. With the country’s largest city now joining in recognizing the holidays, the movement may take off.
In most communities, Muslim students are given an excused day off for their holidays but still have to make up the work. Many school districts also tell teachers the dates of the two eids and instruct them not to schedule any tests for those days.
Though Muslims will appreciate De Blasio’s commitment, another community is feeling ignored. De Blasio said he hadn’t yet taken a position on whether Diwali should be officially recognized with a day off for public schools. Diwali is the major religious holiday in the Hindu, Jain, and Sikh communities. Dr. Shashi Shah of the Association of Indians in America told the Daily News, “We are disappointed. We’ve been trying for a long time…. It’s very important for the community.”