School system to get Muslim holiday Cambridge to start observance in 2011-12 By Brock Parker, Globe Correspondent | October 10, 2010
As a Muslim and a high school senior at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 17-year-old Dunia Kassay faces a tough choice every year on Islamic holy days: go to school or stay home to be with family and friends.
If she stays home, Kassay says, she will be forced to play catch-up and make up her school assignments. But if she goes to school, she will be neglecting what she feels is her religious obligation on holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting.
“It’s really conflicting,’’ Kassay said. “Instead of fasting for a month and enjoying this really big day, eating and going to family’s houses, it’s kind of like, ‘Oh, hey, guys, I’ve got to go do my homework.’ ’’
But beginning next year, Cambridge public schools will attempt to make it easier for Muslim students to honor their highest holy days.
In a move that school officials believe is the first of its kind in the state, Cambridge will close schools for one Muslim holiday each year beginning in the 2011-2012 school year.
The school will either close for Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, depending on which holiday falls within the school year. If both fall within the school calendar, the district will close for only one of the days.....................>>>>...............>>>>.....................http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2010/10/10/school_system_to_get_muslim_holiday/
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October 11, 2010, 1:11pm
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And which "holiday" do Christians/Catholics get off? "Christmas" has been renamed "holiday" or "winter" break. Easter has been renamed "spring break" ...
And which "holiday" do Christians/Catholics get off? "Christmas" has been renamed "holiday" or "winter" break. Easter has been renamed "spring break" ...
Anyone?
...................and the Jews???
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
And which "holiday" do Christians/Catholics get off? "Christmas" has been renamed "holiday" or "winter" break. Easter has been renamed "spring break" ...
Anyone?
And don't forget that Christmas was only put on December 25th due to the fact that it was a time of the year that was already a vacation time due to other pagan holidays. There's no definite proof of when Christ's birthday is, but the facts show that it was more likely that he was born in the spring, not the winter-time, even in the climate that is/was in that area at that time.
MT --no reason for Christians to get Easter off. It falls on a Sunday. Schools are closed for Good Friday already. The Spring birth of Jesus is a concept ordinarily attributed to Jehovah Witnesses. I have no feeling about it. Think it is important to remember we consider the day holy not because of the birth of the sun or someother pagan idea but rather because of the diety who created it.
Bravo-Muslim children should be able to celebrate Eid with their families. Good for Cambridge. BT are you kidding? What about the Jews? We get Rosh Hashanah and/or Yom Kippur if they fall on a school day. It does not happen in Rotterdam because there is neither a large population of Jewish students here or Jewish teachers.
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