via Skokie School District 68 adding Muslim holiday this fall – Skokie Review. h/t halalporkshop
Skokie School District 68’s 2013-14 calendar for the first time calls for a day off on Eid ul Adha, a major Muslim holiday.
Not long ago, adopting a school calendar
for the following year was perfunctory for Niles Township school
districts, but not anymore. The village’s growing ethnic diversity has
inspired more districts to break away from old patterns.
The township used to be heavily Jewish and
many of its schools closed down only for high Jewish holidays and a few
others like Good Friday.
Neighboring Skokie School District 73.5,
though, was one of the first township districts to recognize the area’s
demographic change in deciding on its calendar. That district’s school
board made the controversial decision — at least at the time — to remain
open for all religious holidays, sparking an annual lively debate.
More districts have followed District
73.5’s lead, even if remaining open on all religious holidays results in
certain heavy non-attendance days.
District 68, the largest elementary school
district in Skokie, has not yet taken that path, but naming Eid ul Adha
a day off signals a big change.
“This was the first year I’ve been approached by a parent as to why we take two Jewish days off and no Muslim day off,” District 68 Superintendent Frances McTague said.
A change for one parent?
The latest school report card from the
state shows that nearly 73 percent of District 68 students are not
white, and more than 32 percent are Asian.
The color of the students skin is irrelevant. And what does being
Asian have to do with a religious holiday for Muslims? In the real
world – nothing. In the world of forced immigration and
Under the approved district calendar for
next school year, classes will begin Aug. 21 and end June 3, 2014 if no
mak-up days are needed. In addition to Eid ul Adha on Oct. 15, the
district will close for Rosh Hashanah Sept. 5 and Good Friday April 18,
2014.
District 68 for the first time is also
considering adopting a 2014-15 calendar soon, thereby beginning a
pattern of planning two-year calendars at a time.
“Lots of school districts are adopting
two-year calendars now,” McTague said. “This next year though will be a
little more challenging.”
That’s because more religious holidays
fall on school days and Niles Township High School District 219 is
beginning its calendar in 2014-15 earlier than before. The feeder
elementary school districts have always taken into account the high
school district’s calendar.
The District 68 Board last week discussed
waiving three usual days off in the 2014-15 calendar: Veterans Day,
Presidents Day and Casimir Pulaski Day. The state allows districts to
get waivers to stay open for those holidays although District 68 has
never done so before.
The District 68 School Board could vote on a 2014-15 calendar in February.
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