Students in the Washington suburb of Montgomery County, Md., will get to stay home for a major Muslim holiday next year, after the school board voted to use the day for professional development. The holiday, which varies year to year and is based on a lunar calendar, is expected on September 11, a Sunday, or on September 12.
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Montgomery County, the largest school district in Maryland, with 156,000 students, is not the only place struggling to accommodate the increasing religious diversity of its student body.
Muslim community leaders have requested for years that schools close on at least one of the religion’s two major Muslim holidays. I remember thinking many times about whether or not I should skip school for Eid, because to even miss one day meant I would fall behind in school work and homework that never seemed to end.
Fatima Talib, a Wheaton High School student, said she thought the board decision was unnecessary because the date will change each year. A few districts in New Jersey have closed for Muslim holidays for years, while others, like Jersey City, recently voted against closing for Eid this year. I remember wishing I didn’t have to make that choice, that I could have the time off to celebrate my holiday like so many other students did to celebrate theirs. “I can not wait to see the children, the students in the classrooms, being happy and thankful for this day”. “Obviously it’s an issue of respect for members of our community who are very dedicated to our county and a very important part of our school system”.
Numerous more than two dozen members of the Muslim community who attended the board meeting Tuesday praised the decision, applauding the board members at several points during the meeting.
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“It’s huge”, said Saqib Ali, a former state lawmaker who has been a leader of the effort, in the Washington Post article. “New York went before us and now Montgomery County. Why not Veterans Day?” said Pat O’Neill, president of the Montgomery County Board of Education.
