The nation’s largest public school system will observe the two most important Muslim holidays starting next fall, a policy change hailed Wednesday by Islamic leaders in New York City.
New York schools’ calendars will now be adding two Muslim holidays Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha as official off days, sparing the Muslim students a dilemma of choosing between their “school and religion”, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña announced that New York City will become the largest school district in the US to recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as holidays on the official school calendar.
In line with the announcement, all public schools will close on September 24 in observance of Eid al-Adha in the 2015-16 school year and for summer school starting in summer 2016, schools will close in observance of Eid al-Fitr.
Branding the move as “respect” for Muslims of New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the change “recognizes our growing Muslim community and honors its contributions to our City”.
“Hundreds of thousands of Muslim families will no longer have to choose between honoring the most sacred days on their calendar or attending school,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in his announcement.
Muslim leaders welcomed the announcement.
“We are committed to having a school calendar that reflects and honors the extraordinary diversity of our students,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña