CNN/AP: Schools juggle holidays as student bodies become more diverse

[DeepModem Mom]

Schools juggle holidays for Muslims, other faiths
Friday, July 21, 2006

ALBANY, New York (AP) -- Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, and Christian -- each faith has its holy days. Schools across the country are asking how to respect them all.

Consider the University at Albany, which canceled classes on major Muslim holidays. Faculty wanted the move out of concern for Muslim students after the September 11 attacks. But then came the questions: What about Hindus? Buddhists?

President Kermit Hall last fall decided to return to the original calendar.

"Can you operate a university and give each religious group an accommodation? I think the answer is, 'No,'" he said.

Make that "maybe." School administrators across the country are rethinking their calendars as their student bodies become more diverse....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/07/21/school.holidays.ap/index.html

[LeftyMom]

1. I wish more places would try

My high school was about half vietnamese, plus some other southeast asian groups. Our classes were *empty* on lunar (chinese) new year, but school was in session. It was a waste of time for those who were there, since nothing important could be covered with most of the class gone.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. My high school had a large number of Jews

and they were always allowed time off for High Holy Days. I recall the Catholic kids were also allowed to come late after Mass on Ash Wednesdays, when they came with ashes still on their foreheads. Our holidays were called winter and spring breaks, and the three day holidays were for Lincoln's birthday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. And everyone celebrated Thanksgiving. I graduated high school in 1968. Diversity may have become more diverse, but it can still be handled in the same way.