Unlike Waterbury school system in Connecticut, NYC public schools, by decree of Mayor Bill de Blasio, will actually close for two Muslim Holidays so that all students will observe the beginning and the end of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.
TODAY’S ZAMAN – America’s largest public school system will observe the two most important Muslim holidays starting later this year, a policy change hailed Wednesday by Islamic leaders in New York City.
Under the new policy, the city’s 1.1 million-pupil public school system will close on Sept. 24 for Eid al-Adha, which is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice. The holiday of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, will be observed during summer school in 2016.
“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.Linda Sarsour, a Muslim community advocate and public school parent who joined de Blasio for the announcement at a school in Brooklyn, said, “This is what New York City is all about – recognition, inclusion and respect.”