Posted on 12/09/2005 8:36:46 PM PST by Hadean
TAMPA - Muslims may get a religious holiday recognized by a public school in the Hillsborough County school district.
Terrace Community School, a charter school housed at the Museum of Science & Industry, is considering changing its school calendar to give a day off for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. The school's board will vote on the proposal at its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The proposal came from Principal Gary Hocevar after controversy erupted in the Hillsborough County school district.
Last month, the Hillsborough County school board decided to eliminate all days off coinciding with religious holidays except Christmas, which falls during winter break. The move came after a group of Muslims asked for a day off for Eid al-Fitr.
After receiving thousands of e-mails and phone calls and much national news media attention, the board reversed that decision but still did not add a day off for the Muslim holiday. The issue raised questions by Terrace Community students, and Hocevar proposed changing his school's calendar at November's board meeting.
Hocevar expected the proposal to be controversial, so Terrace Community board members decided to delay the vote until December. But Hocevar said he has received only one phone call in opposition to the change.
"Most of our parents were really supportive of the idea since our school is so diverse," Hocevar said.
About 5 percent of the school's 352 students are Muslim. Charter schools operate as public schools but without many district restrictions. They are free to create their own calendar, but most operate on the district's schedule to accommodate school services and parents who might have children in other schools.
If the charter school board approves the new calendar, it will be the first time the school's schedule will differ from the district's. The school's calendar still would include days off for Yom Kippur and Good Friday.
The board meeting will be in Room 300 at Terrace Community School, 4801 E. Fowler Ave.
So, they have Good Friday and Yom Kippur off, this is not the only Religious holiday they'd have off. Good Friday and YOm Kippur are strictly religious, they have NO secular "holiday" about them.
Yes, I know. I intended to imply they considered a ban on all religious holidays previously. Poor choice of words on my behalf.
Sorry. The ACLU would object to a religious holiday due to the Separation of Church and State! (s)
I'm surprised they haven't yet demanded to have the school week moved to Saturday through Wednesday.
don't be so sure about that. Check out the fight in favor of Muslim prayer rooms in NYC schools.
I keep hearing the same line that diversity only strengthens us. I think crap like this just goes to show the falsehood in that statement. Diversity is one of the biggest stinkingloads of horse manure ever thrown around like it was gold in a university. I want to puke every time I hear the word.
The worst is this "diversity training" garbage they throw at you. My school attempted to foist a mandatory "Multiculturalism" class on freshmen not too long ago.
Now we have to throw Christmas out the window and celebrate Ramadan. So pointless.
What with celebrating the day in that manner, prudence dictates that it is safer to close the school that day. Let them have it off.
No kidding. Better yet, they should attend school in Saudi Arabia. The US schools just don't have that authentic Wahhabi educational curriculum that they deserve.
LOL!--Robin Williams suggested "Kaaboom! " as the holiday for Islamofacists.
"I keep hearing the same line that diversity only strengthens us. I think crap like this just goes to show the falsehood in that statement. Diversity is one of the biggest stinkingloads of horse manure ever thrown around like it was gold in a university."
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Just one more outrage to lay at Ted Kennedy's feet:
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:sDv6QDDgwU0J:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Kennedy+ted+kennedy+immigration+bill+1968&hl=en
"Ted Kennedy was a strong supporter of the 1965 Hart-Celler Act which dramatically changed US immigration policy. [2] "The bill will not flood our cities with immigrants. It will not upset the ethnic mix of our society. It will not relax the standards of admission. It will not cause American workers to lose their jobs." ... Kennedy is now the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Immigration, and remains a strong advocate of high levels of immigration."
There are ways, though some jurisdictions would find it easier than others.
For example...
Mayor Nagin could start a new multicultural celebration, doling out a few of his ruined school busses each year.
Not only would NOLA get some use out of them, but they would serve as an annual reminder of his ineptitude.
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