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| Md. school system keeps Jewish holidays, adds days off for Diwali, Lunar New Year and Eid al-Adha | Md. school system keeps Jewish holidays, adds days off for Diwali, Lunar New Year and Eid al-Adha |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Howard County’s school board voted unanimously Thursday night to markedly expand its schedule of religious and cultural holidays in a decision that members said recognized the growing diversity of the suburban Maryland school system. | Howard County’s school board voted unanimously Thursday night to markedly expand its schedule of religious and cultural holidays in a decision that members said recognized the growing diversity of the suburban Maryland school system. |
| Students in Howard will get days off next school year for two Jewish holy days, following a debate over whether to end the longtime practice. But they also will be off for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, the eve of Lunar New Year and the Hindu holiday of Diwali. | Students in Howard will get days off next school year for two Jewish holy days, following a debate over whether to end the longtime practice. But they also will be off for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, the eve of Lunar New Year and the Hindu holiday of Diwali. |
| “I strongly believe that our school calendar should be inclusive of cultures and religions of all of our Howard County residents,” said Board Member Janet Siddiqui, who proposed the measure, later adding: “We’ve juggled with this over the years, and I think now we have the opportunity to really show what Howard County is.” | “I strongly believe that our school calendar should be inclusive of cultures and religions of all of our Howard County residents,” said Board Member Janet Siddiqui, who proposed the measure, later adding: “We’ve juggled with this over the years, and I think now we have the opportunity to really show what Howard County is.” |
| The board said its action — in a unanimous 8-0 vote — was a one-year decision, for the 2016-2017 school year, that would come as the system of 55,000 students studies the issue and plans a voluntary survey of religious preferences. It asked district staff to report back with a range of options for how to implement the change. | |
| More broadly, Howard’s action is likely to draw attention as school systems nationally struggle with how to create an inclusive school calendar — balancing fairness, logistics and legal constraints — as their communities are increasingly diverse and vocal. | More broadly, Howard’s action is likely to draw attention as school systems nationally struggle with how to create an inclusive school calendar — balancing fairness, logistics and legal constraints — as their communities are increasingly diverse and vocal. |
| Thursday’s decision followed extensive backlash about a calendar proposal that would have opened schools on the Jewish holy days of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah for the first time in more than three decades. | Thursday’s decision followed extensive backlash about a calendar proposal that would have opened schools on the Jewish holy days of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah for the first time in more than three decades. |
| [Add a Muslim holiday? Remove a Jewish one? Schools debate calendars as diversity increases] | [Add a Muslim holiday? Remove a Jewish one? Schools debate calendars as diversity increases] |
| School officials said that proposal, one of two options, was put forth as a way to treat religious and cultural groups more equally, by closing schools only on state-mandated holidays. | School officials said that proposal, one of two options, was put forth as a way to treat religious and cultural groups more equally, by closing schools only on state-mandated holidays. |
| Maryland state law requires schools to be closed on Christmas and Good Friday, as well as Easter Monday. Howard schools have chosen to close for the Jewish holidays since 1979, when officials said staff absentee rates of 12 percent were interfering with instruction. | Maryland state law requires schools to be closed on Christmas and Good Friday, as well as Easter Monday. Howard schools have chosen to close for the Jewish holidays since 1979, when officials said staff absentee rates of 12 percent were interfering with instruction. |
| In a lengthy board discussion, members on Thursday spoke of their community’s history of diversity, with some saying it was what drew them to move to Howard in the first place. | In a lengthy board discussion, members on Thursday spoke of their community’s history of diversity, with some saying it was what drew them to move to Howard in the first place. |
| They were at times divided between those who wanted more study before granting time off for more holidays, and those who wanted immediate action. | They were at times divided between those who wanted more study before granting time off for more holidays, and those who wanted immediate action. |
| “I believe that we should celebrate the two Jewish holidays, the two Muslim high holidays, we should have Diwali and we should have the Lunar New Year,” said Board Member Ann De Lacy. “If we’re going to give, I believe in either all or none.” | “I believe that we should celebrate the two Jewish holidays, the two Muslim high holidays, we should have Diwali and we should have the Lunar New Year,” said Board Member Ann De Lacy. “If we’re going to give, I believe in either all or none.” |
| De Lacy objected to waiting for study outcomes. “Howard County is no longer majority Judeo-Christian,” she said. “We are made up of all kinds of people. There is nothing to study in my opinion.” | De Lacy objected to waiting for study outcomes. “Howard County is no longer majority Judeo-Christian,” she said. “We are made up of all kinds of people. There is nothing to study in my opinion.” |
| Board Vice Chairman Ellen Flynn Giles voiced caution, saying the board could not close for holidays without having a secular reason for doing so and noting that there are many other holidays besides the ones being discussed. | Board Vice Chairman Ellen Flynn Giles voiced caution, saying the board could not close for holidays without having a secular reason for doing so and noting that there are many other holidays besides the ones being discussed. |
| “Once you open to that, you have to honor every single one, and that becomes impractical in finding a way to serve school for 180 days,” she said, adding that she also believes it is “absolutely incumbent upon us” to ensure students and parents feel respected in their cultural and religious observances. | “Once you open to that, you have to honor every single one, and that becomes impractical in finding a way to serve school for 180 days,” she said, adding that she also believes it is “absolutely incumbent upon us” to ensure students and parents feel respected in their cultural and religious observances. |
| The board left open the question of whether professional days would be moved to allow the time off for the three holidays. They asked for some options that would close school for students, and others that would close school for both students and staff. | The board left open the question of whether professional days would be moved to allow the time off for the three holidays. They asked for some options that would close school for students, and others that would close school for both students and staff. |
| Reaction to the decision was strong. | Reaction to the decision was strong. |
| “Our whole community is thrilled by this news,” said Jean Xu, president of the Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County, who said word spread quickly through social media within moments of the board vote. “It shows our county truly celebrates diversity.” | “Our whole community is thrilled by this news,” said Jean Xu, president of the Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County, who said word spread quickly through social media within moments of the board vote. “It shows our county truly celebrates diversity.” |
| Xu said the measure would make a big difference. | Xu said the measure would make a big difference. |
| “We finally can celebrate our holiday with our families, and we don’t have to choose between an instructional day and our cultural tradition,” she said. “It helps us preserve our culture and pass it down to the next generation. It makes our kids proud of their origins.” | “We finally can celebrate our holiday with our families, and we don’t have to choose between an instructional day and our cultural tradition,” she said. “It helps us preserve our culture and pass it down to the next generation. It makes our kids proud of their origins.” |
| Others voiced similar support. | Others voiced similar support. |
| “We’re extremely pleased,” said Michelle Ostroff, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Howard County, who credited the community for coming together and working across religious and cultural organizations. “We accomplished so much more than when we tackle these issues in silos. You can really effect profound change.” | “We’re extremely pleased,” said Michelle Ostroff, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Howard County, who credited the community for coming together and working across religious and cultural organizations. “We accomplished so much more than when we tackle these issues in silos. You can really effect profound change.” |