It becomes obvious to any new immigrant that schools in the U.S. generally operate on a Christian calendar.

Winter break – Christmas, Spring Break – Easter. 

Besides Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, kids rarely get off for holidays associated with other faiths.

Many New Yorkers want to change that, and it seems Mayor Bill de Blasio may be willing to oblige.

There is now a strong movement to make the Lunar (Chinese) New Year a school holiday. With the Asian population in NYC at 12.7%, a considerable number of absences occur annually (when the holiday falls on a school day). The Wall Street Journal reported an 80% absence rate in some schools. WNYC analyzed last Friday’s absentee rates.

Eid at-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are Muslim holy days that also draw large numbers of students from class. The mayor stated his intent to set aside these days, along with the Lunar New Year, as school holidays on the “Brian Lehrer Show” Monday.

He did not include Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which upset some communities.

Students can always get their absence approved for religious reasons. Still, some parents are faced with the quandary of either sending their children to school or observing tradition/religion.

A holiday hasn’t been added since MLK Day and according to Queens City Councilman Daniel Dromm:

“there is some flexibility within the existing calendar to add those additional days,”

Considering New York’s multi ethnic makeup, the introduction of these school holidays might make sense… but then… what about other holidays like Dewali?  Will this start a trend elsewhere in the country? School kids everywhere sure hope so…