So no Christmas this year? No Yom Kippur?

Looks like it according to a local district’s calendar.

Recently in Montgomery County MD, the Board of Education decided to strip the yearly calendar of all holiday names. Students will still have their breaks but the official holiday names won’t appear. 

So why the change?

Montgomery County’s Board of Education was asked by Muslim community leaders to recognize and close schools on the Muslim holy day of Eid al-Adha. 

Since the holiday only saw a small increase in the number of absentee students, the BOE stated they could not close schools for the day.

Schools are typically closed when there are reported high rates of absenteeism which usually aligns with major Jewish and Christian holidays. The Constitution prohibits public schools from using religious holidays as a reason for closing. 

Students who miss school for holidays are excused, but that still means students get behind in work.

Muslim students, though a minority of population, end up missing more class than their Christian and Jewish peers. 

Saqib Ali, former Maryland state delegate and co-chair of the Equality for Eid Coaltition stated:

“By stripping the names Christmas, Easter, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, they have alienated other communities now, and we are no closer to equality.”

What do you think readers? Is stripping the names of holidays towards equality or is it ignorance? Share your thoughts below!