Should Public Schools observe Rosh Hashanah?

The following statement was taken from the Café Mom website: “This is the note that is attached to my son’s homework schedule for the week. Starting Wednesday and lasting through the end of the week, he will not be assigned homework due to Rosh Hashanah. Now, this might be OK if we went to a private or religious school. But we’re in a public school. And yes, I understand the significant of Rosh Hashanah for those who celebrate the Jewish faith. But I do not think this is appropriate. I highly doubt we’re going to get “no homework due to Good Friday” papers in their weekly packets. Anyone else have this sort of thing happen in their school? Thoughts about this? Should the school be catering to one religion like this?” My kids are home today in observance of the holiday. So tell me what you think.

Should Schools Close for Muslim Holidays?

The Cambridge School district in Massachusetts has voted to close school to observe a Muslim holiday. This is the first school district in the state to do this. This same request has come up in my school district and has not been approved. The holiday will be observed for the first time November 11, 2011. My question is should other school districts adopt this policy?  We celebrate Christian  and Jewish holidays shouldn’t we do the same for Islamic holidays? Tell me what you think.