Do you think schools should let Muslims students off early every Friday to attend Mosque?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with this. Montgomery county schools are already closed on jewish holidays. Kids do nothing Friday afternoons[/quote]

Not true at all. In MoCo the classes alternate on "odd" and "even" days. So you're very likely to get AP Calc BC on one Friday afternoon, alternating with AP Lit on the next Friday afternoon. Plus one or two other alternating classes on Friday afternoon depending on your schedule. My two MoCo kids have never had teachers who never did anything on a Friday afternoon, sure maybe a movie once in a blue moon, but as a general rule, no way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how Elementary school works, but for high schools, maybe they could make sure to schedule some non-learning classes on Friday afternoons (like a gym class, study hall, or some other type of "elective" like that). Then, they could require that all Muslim students who want to leave early on Fridays for Jummah prayers take those classes on Friday afternoons. That way, the will not be missing any important classes where they actually learn something in.

Do they do this for lent? Ash Wednesday? Holy Friday? Passover? If they don't offer this for all religions, then they should not offer it to only one.

school is closed on passover. Nobody celebrates ash wednesday.u

Except for all those people walking around with ashes on their heads....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. My family is Muslim. Most schools I know allow Muslims to pray in a separate room. And it's considered an excused absense to miss for a holiday. We've also never seen a test scheduled on Eid. That's perfect, IMO.

PP here. I agree. This makes sense and is fair.

All but the separate prayer room. Unless they are offering the same designated special room to all religions. If they are not, then they should not offer it to just one religion.

It's not decorated. It's an empty classroom or office. Or the gym when not in use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how Elementary school works, but for high schools, maybe they could make sure to schedule some non-learning classes on Friday afternoons (like a gym class, study hall, or some other type of "elective" like that). Then, they could require that all Muslim students who want to leave early on Fridays for Jummah prayers take those classes on Friday afternoons. That way, the will not be missing any important classes where they actually learn something in.

Do they do this for lent? Ash Wednesday? Holy Friday? Passover? If they don't offer this for all religions, then they should not offer it to only one.

school is closed on passover. Nobody celebrates ash wednesday.u

Except for all those people walking around with ashes on their heads....

PP meant that no school closes for it (obviously). But yeah, some kids do take excused leave for Ash Wednesday and then come to school later in the day - kinda what we're talking about here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope, not in public school. If this is something that is important to someone's family, they need to attend a private muslim school that lets out early on Fridays. All the Jewish day schools in the area let out early in Fridays in the winter to accommodate those that need to be home for Shabbat before sunset.

+1. This is just too disruptive to happen every single Friday. Excused absences occasionally are totally workable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. My family is Muslim. Most schools I know allow Muslims to pray in a separate room. And it's considered an excused absense to miss for a holiday. We've also never seen a test scheduled on Eid. That's perfect, IMO.

PP here. I agree. This makes sense and is fair.

All but the separate prayer room. Unless they are offering the same designated special room to all religions. If they are not, then they should not offer it to just one religion.

It's not decorated. It's an empty classroom or office. Or the gym when not in use.

Sorry not decorated, designated.

Anyone who wants to pray at a school can pray. Regardless of religion. Muslims just need a little more physical space to do it than most religions. But it's a misconception that you can't pray. The public school system just can't make you do it, or make it part of the official school curriculum.

[Anonymous]

So as a compromise - maybe we can adjust the school week?

1/2 day Friday (morning only)
1/2 day Sunday (afternoon)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. My family is Muslim. Most schools I know allow Muslims to pray in a separate room. And it's considered an excused absense to miss for a holiday. We've also never seen a test scheduled on Eid. That's perfect, IMO.

PP here. I agree. This makes sense and is fair.

All but the separate prayer room. Unless they are offering the same designated special room to all religions. If they are not, then they should not offer it to just one religion.

It's not decorated. It's an empty classroom or office. Or the gym when not in use.

But do they allow an empty classroom designated for the kids who want to do Bible study?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. My family is Muslim. Most schools I know allow Muslims to pray in a separate room. And it's considered an excused absense to miss for a holiday. We've also never seen a test scheduled on Eid. That's perfect, IMO.

PP here. I agree. This makes sense and is fair.

All but the separate prayer room. Unless they are offering the same designated special room to all religions. If they are not, then they should not offer it to just one religion.

It's not decorated. It's an empty classroom or office. Or the gym when not in use.

But do they allow an empty classroom designated for the kids who want to do Bible study?

Studying the bible is different from praying. If a Catholic wanted to pray, s/he could.

But I did bible study for years after school in the math classroom. And I know kids now who get together at lunch for their own bible study discussions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. My family is Muslim. Most schools I know allow Muslims to pray in a separate room. And it's considered an excused absense to miss for a holiday. We've also never seen a test scheduled on Eid. That's perfect, IMO.

PP here. I agree. This makes sense and is fair.

All but the separate prayer room. Unless they are offering the same designated special room to all religions. If they are not, then they should not offer it to just one religion.

It's not decorated. It's an empty classroom or office. Or the gym when not in use.

Sorry not decorated, designated.

Anyone who wants to pray at a school can pray. Regardless of religion. Muslims just need a little more physical space to do it than most religions. But it's a misconception that you can't pray. The public school system just can't make you do it, or make it part of the official school curriculum.

So the kids can pull out their Bibles and rosaries in a group in the middle of the day, every day, at school with full administrative support and no repercussions from the school? Is it endorsed by the school with a designated area.

We are talking about public schools. If they don,t have prayer rooms for all religions then they sould not have prayer rooms for one religion.

If most of the religions are specifically told they are not allowed any visible elements of their religion anywhere at school, then no kids should have their religion singled out for support by the school by being given a special room for prayers.

Unconstitutional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. My family is Muslim. Most schools I know allow Muslims to pray in a separate room. And it's considered an excused absense to miss for a holiday. We've also never seen a test scheduled on Eid. That's perfect, IMO.

PP here. I agree. This makes sense and is fair.

All but the separate prayer room. Unless they are offering the same designated special room to all religions. If they are not, then they should not offer it to just one religion.

It's not decorated. It's an empty classroom or office. Or the gym when not in use.

Sorry not decorated, designated.

Anyone who wants to pray at a school can pray. Regardless of religion. Muslims just need a little more physical space to do it than most religions. But it's a misconception that you can't pray. The public school system just can't make you do it, or make it part of the official school curriculum.

So the kids can pull out their Bibles and rosaries in a group in the middle of the day, every day, at school with full administrative support and no repercussions from the school? Is it endorsed by the school with a designated area.

We are talking about public schools. If they don,t have prayer rooms for all religions then they sould not have prayer rooms for one religion.

If most of the religions are specifically told they are not allowed any visible elements of their religion anywhere at school, then no kids should have their religion singled out for support by the school by being given a special room for prayers.

Unconstitutional.

Of course they can. You think Bibles are banned from schools? What school system do you live in where "visible elements" of religion are banned? Can't wear a crucifix? Can't wear a yarmulke? Can't wear a headscarf?

It's only unconstitutional if prayer is required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. My family is Muslim. Most schools I know allow Muslims to pray in a separate room. And it's considered an excused absense to miss for a holiday. We've also never seen a test scheduled on Eid. That's perfect, IMO.

PP here. I agree. This makes sense and is fair.

All but the separate prayer room. Unless they are offering the same designated special room to all religions. If they are not, then they should not offer it to just one religion.

It's not decorated. It's an empty classroom or office. Or the gym when not in use.

Sorry not decorated, designated.

Anyone who wants to pray at a school can pray. Regardless of religion. Muslims just need a little more physical space to do it than most religions. But it's a misconception that you can't pray. The public school system just can't make you do it, or make it part of the official school curriculum.

So the kids can pull out their Bibles and rosaries in a group in the middle of the day, every day, at school with full administrative support and no repercussions from the school? Is it endorsed by the school with a designated area.

We are talking about public schools. If they don,t have prayer rooms for all religions then they sould not have prayer rooms for one religion.

If most of the religions are specifically told they are not allowed any visible elements of their religion anywhere at school, then no kids should have their religion singled out for support by the school by being given a special room for prayers.

Unconstitutional.

I've been a public school student, teacher, and parent for many many years. I've never encountered a school where a student can't wear a cross, or carry a Bible, or come to school wearing clothing that references Christian cultural elements like Santa Claus. To say that Muslims can't do things that are visibly Muslim because Christians can't do things that are visibly Christian is absurd, because Christians can and do things that are visibly Christian all the time in our culture.

Should schools set up rooms that are designated for specific religions? E.g. a Buddhist room, and a Christian room, and a Muslim room? No, that's absurd. But a school should allow students to use existing space for religious purposes, as long as it's initiated by students. If a group wants to meet at lunch time to discuss the Bible, then they should be allowed to have space like any other group (and generally are). If a students wants to read the Bible quietly, they should be able to use the existing comfortable seating in the library. Similarly, if a school has students who want to pray in the manner in which Muslim students pray, the school should make an effort to provide appropriate space.

[Anonymous]

I would be alright with a "quiet room" for students who wanted to pray, meditate, or whatever during lunch or a free period. But closing school or having a religiously sanctioned area is over the top.

For Muslims, it's preferable that you pray "standing up," but there if circumstances don't allow (elderly, disabled, on an airplane, in a car, etc) there's no issue with praying while sitting in a chair.

It might cause teasing or be disruptive to pray during class, but a "quiet room" open to all is a reasonable compromise. But it should be on the student's time (lunch, homeroom, recess, a free period, etc), not taking away from academic time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with this. Montgomery county schools are already closed on jewish holidays. Kids do nothing Friday afternoons

I don't live in Montgomery county, so I was curious--when are football games? When I was in high school (on the west coast) they were ALWAYS on Friday nights or the occasional (maybe once per season) Saturday afternoon. We didn't have a very large Jewish population, so I never really thought about it before.

[Anonymous]

Sport is a choice, not an academic subject taught at school. I think a private jewish school demamded that one of the games be rescheduled because of this, they demanded the change too late were denied, therefore took the story to the press