Reply to MCPS closed for Diwali?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm really glad that there are other Indians who appreciate having Diwali off.  But I am not one of them.  I have never celebrated on the day of Diwali in a way that makes school difficult.  In fact, growing up and today, everyone I know, celebrates on the weekend before.  I know no one who was born in the US who goes to temple or otherwise spends the day in religious observance.

I would personally prefer an extra day tacked onto winter or spring break.[/quote]

For the past decade, I have had always had several South Asian middle school students who are observant. It’s not just Diwali. They miss school for major festivals and also life events like the family buying a new house. I’ve also had students come to school on test days after a visit to temple with powder applied to their head. They tell me it is a ceremony to get blessings for success. I believe they are sincerely religious because no middle schooler is willing to risk being bullied or even just standing out as religious if they don’t really believe.[/quote]

Ok, I should have been clearer.  Are the parents of your students born in the US?  I'm referring to parents who control how kids observe.  It's really really rare for a US born Indian to still do all of this, particularly on a weekday.[/quote]

DP. What's the point of this exercise? Over 70% of Asian adults were born outside the US, so most parents are likely not born in the US. [/quote]

My point is that there are so few people who actually use the day for religious observance that it does not make sense taking it off.

Also, Indians are just one group of Asians.  Do you mean 70% of Indians were born outside the US?  I don't believe, Chinese immigrants, for example, celebrate Diwali.  So I guess that right there is a reason to keep the holiday, to educate folks a bit better.[/quote]

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