It's good to know they are spending efforts on this rather than the failure of common core.

The county did the right thing. The Moslem groups were being unreasonable. No significant number of students and staff were taking the Eid holiday off (which is their right to do anyway). The Moslems just wanted to make a political point and get "recognition" and "respect" for their religious holiday, but recognizing religion is not the business of American public schools. Who would be next? Wiccans? Hare Krishnas? Schools only care when a significant number miss the day. Lots of Christian, Hindu and Jewish holidays were not on the calendar either (Divali, anybody? Sukkot? Greek Orthodox Christmas? Navruz? Kwaanza?) because not a lot of people take those off. No one complained. A small noisy group of Moslems tried to raise the profile of their minority and now all religious names are off the calendar. Fine by me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then why was the name removed from the calendar?

Because it's too hard and complicated to acknowledge other religious groups?

Because MCPS should not be acknowledging any religious groups. Including Christians.

But they are if they are essentially excusing absences for religious holidays. What if there was high absenteeism for opening day of the baseball season. Would they just take that day off the school calendar? No. They are acknowledging that religious holidays are a valid reason to be absent from school.

I grew up in a small rural town in PA. We always (and they still do) had the first day of deer season off because of high absenteeism. So yes, if there were a high absenteeism for a particular day (like opening day) then I would have no problem making that an official day off.

The same in a small rural town in Wisconsin.

Anonymous wrote:This is a great solution. So much ignorance displayed here.

Agreed. Every. Single. Year. a bunch of people b*tch and moan because MCPS is closed on the Jewish holidays. It's not FOR the Jewish holidays. It's ON the Jewish holidays. Because of a high rate of absenteeism. Every single year it's the same complaints and people getting their panties in a bunch thinking everyone is trying to attack their Christianity. MCPS doesn't care what holidays you celebrate or don't. MCPS DOES care whether it has the staff to run its schools on school days. Do you honestly think this change will have any affect whatsoever on you? Or how you celebrate your holidays? Or whether or how such holidays are discussed or celebrated within your child's classroom? It won't. Stop actively looking for things to complain about. Some people have ACTUAL PROBLEMS.

They did it for inauguration day starting with Obama's first election.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think probably the stupidest thing in the world is closing but not saying the real reason you are closing.

The real reason MCPS is closing is because there would be a lot of absences on that day if they didn't. Or do you think that MCPS celebrates Christmas?

So what-- are they going to call it "high expected absence day" on the calendar?

Winter Break and Spring Break.

That is the perfect solution. Good for them!

Which, btw, is what DCPS and a zillion other districts around the country already do.

This is not news, people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then why was the name removed from the calendar?

Because it's too hard and complicated to acknowledge other religious groups?

Because MCPS should not be acknowledging any religious groups. Including Christians.

But they are if they are essentially excusing absences for religious holidays. What if there was high absenteeism for opening day of the baseball season. Would they just take that day off the school calendar? No. They are acknowledging that religious holidays are a valid reason to be absent from school.

I grew up in a small rural town in PA. We always (and they still do) had the first day of deer season off because of high absenteeism. So yes, if there were a high absenteeism for a particular day (like opening day) then I would have no problem making that an official day off.

PP here. I will acknowledge that the absenteeism argument is clever but it is BS. The point is that if your religious group is not large enough to have enough people celebrating it you can't have the day off. Same reason we tolerate a racial slur as the name of our football team, because there are not enough of that minority to complain about it to make others actually care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then why was the name removed from the calendar?

Because it's too hard and complicated to acknowledge other religious groups?

Because MCPS should not be acknowledging any religious groups. Including Christians.

But they are if they are essentially excusing absences for religious holidays. What if there was high absenteeism for opening day of the baseball season. Would they just take that day off the school calendar? No. They are acknowledging that religious holidays are a valid reason to be absent from school.

This is a great solution. So much ignorance displayed here.

Anonymous wrote:I honestly see this as a snide attack on Jews by Muslims.

Because you're one of those people who sees everything as an attack, despite facts.

I honestly see this as a snide attack on Jews by Muslims.

Anonymous wrote:They can always go back to the middle east if they want their holiday-they need to learn "when in Rome.....".

Not a Muslim, but this is real bullying.

Anonymous wrote:I wish MCPS would publish stats instead of saying "large numbers". Just be transparent. If say 40% of the MCPS population is out on a religious day and 20% of the teachers have called in for subs--- is that high? Is it 20% students out and 5% of teachers?

The Muslim community is asking for their holidays to be recognized just as the judeo- Christian ones are. MCPSs argument is that there are not enough absentee people to warrant that. That's a fine answer, but at what number would it be warranted?

They're probably afraid that if they give a solid number, a whole bunch of students and faculty will start taking the day off, even if they otherwise wouldn't, in order to legitimize the request.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then why was the name removed from the calendar?

Because it's too hard and complicated to acknowledge other religious groups?

Because MCPS should not be acknowledging any religious groups. Including Christians.