Nevada City, CA — Nevada City Schools will start observing Muslim holidays next school year, The Fazzler has learned. Following the lead of the New York City school system, the nation’s largest, the upstart Sierra Nevada foothills community announced that its schools will observe the two most important Muslim holidays.
Under the new policy, the city’s public school system will close on Sept. 24 for Eid al-Adha, which is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice. The holiday of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, will be observed during summer school in 2017/18.
“As many as 14 Muslim families will no longer have to choose between honoring the most sacred days on their calendar or attending school,” Superintendent Roxanne Gilpatric said in her announcement.
Muslim leaders welcomed the announcement.
“After years of advocating by New York City’s Muslim community, Muslim public school students will finally and thankfully no longer be penalized for observing their religious holidays,” said Anjem Choudary following his speaking engagement at the Nevada Theater. “We knew if we spoke of about the benefits of Sharia Law in a receptive place like Nevada City, that it would have this kind of impact.”
Community leaders have long urged adding the two Muslim holidays to the school calendar, and the City Council passed a resolution supporting the change in 2009.
“Finally something Progressive is actually getting done,” blasted community organizer Sairhra Ramun outside the New York Hotel on her megaphone. “We can’t get lights up across the streets, but we can get two Muslim holidays recognized. Time to mobilize and do more. Who’s with me?”
The new calendar will keep the total number of school days unchanged at 182: the state-mandated 180 plus two more in case there are snow days.
