Simon Gratz High School is part of the Mastery Charter Schools network, and will now have time off from school in order to observe two of the holiest days in Islam. | Courtesy of Smallbones/Wikimedia Commons
Mastery Charter Schools, one of Philadelphia’s largest charter school systems, has voted to permanently add two Muslim holidays to the academic calendar, starting in September 2016.
The two days off are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha — holidays considered to be among the holiest in Islam. Eid al-Fitr is the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” marking the end of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha is the “Festival of Sacrifice,” which coincides with the end of the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca or the Hajj.
Ameena Ghaffar-Kucher, a senior lecturer in the Graduation School of Education and associate director of the International Educational Development Program, believes this decision can be a catalyst for larger change within the city.
“It is definitely sending a message, and I think it partly depends on advocacy groups who might send messages to the district,” Ghaffar-Kucher said. “I think it is a domino effect. People will definitely be paying attention and watching how people are reaction to this decision. There could potentially be pushback around this.”
At Mastery’s charter network, students attend school between 183 and185 days of the year, a few more than the state-required minimum of 180 days. Mastery will add days to the academic calendar to be able to observe the Muslim holidays.
According to CBS Philly, the Mastery Charter Schools system has a Muslim population of 5 percent to 20 percent. In total, there are about 200,000 Muslims in Philadelphia.
The decision to observe these holidays comes after efforts by city councilman Curtis Jones, who has advocated for adding these holidays to all Philadelphia schools. Even though the City Council had approved the resolution earlier this year, negotiations must take place between the school district and the unions in order for the two holidays to become official holidays district-wide, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In the current academic calendar for 2015-16, Philadelphia public schools observe and close for Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Christmas Day and Good Friday. Philadelphia schools also had off when Pope Francis visited in September.
New York City public schools recognize the two Muslim holidays in addition to the Lunar New Year during the school year. Other school districts, such as Montgomery School District in Maryland, have stripped all references to holidays in the school calendar.
“Philadelphia is becoming a more diverse city and becoming a big immigration city. How do you accommodate to certain groups?” Ghaffar-Kucher said. “It really depends on what kind of community Philadelphia wants to be. Cities like Philadelphia should pay attention to what is happening.”
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