GUILDERLAND — The school board here was educated last week by a handful of Muslim students, advocating that the school calendar take their religious holidays into account.

Longtime school board member Judy Slack, toward the end of the Feb. 1 meeting, said she was ashamed that she had not been aware of Eid al-Fitr, which one of the students had explained marks the end of fasting for Ramadan.

“First of all, Eid is like Christmas for us,” wrote Arisha Ahmed, one of four Muslim students who addressed the board in written comments read at the start of the meeting by the board’s president, Seema Rivera. “Imagine having to go to school on Christmas. It is as simple as that.”

Superintendent Marie Wiles said, as the district is developing next year’s school calendar, she had met earlier in the day with a group of Muslim students. She noted that, in 2023, Eid al-Fitr starts at sundown on a Friday “so missing school won’t be an issue” for the Saturday celebration.

However, she went on, “This group of articulate young people want to raise awareness for the holiday going forward.”

Wiles had met on Jan. 19 with the district’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, explaining some of the parameters of establishing a school calendar.

The state requires 180 school days; for each day less than that, the district would lose aid equivalent to one teacher’s salary, Wiles said.

Also, schedules have to be aligned with other districts in the area for shared programs like those run by the Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

The committee discussed how to promote acceptance of different religions or beliefs that don’t encompass religion.

Guilderland went through a similar awakening more than a quarter-century ago when several board members said only federal holidays should be observed as days off from class. However, at the same time, as now, Good Friday was a school holiday, as well as days surrounding Christmas and Easter.

In the fall of 1995, several other board members expressed outrage that a teacher had tested students on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, the most important and sacred Jewish holy day. Public and board discussions followed, resulting in the district deciding not to hold classes on the Jewish high holy days — a practice the Guilderland schools still follow.

Later, in 2010, a follower of Sikhism felt left out when he saw the calendar distributed by the Guilderland School District. He saw that it included Christian, Jewish, and Islamic holidays as well as the Chinese New Year. He asked if his religion could be included, too.

He was not asking for days off from class but just to have his religion’s holidays noted on the school calendar, which is widely circulated in the community. Ultimately, the board decided the school calendar was too crowded to allow for listing holidays for all religions.

Muslim students speak out

“In the current world, there is so much hatred and poor representation of Muslims that stops us from being able to practice our religion. The inability of Muslims to celebrate Eid in the school year is one example of this,” wrote Rehana Firdaus to the school board on Feb. 1.

Firdaus wrote that explaining to teachers what Eid is can be a long process and also said, “In comparison to other Jewish and Christian holidays where they have multiple days off, we only ask for one day off to celebrate our holiday, which we still do not get.”

“Muslims only celebrate two holidays every year: Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. We get time off for Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah, holidays important to those who celebrate them. Why not Eid?” asked Ilyas Naina. “To Muslims, Eid is the most special day of the entire year.”

Naina also wrote, “While most Muslim students do skip school on Eid and get an excused absence for the day, they are still expected to make up the work missed and are at an academic disadvantage since they missed out on learning.”

“As our in-school Muslim population grows and as our school works towards improving diversity, it is only right that it is more inclusive,” wrote Guilderland senior Nehla Ismail, noting the school calendar observes the holidays of only two religions.

Ismail explained, “Eid comes after the month of Ramadan, or fasting, as a celebration for the sacrifices and struggles Muslims go through. We spend time with family and friends, go to the mosque, and play games.”

Board views

At the Feb. 1 board meeting, member Blanca Gonzales-Parker asked if the district had any policy to ensure students could get extensions or modifications for absences due to major religious holidays.

“I think it’s largely up to the teacher,” Wiles responded.

She added that she has spoken with Matthew Pinchinat, the district’s DEI director, about “an educational piece to help other students and faculty understand … it’s like going to school on Christmas.”

Wiles went on, “They’re brainstorming ideas,” perhaps creating a video.

Board member Barbara Fraterrigo suggested that no tests be given on the holiday and that assignments be allowed to come in the day after.

Currently, Muslim students are given an excused absence for Eid but must make up the work.

Gonzalez-Parker urged that teachers this school year be encouraged to show flexibility with schoolwork during Eid.