The schools told: Shut for three more holy festivals

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 9:03 AM on 19th October 2009

 

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Schools are being ordered to close on Muslim, Hindu and Sikh holy days despite objections from teachers.

The directive by two London councils means the schools must shut for the annual celebrations of Eid-Ul-Fitr, Diwali and Guru Nanak's birthday in addition to the traditional Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter.

The policy even affects schools with only a small number of Muslim, Hindu or Sikh pupils.

 

 

Celebration: Diwali is a Hindu festival celebrated around the world

 

Headteachers have complained about the enforced holidays, arguing they should decide if the religious dates are marked with days off.

The controversy surrounds Waltham Forest and Newham councils, which have publicised their school calendars for Autumn 2009-2010.

They both told schools to take off September 21 for Eid-Ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

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Diwali, which is celebrated by Hindus, was also included in the calendar as a holiday, but this year it fell on Saturday October 17.

Guru Nanak's birthday is scheduled for a holiday on November 2. It is celebrated by Sikhs and Nanak's teachings form a central part of their scripture.

The policy in Waltham Forest affects all community primary and secondary schools in the borough, but not Church of England or Catholic schools.

A review of the policy has begun after complaints from schools. Rachel MacFarlane, head of Walthamstow School for Girls, said the school is 'frustrated' by the holiday requirements.

Councillor Liaquat Ali, Cabinet member for children and young people in Waltham Forest, said it was important to teach children about different cultures and backgrounds 'as much as possible'.

 

Nobody was available to comment from Newham Council yesterday.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1221364/The-schools-told-Shut-holy-festivals.html#ixzz0UPw3q0IJ

I think it's a great idea. It will help children to understand the importance of these festivals to the pupils who follow those religions.

Good that there is more holidays, but in general bad. This countries school holidays are structured around the traditional Christian calendar and there are enough breaks for school pupils already. It'd just get complicated, although pupils of these certain religions should certainly be allowed to have a holiday. Also, for other pupils would they learn anything about these festivals or just the dates of these certain festivals? That is of course, what R.E is for.

But if only the pupils who observed that religion took the day off, they would miss out of a days schooling - that would be punishing them for being muslim or hindu or whatever. If you have a large proportion of pupils in one borough who are from an ethnic minority, it makes sense for them all to do the same.

 

Plus, if some school closed whilst other stayed open, attendance would be poor in the open schools anyway as those children would feel "entitled" to take a day off.

Good that there is more holidays, but in general bad. This countries school holidays are structured around the traditional Christian calendar and there are enough breaks for school pupils already. It'd just get complicated, although pupils of these certain religions should certainly be allowed to have a holiday. Also, for other pupils would they learn anything about these festivals or just the dates of these certain festivals? That is of course, what R.E is for.

 

If you closed schools for every single religious event, they'd hardly ever be open at all, which is just plain daft.

Is there a Scientology Day? A "Jedi" Day? Where would it end?:dozey:

If there were a significant number of Jedi in the school, it would be appropriate, but somehow I doubt it. There are, however, large Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communties in those ares of London, and they are entitled to have their beliefs respected

it was going to happen any day... then i guess Spain won't be told anymore as be one of the EU countries with most break days each school year :rolleyes:

 

@howyousawtheworld:

R.E. i guess you mean Religious Education (as a subject itself), right?

i've been asking the same question, what it is for?

i've studied it for more than 15 years and yet i reckon my knowledge about religions in general and mine in particular to be poor (i mean comparing it to older generations), and that is a matter of cultural thing, i feel ignorant at times when speaking about my own religion (i mean it's history and proper traditions), yet i think some my friends are even more ignorant (and a lot more incoherent) about those matters.

it was going to happen any day... then i guess Spain won't be told anymore as be one of the EU countries with most break days each school year :rolleyes:

 

@howyousawtheworld:

R.E. i guess you mean Religious Education (as a subject itself), right?

i've been asking the same question, what it is for?

i've studied it for more than 15 years and yet i reckon my knowledge about religions in general and mine in particular to be poor (i mean comparing it to older generations), and that is a matter of cultural thing, i feel ignorant at times when speaking about my own religion (i mean it's history and proper traditions), yet i think some my friends are even more ignorant (and a lot more incoherent) about those matters.

 

Yeah. I felt I learned more about other religions in primary three (when I was 8) than when I did in 1st and 2nd year at secondary school. However when I took it as a higher subject, I learned a hell of a lot about Buddhism (technically not a religion but hey let's call it that) then, but jack shit in my first few years of that subject because quite frankly like most around me, none of us could be bothered because it just felt like a needless lesson tagged onto more important ones in the first few years of my secondary school. However when I took it as a subject where I had to sit exams for in my last year of secondary school, it was incredibly engaging and I learnt a lot. In general, taking it professionally, it is a fantastic subject, although it was RMPS - learning about not just religions but morality etc.

I would love to learn about religion more. I go to a Catholic School so its compulsory to study and even though I am Catholic I am fasinated by other relgions in general and I believe it is really important to learn about the beliefs of others.

 

As for the schools closing down. If the country isn't muslim or otherwise based then there really should be no reason to close. If they do, most kids would just abuse the day and the ones that the day was actually intended for would've taken it off anyway.

I would love to learn about religion more. I go to a Catholic School so its compulsory to study and even though I am Catholic I am fasinated by other relgions in general and I believe it is really important to learn about the beliefs of others.

 

AFAIK from what I've heard from my own religion class back at my Catholic school, they only very briefly skimmed over a few basics. Then again, this is the school that wouldn't teach their students to put a condom on a banana because it was "against their beliefs".

^hahaha.

 

What doeds AFAIK stnad for?

As Far As I Know

I would love to learn about religion more. I go to a Catholic School so its compulsory to study and even though I am Catholic I am fasinated by other relgions in general and I believe it is really important to learn about the beliefs of others.

 

As for the schools closing down. If the country isn't muslim or otherwise based then there really should be no reason to close. If they do, most kids would just abuse the day and the ones that the day was actually intended for would've taken it off anyway.

 

Maybe each pupil should be given a couple of voluntary "concessionary" non-school attendance days depending on their religion, then there wouldn't be any need for schools to close and the other pupils wouldn't be affected.;)

:dozey:

AFAIK from what I've heard from my own religion class back at my Catholic school, they only very briefly skimmed over a few basics. Then again, this is the school that wouldn't teach their students to put a condom on a banana because it was "against their beliefs".

parents decide what they want their kids to learn, that's why they decide to take them to a religious school, a public school, teach them at home or whatever.

 

in my high school, we had that banana talk while i attended it (5 years) twice, it was compulsory to attend it as was in the morning; some teens found it disgusting (even though they were so experienced in the matter), and parents said nothing against it, the weird thing was the youngest teens got condom :rolleyes: and old teens not ... :uhoh:

 

the strangest thing about that sex matter, was when a homosexual group decided to offer to come to school to give us a talk, our chairman decided it to be an extra activity, so gave the students a paper asking their parents if allow their kids to attend it as it was going to be given at afternoon when we have no class.... answer from most parents was to break their kids paper and be suspicious if their kids were inventing it or something.... so bad thing they did if you ask me.

 

once more, are parents who decide which kind of knowledge their kids be given at school in all matters: religion, sex, etc, and they have the right to refuse to some classes due to diferences in the view (i had friends that skipped mussic class due to they don't believe in Christ and so they don't sing in xmas :dozey: , although i've never heard a case of kids skipping History due to some stuff like that, but if we allow one option we should allow that one, right?)

 

back on topic about religions and holidays, it'll be complicated to organize, because if you close the school for ALL holy days, there will remain very few days to go to class... unless you give the kids holidays depending their religions, but once more, don't the bill of rights say we shouldn't be discriminated depending in our beliefs? :thinking:

really good move =]

 

these events are important after all ^^

Plus, school pupils do get in service days off where teachers don't. I think it comes down to the fact that this country is based upon Christian values and isn't a Muslim, Hindu country etc.

Plus, school pupils do get in service days off where teachers don't. I think it comes down to the fact that this country is based upon Christian values and isn't a Muslim, Hindu country etc.

 

Give each pupil a couple of "discretionary" days to use as they see fit and the problem is solved.;)

Then it's fair for everyone and the current holidays can stay as they are.;)